COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF HARDNESS OF SILVER AMALGAM, SDR POSTERIOR BULK FILL, CENTION N, ZIRCONOMER – AN IN VITRO STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction: There are many options available for the dentist now. These options range from amalgams
as well as composites resins. For the dentists the option of Amalgam materials are one of the oldest filling
materials with good clinical success. Glass ionomer cement was introduced in dentistry in 1970s and
Composite resins got recognition in 1980s. Further in 1990s the compomers came into existence due to
modification glass ionomers. Materials-A 5mm diameter straw was taken and cut to 3 mm in length for
preparing the cylindrical plastic moulds. Sample got distributed into four groups. Group 1 –silver amalgam,
Group 2- SDR posterior bulk fill, Group 3- Cention N, Group 4- Zirconomer. Result- It is observed that,
there is a statistically significant difference of mean values among all groups for microhardness (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that zirconomer showed highest hardness values which can be a good
option as a restorative material to be used clinically. It is also found that SDR posterior bulk fill showed
relatively inferior results.