To test the impact of preheating (25, 37, 54, or 68 °C) of TetricEvoCeram (TEC), FiltekSupremeXT (FSXT), and Venus (V) on flexural strength (FS), shear bond strength (SBS) and interfacial tension (IFT). FS was tested with TEC and FSXT. For SBS, glass-ceramic and human dentin substrate were fabricated and luted with the preheated resin composite (RC). SBSs of 1500 thermal cycled specimens were measured. For IFT, glass slides covered with the non-polymerized RC were prepared and contact angles were measured. Data were analyzed using 2/1-way ANOVA with Scheffé-test, and t-test (p < 0.05). Preheated TEC (37-68 °C) showed higher FS compared to the control-group (25 °C) (p < 0.001). FSXT presented higher FS than TEC (p < 0.001). For SBS to dentin higher values for FSXT than TEC were found. The preheating temperature showed no impact on SBS to dentin. SBS to glass-ceramic revealed a positive influence of temperature for TEC 25-68 °C (p = 0.015). TEC showed higher values than V and FSXT (p < 0.001). IFT values increased with the preheating temperature. A significant difference could be observed in every RC group between 25 and 68 °C (p < 0.001).
Keywords: dental composite; flexural strength; interfacial tension; preheating; shear bond strength.