INTRODUCTION: The absorption/adsorption of water molecules by hydrophilic monomers within the resinous material exposed to the humid environment of the mouth may result in degradation. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the sorption and solubility of methacrylate-based resin and silorane in contact with artificial saliva after 1 day (short-term), 30 days and 90 days (medium-term). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty samples were prepared with Filtek® Z250 and Filtek® P90 Silorano (3M/ESPE) and then immersed in artificial saliva at 37 ± 1 ºC for 1, 30 and 90 days. Data were analyzed using one-way/two-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey or Tamhane tests (α = 0.05). RESULT: The sorption and solubility of two resins increased with the evaluation time (p = 0.001). Sorption of Z250 (at 1 and 90 days) was significantly higher than that of P90 ( p = 0.008), and similar values were registered at 30 days. Resin solubility also increased with time and there were significant differences for all time periods (p = 0.001), except for P90 at 1 and 30 days. There were no significant differences between Z250 (1 day) and P90 (1 day), Z250 (1 day) and P90 (30 day), and Z250 (30 days) and P90 (90 days). Significant differences were shown for other pairings (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The solubility and sorption properties of the composites tested were influenced by time of exposure to artificial saliva. Silorane performed better than or similar results to methacrylate-based resin.
Absorption; composite resins; silorane resins; solubility