Background: The chemical properties of the oral environment have an appreciable influence on the in vivo degradation of CAD/CAM materials.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of organic acids, heptane and ethanol (the food-simulating liquids) on CAD/CAM restorative materials.
Methods: Four CAD/CAM materials were selected: (1) 3M ESPE LAVA Ultimate, (2) VITA Enamic, (3) IPS e.max CAD, (4) VITA Suprinity. Seven different samples were fabricated in 15 × 4 × 1.2 mm dimensions from each material (n = 7, N = 140). The materials were conditioned for 7 days at 37 °C as follows: artificial saliva, 75% ethanol, heptane, 0.02 N citric acid, 0.02 N lactic acid in aqueous solution and were tested to obtain flexural strength, surface micro-hardness and wear characteristics. After conditioning, the flexural strength values were assessed using a universal testing machine (1 mm/min crosshead speed) and the fractured samples were used for determination of Vickers hardness values using a digital micro-hardness tester (100 g/10 s) and determination of wear using a chewing simulator. Two factor analysis of variance with interaction model and Tukey's post hoc test were used for statistical analysis.
Results: The highest mechanical property values were found for IPS e.max and VITA Suprinity and the lowest values were found for LAVA Ultimate. Organic acids negatively affected the mechanical properties of e.max CAD and Suprinity. Ethanol and heptane were more effective on LAVA Ultimate and Enamic. There were significant differences among groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The mechanical properties of CAD/CAM restorative materials are influenced by food-simulating liquids.
Keywords: CAD/CAM; food-simulating liquids; mechanical properties.