Evaluation of pre-heated composite resins with soft-start polymerization and conventional composite restorations in class-I carious lesions - A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

By increasing fluidity and conversion, pre-heated composites enhance adaptability and strength, while soft-start polymerization decreases internal stresses.

AIM: Over a period of a year, this split-mouth design, randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) compared pre-heated composites with soft-start polymerization to conventional composites in class-I lesions, with the goal of improving restoration outcomes.

METHODS

and Findings: Immediately following ethical approval and registration with CTRI, 37 patients with in-formed permission who met specified inclusion and exclusion criteria for class-I lesions were chosen for enrollment. Using a 1:1 ratio, teeth were randomly assigned to Group-A (pre-heated composite with soft-start polymerization) or Group-B (traditional composite restoration). At three-time intervals, the evaluation was blinded and calibrated using Modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria: baseline, six-month, and one-year marks. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 and the Mann-Whitney U test for inter-group comparisons and the Friedman test for intra-group comparisons.

INTERPRETATION: Pre-heated composites with soft-start polymerization performed better in terms of marginal adaptation with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.019) and in terms of color match they performed better clinically (p = 0.062) at 12 months. Other variables like marginal discolouration, sec-ondary caries, anatomic form, post-operative sensitivity, surface texture and retention showed no statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Pre-heated composites with soft-start mode performed marginally better than nanofilled composites. However, both techniques can be used to successfully restore simple class-I carious lesions.