• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.430-438
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation of four commercial composite resins-Prodigy(Kerr, USA), Vitalescence(Ultradent, USA), Z 250(3M, USA), Filtek flow(3M, USA)- in an alkaline solution. Resistance to degradation was evaluated on the basis of following parameters: (a) mass loss(%), (b) Si loss(ppm), (c) degradation depth($\mu}m$). The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference between Prodigy and Vitalescence, also Z 250 and Filtek flow. But, there was significant difference between former group and latter group. 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Z 250, Filtek flow, Prodigy, Vitalescence. There was significant difference among the materials. 3. The sequence of the Si loss was in descending order by Filtek flow, Z 250, Prodigy, Vitalescence. There was significant difference among the materials. 4. The correlation coefficient between mass loss and degradation layer depth(r=0.714, p<0.05), mass loss and Si loss(r=0.770, p<0.05), and degradation layer depth and Si loss(r=0.930, p<0.05) were relatively high. 5. When observed with SEM, destruction of bonding was observed between resin matrix and filler. 6. When observed with CLSM, degradation layer depth of composite resin surface was observed.