Effect of curing-light attenuation on color stability and physical and chemical properties of resin cements containing different photoinitiators

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of light attenuation by ceramic veneers on the degree of conversion (DC), flexural strength (FS) and color change (CC) of resin cements containing different photoinitiators. Thus, samples included resin cements containing different photoinitiators: (a) camphorquinone (CQ)/ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDMAB); (b) CQ/4-(N,N-dimethylamino) phenethyl alcohol (DMPOH); (c) CQ/2(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA); (d) CQ/ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDMAB) + diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide (TPO); (e) TPO; and (f) phenylbis(2.4.6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO). Ceramic veneers (10 × 10 mm) were 0.4 mm, 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm or 1.5 mm thick. The light irradiance of a multiple-peak LED through ceramic veneers was measured (n = 5) using a spectrometer. DC (micro-Raman spectrometer) and FS (Bar-shaped specimens) were tested in cements with and without the veneers. Color change was evaluated before and after UV artificial aging. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). The violet spectrum showed the lowest irradiance values through the veneer, considering all thicknesses. BAPO had the highest DC values for all veneers. CQ/EDMAB + TPO, CQ + EDMAB, and CQ + DMPOH showed similar DC values concerning all thicknesses. TPO (1.0 mm) showed the lowest DC and FS values. CQ + TPO and CQ/amines showed similar FS values. CQ + EDMAB and CQ + DMAEMA showed the highest color change values while TPO showed the lowest. It was concluded that the physical and chemical properties of the resin cement were improved with BAPO. CQ/EDMAB + TPO showed the greatest color stability, considering all veneer groups and control, without affecting the other properties assessed. [Display omitted]