THE EFFECT OF FILLER CONTENT AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ON LINEAR DIMENSIONAL CHANGE AND ACCURACY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL PRISMA AP.H COMPOSITE INLAY MATERIAL.

Abstract

The effect of filler content and storage conditions such as drying, storing in water and thermal cycling on linear dimensional changes were investi- gated and evaluated. The dimensional accuracy studies were performed using a specific designed mould and a coordinate measuring machine. The findings gave support to the view that tiller content is an important factor influencing the physical and mechanical properties of the compos- ite inlay material. The higher tiller content gave less polymerization shrink- age. The greatest linear shrinkage recorded was 0.79 %. The average linear shrinkage (in air, water and thermal cycling) for 79 % filler Prisma AP.H was 0.33 %, for 65 % tiller Prisma AP.H was 0.35 % and for 50 % filler Prisma AP.H was 0.42 %. Generally, dimensional changes was great- est when stored dry. This was followed by materials which were thermal cycled. The least dimensional change recorded was when the materials were stored in water.