From Rinse to Resin: Evaluating the Effect of Mouthwashes on Bulk-Fill Composite Microhardness- An in-vitro study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53274/IJCRD.2026.7102Keywords:
- Bulk-fill composite,
- Mouthwashes,
- Resin ,
- microhardness,
- Vickers microhardness test
Abstract
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different commercially available mouthwashes on the surface microhardness of a bulk-fill composite resin.
SETTING AND STUDY DESIGN- In-vitro study
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five disc-shaped specimens (8 × 4 mm) were prepared using a bulk-fill composite resin and randomly divided into three groups (n = 15): Group I—Listerine, Group II—Colgate Plax, and Group III—artificial saliva (control). Baseline surface microhardness values were recorded using a Vickers microhardness tester and specimens were immersed in 20 ml of the respective solutions for 24 hours at 37°C to simulate one year of daily mouthwash use. Post-immersion microhardness was measured under identical testing conditions.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in surface microhardness was observed in the artificial saliva group following immersion (P < 0.05). In contrast, specimens immersed in the alcohol-containing mouthwash (Listerine) demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in microhardness (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that immersion media significantly influence the surface microhardness of bulk-fill composite resin.
CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, artificial saliva exhibited a protective effect on the surface microhardness of bulk-fill composite resin, whereas alcohol-containing mouthwash adversely affected its surface integrity.
KEYWORDS: Bulk-fill composite resin; Mouthwashes; Surface microhardness; artificial saliva; Vickers hardness
KEY MESSAGE: The routine use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes may compromise the longevity of bulk-fill composite restorations.
Downloads
References
1. Mallick RR, Sarangi P, Suman S, Sahoo SS, Bajoria A, Sharma G. An in vitro analysis of the effects of mouthwashes on the surface properties of composite resin restorative material. Cureus. 2024 Jul 21;16(7).[1]
2. Dhingra A, Kumari M. Influence of mouth rinses on the surface hardness of bulk-fill resin composite. IP Indian Journal of Conservative and Endodontics. 2019;4(1):14-9.[2]
3. Gehlot PM, Sudeep P, Manjunath V, Annapoorna BM, Prasada LK, Nandlal B. Influence of various desensitizing mouthrinses and simulated toothbrushing on surface roughness and microhardness of tetric n-ceram bulk-fill resin composite: an in vitro study and scanning electron microscope analysis. European Journal of Dentistry. 2022 Oct;16(04):820-7.[3]
4. Parra Gatica E, Duran Ojeda G, Wendler M. Contemporary flowable bulk-fill resin-based composites: a systematic review. Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry. 2023 Dec 31;10(1):2175685.[4]
5. Alessa NA. Effect of mouthwashes on the microhardness of aesthetic composite restorative materials. InAnales del sistema sanitario de Navarra 2023 Aug 30 (Vol. 46, No. 2, p. e1049).[5]
6. Kanan SM, Mohammed AK. The effect of mouth rinses on surface micro hardness of two esthetic restorative materials. Iraqi National Journal of Nursing Specialties. 2012;25(1):101-8.[6]
7. Sengupta A, Naka O, Mehta SB, Banerji S. The clinical performance of bulk-fill versus the incremental layered application of direct resin composite restorations: a systematic review. Evidence-based dentistry. 2023 Sep;24(3):143-.[7]
8. Kochhar R, Dewan R, Soi S, Punjabi M. An evaluation and comparison of the effect of five mouthrinses on the microhardness of esthetic hybrid composite restorative material-an in vitro study. J Dent Spec. 2017 Mar 1;5(1):66-9.[8]
9. Azizi F, Ezoji F, Khafri S, Esmaeili B. Surface micro-hardness and wear resistance of a self-adhesive flowable composite in comparison to conventional flowable composites. Frontiers in Dentistry. 2023 Apr 30;20:10.[9]
10. Saati K, Khansari S, Mahdisiar F, Valizadeh S. Evaluation of microhardness of two bulk-fill composite resins compared to a conventional composite resin on surface and in different depths. Journal of Dentistry. 2022 Mar;23(1):58.[10]
11. Dionysopoulos D, Papadopoulos C, Koliniotou-Koumpia E. Effect of temperature, curing time, and filler composition on surface microhardness of composite resins. Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. 2015 Mar 1;18(2):114-8.[11]
12. Kelić K, Matić S, Marović D, Klarić E, Tarle Z. Microhardness of bulk-fill composite materials. Acta Clinica Croatica. 2016 Dec 15;55(4.):607-13.[12]
13. Yilmaz EÇ. Effect of artificial saliva on the mechanical and tribological behavior of nano-/micro-filled biocomposite materials for biomedical applications. Journal of Dental Research and Review. 2020 Apr 1;7(2):37-41.[13]
14. Manzoor S, Arooj Z, Abi Waqas M, Irshad N, Saeed A, Malik A, Sarfaraz Z, Shaukat MS. Surface microhardness of microhybrid and nanocomposite after storage in mouth washes. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. 2022 Jun 21;34(3):540-5.[14]
15. Taneja, Sonali; Kumar, Pragya; Kumar, Avnish. Comparative evaluation of the microtensile bond strength of bulk fill and low shrinkage composite for different depths of Class II cavities with the cervical margin in cementum: An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry 19(6):p 532-535, Nov–Dec 2016. | DOI: 10.4103/0972-0707.194023.[15]
16. Aggarwal, Nidhi; Jain, Anjula; Gupta, Hitesh; Abrol, Aman; Singh, Charanjeet; Rapgay, Tenzin. The comparative evaluation of depth of cure of bulk-fill composites – An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry 22(4):p 371-375, Jul–Aug 2019. | DOI: 10.4103/JCD.JCD_453_18.[16]
17. Mubashir, Nawaz; Mir, Rafiq Ahmad. Paper Abstracts. Journal of Conservative Dentistry 26(Suppl 1):p S35-S193, March 2023.[17]
18. Hegde, Nishmitha N.1; Gatti, Priya2; Balan, Usha3; Ravinanthanan, Manikandan4; Vittal, Chaithra Lakshmi1; Hegde, Mithra N.1. Effect of radiation on microhardness and ultramorphological changes in dentin – An in vitro analysis. Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics 28(7):p 626-631, July 2025. | DOI: 10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_237_25.[18]
19. Jyothi, KN; Crasta, Shanol; Venugopal, P. Effect of five commercial mouth rinses on the microhardness of a nanofilled resin composite restorative material: An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry 15(3):p 214-217, Jul–Sep 2012. | DOI: 10.4103/0972-0707.97938.[19]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53274/IJCRD.2026.7102Dimensions
How to Cite
