Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42919273›Full record

ArticleBMC oral health2026

Effects of thermocycling on color stability and mechanical properties of universal resin composites: an in vitro comparison.

Alana Pinto Caroso Souza, Wilton Lima Dos Santos, Camila Ribeiro Silva, Anderson Gomes Forte, Fernanda Midori Tsuzuki-Gorham, Américo Bortolazzo Correr

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alana Pinto Caroso SouzaDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil. alanacaroso@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2743-3012
Wilton Lima Dos SantosDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0074-9292
Camila Ribeiro SilvaDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5715-1297
Anderson Gomes ForteDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-3378-3754
Fernanda Midori Tsuzuki-GorhamDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-8036
Américo Bortolazzo CorrerDental Materials Division, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13414-903, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3306-7055

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the optical and mechanical properties of universal resin composites, with emphasis on color stability, Knoop microhardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and filler characteristics.

methodsFour composite resins: Filtek Z250 XT (FZ), Vittra APS Unique (VT), Spectra Smart (SS), and Harmonize (HZ) were evaluated (n = 10 per group). Specimens were subjected to thermocycling (10,000 cycles; 5-55 °C). Color and Knoop microhardness were measured before and after aging (repeated measures), while flexural strength and modulus were determined using independent specimens. Color differences were calculated using the CIEDE2000 formula. SEM/EDS analyses were performed for filler characterization. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.

resultsThermocycling significantly affected all evaluated properties (p < 0.05), with a material-dependent response. All materials exhibited ΔE₀₀ values above clinically acceptable thresholds after aging. SS showed the lowest color variation, while VT presented the highest values. In terms of mechanical behavior, FZ and HZ exhibited greater reductions in flexural strength (> 50%) and microhardness (≈ 30-45%), whereas SS demonstrated the highest stability and VT showed intermediate performance. Additionally, FZ and HZ presented flexural strength values below 80 MPa after thermocycling.

conclusionsThermocycling resulted in clinically relevant color changes in all evaluated universal resin composites, exceeding perceptibility and acceptability thresholds. Additionally, mechanical properties were adversely affected in a material-dependent manner, with reductions in flexural strength and microhardness suggesting decreased structural stability after aging. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Universal resin composites may exhibit clinically relevant color changes and significant mechanical degradation after aging. Clinicians should consider that materials with greater reductions in flexural strength and microhardness may present reduced durability over time.

Indexed as

Composite ResinsDental MaterialsColorDental Stress AnalysisElastic ModulusFlexural StrengthHardnessHumansMaterials TestingMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningSurface PropertiesTemperatureComposite ResinsDental MaterialsFiltek Z250Color stabilityDental materialsMechanical propertiesUniversal composite resins

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.