Shrinkage force analysis of light-cured composite resin

This study examined the polymerization shrinkage of a light-cured composite resin in artificial cylindrical cavities. An analytical model was introduced to determine modulus E and displacement w of the resin as a function of the cavity depth. Shrinkage force P was expressed as the product of E and w. Analytical P values were then compared with the experimental data and following results were obtained: (1) The analytical P values can predict all the important features of the experimental data as a function of the cavity depth. (2) The shrinkage force was suggested to be dependent on the product of E and w. (3) The modulus and displacement of resin were also suggested to be expressed using the analytical model as a function of the cavity depth.