Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 1981, Volume 8, pages 121-129

The interaction between lining materials and

composite resin restorative materials

G. L. L I N G A R D , E. H. DAVIES a/7c/J. A. VON FRAUNHOFER

Institute of Dental Surgery, University of London
Summary

The effects of four lining materials, Dycal, Procal, Cavitec and Poly F cement on
Adaptic and Concise have been investigated in vitro. The parameters studied were
surface roughness, hardness and colour both with and without an intermediate
(or bonding) resin being present between the restorative material and the liner.
The effects of the four liners on the composites varied both between the lining
materials themselves and with the composite resin. Two materials, Procal and Dycal,
had little interaction with the composites, provided an intermediate resin was used
with the latter. Cavitec appeared to have an adverse reaction with the composites
and Poly F, whilst having no effect on the colour of the composites, did increase
surface roughness. The adverse effects of lining materials were ascribed to minor
constituents, particularly methyl salicylate, present in the formulation.
Introduction

It has been suggested that there is a degree of incompatability between composite

resins and certain hning materials resulting in an alteration in surface hardness and
some discolouration in the former (Bow, 1976). Eugenol-based linings have long
been known to have a deleterious effect on composite resins (Reisbeck& Brodsky,
1971; Griffin & Cannon, 1973; Peyton & Craig, 1971; Civjan, Huget & de Simon,
1973). This was felt to be due to an inhibition of the resin polymerization by the
eugenol constituent although dissolution effects are probably also operative. Calcium
hydroxide-based linings are widely used in clinical practice and whilst the absence
of eugenol was hitherto thought to have eliminated this interaction, there is some
evidence to suggest these materials may also react with the composite resins.
Messing (1971) reported that staining of the poly (methylmethacrylate) composite
TD71 was found to occur over Dycal, a widely used commercial preparation containing a calcium hydroxide base. He suggested that this discolouration may be due to a
trace constituent, namely methyl salicylate.
Adaptic, when exposed to Dycal, was found to show increased surface roughness
and a yellow discolouration of its surface layer. These changes were interpreted by
Grajower, Hirschfeld & Zalkind (1974) in a scanning electron microscopy study as
Correspondence: Dr J. A. von Fraunhofer, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, P.O. Box
35360, Louisville, Kentucky 40232, U.S.A.

0305-182X/81/0300-0121 $02.00

1981 Blackwell Scientific Publications

121

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G. L. Lingard, E. H. Davies and J. A. von Fraunhofer

indicating that interaction had occurred between the two materials. Civjan et al.
(1973) observed a 10% decrease in hardness with Concise and Blendant, when placed
in contact with Pulpdent, a calcium hydroxide-based paste. In contrast, Adaptic and
D.F.R. did not show this effect.
There is an increasing use of composite resins for restoring fractured incisors
and in such cases, a large area of dentine is often exposed with the concomitant need
for adequate lining. Clearly, it is important that there should be no intrinsic discolouration of the composite resin due to interaction with the lining since this could lead
to impaired aesthetics. In fact, it has been suggested (Bow, 1976) that carboxylate
cements might be used as linings to obviate any deleterious effects on the composite
restoration.
This study was undertaken to determine the following:
(1) Whether interaction does occur between linings such as Dycal, Procal, Cavitec
and Poly F cement and composite resins;
(2) whether the interposing of an unfilled resin between the composite material
and the lining material reduces or prevents such interaction.
Materials and methods
Four lining materials, Dycal, Procal, Cavitec and Poly F cement, and two composite
resin restorative materials, Adaptic and Concise, were used in this study. Details of
these materials are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Details of lining materials used
Material

Manufacturer

Principal ingredient

Dycal

L.D. Caulk Company,

Delware, U.S.A.

Calcium hydroxide

Procal

Minnesota Mining and

Calcium hydroxide
Manufacturing Company,
Minnesota, U.S.A.

Cavitec

Kerr Europe,
Scafati, Italy

Zinc oxide and

eugenol

Poly F

Amalgamated Dental
Company, London,
England

Poly carboxylate
cement with fluoride

A test jig was devised that permitted interaction between a composite resin and a
lining material over one half of the specimen with the other half remaining in its
as-set state so that it could be used as a control.
Disc specimens were produced using a metal ring, 2 cm internal diameter and
2 mm deep, one end of which was sealed with tin foil. The hning materials were
inserted into the cavity to half fill it and allowed to set under hand pressure against
a tin foil covered disc to give a smooth as-set surface. When set, one half of the
lining was covered with a single thickness of tin foil and the composite material,
mixed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, was inserted against
the lining and the exposed surface was allowed to set against a glass slab covered
with tin foil for 5 min. When a bonding agent was used, it was painted onto the
hning and allowed to set for 2 min before the composite material was inserted.

.;Y;

Interaction of restorative materials and liners

123

After setting the lining-composite resin disc specimens were stored at 37C for
1 month under one of the following conditions: dry, 100% humidity or immersed
in distilled water. Three specimens of each lining-composite system were prepared.
After testing, the discs were separated and the surfaces of composite resins that
were set against the lining were examined for changes in surface roughness, hardness
and colour followed exposure to the test conditions. Alteration in surface roughness
of the test surface compared to that of the control was assessed visually and with
a hand-held probe. At the same time, any discolouration was also noted, the changes
being designated as slight, moderate or severe. A more detailed colorimetric analysis
was performed with a Lovibond Flexible Optic Tintometer, the procedure having
been described previously (von Fraunhofer & Davies, 1973) and discolouration
was assessed in terms of changes in the chromaticity values.
Surface hardness changes were assessed with a Vickers pyramidal hardness
(V.P.N.) indentor, the surfaces being lightly polished with water-lubricated 800 grit
(17 /xm) silicon carbide paper and chamois cloth impregnated with 6 /xm diamond
paste to facilitate accuracy in measurement.
Table 2. Dycal: visual assessment of surface discolouration roughness and
hardness
Material

Medium

Condition

No change

Slight

Moderate Severe

Adaptic

No bond

Dry
100%
Wet

DRH
DRH
DR

Dry
100%
Wet

DRH
DRH
DRH

Dry
100%
Wet

DH
DH

R
R
DHR

Dry
100%
Wet

D
D
DR

RH
RH
H

Adaptic

Concise

Concise

Bond*

No bond

Bond*

D: surface discolouration.
R: surface roughness.
H: decrease in surface hardness.
^Denotes presence of intermediate unfilled resin layer.

Results
The visual assessment of surface roughness, hardness and discolouration is represented
in Tables 2-5, while Tables 6 and 7 show the colourimetric analysis and Table 8 the
variation in Vicker's hardness.
All specimens showed some variation in one or all of these factors. The alteration
in surface roughness and surface hardness when Dycal, Cavitec and Poly F were set
against Adaptic and Concise was modified by the bonding medium. This caused a
reduction in the observed discolouration of the compositeDycal and composite
Cavitec specimens. There was no discolouration in those specimens exposed to Poly F
cement, whether or not an intermediate resin layer was present but a decrease in
surface hardness and an increase in surface roughness occurred.

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G. L. Lingard, E. H. Davies andJ. A. von Fraunhofer

Table 3. Cavitec: visual assessment of surface discolouration roughness

and hardness
Material

Medium

Condition

No change

Adaptic

No bond

Dry
100%
Wet
Dry
100%
Wet

Adaptic

Concise

Concise

Bond

No bond

Bond

Dry
100%
Wet
Dry
100%
Wet

Slight

D
D

D
D
D

D
D
D
D

D
D

Moderate Severe
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH
RH

Table 4. Poly F: visual assessment of changes in surface discolouration,

roughness and hardness
Material

Medium

Condition

No change

Slight

Moderate Severe

Adaptic

No bond

Bond

DH
DH
DH
DH
DH
DH

Adaptic

Dry
100%
Wet
Dry
100%
Wet

R
R
R

Dry
100%
Wet
Dry
100%
Wet

DH
DH
DH

R
R
R

Concise

Concise

No bond

Bond

R
R
R

DH

DH
DH

R
R

Discussion
The interaction between the two composites and the four lining materials varied
with the nature of the individual materials, the presence or absence of an unfilled
resin intermediate or bonding layer and the storage conditions. In the absence of the
bonding intermediate, Dycal affected the colour, roughness and surface hardness of
both Adaptic and Concise but not when it was present (see Table 2). Procal, however,
caused less alteration in surface roughness and hardness and almost no change in
colour, except under dry conditions with Concise.
In contrast, Cavitec affected both materials irrespective of whether the intermediate
layer was present or not except that under dry storage, this material had no discolouring effect on Adaptic. Poly F, under all conditions, had no effect on the colour and
surface hardness of the two composites although the degree of roughness increased
from slight to moderate in the absence of the bonding intermediate. This roughening
effect on the composites is probably a consequence of the inherent surface roughness
of Poly F itself. When a bonding medium is present, it might provide a slight 'cushioning' and smoothing effect so that the effect of the surface irregularity of the lining
is reduced and, consequently the composite roughness is less marked.

Interaction of restorative materials and liners

125

Table 5. Procal: visual assessment of changes in surface discolouration,

roughness and hardness
Material

Medium

Condition

No change

Slight

Moderate Severe

Adaptic

No bond

Dry
100%
Wet

D
D
D

Adaptic

Bond

Dry
100%
Wet

DRH
RH
RH

DR
RH
RH

RH
RH
H

Concise

No bond

Dry
100%
Wet

DRH
DRH
DRH

D
D

Concise

Bond

Dry
100%
Wet

D
D
DR

Table 6. Colorimetric studies with Adaptic

No bond
Control
Lining
material 37C
Procal

Cavitec

A Pe

Bond

Test
L

A Pe

Control
L

25-7 580 14 25-7 577 14 23-4

Dry
100% & H 25-7 580 14 25-7 577 14 23-4
Wet
23-4 580 14 25-7 577 14 23-4
25-3 577 14 18-2 582 12 23-4
Dry
100% & H 25-7 577 14 18-2 582 12 22-3
Wet
23-4 577 14 17-3 582 12 22-3

A Pe

Test
L

A Pe

580 14 22-3 577 14

580 14 22-3 577 14
580 14 22-3 577 14
577 14 22-3 577 14
577 14 22-3 577 14
577 14 22-3 582 12

PolyF

Dry
25-7 580 14 22-3 580 14 24-3 580 14 22-9 580 13
&
H
26-3 580 14 20 9 580 14 23-7 580 14 23-3 580 13
100%
Wet
25-7 580 14 19-0 580 14 23-7 580 14 23-3 579 13

Dycal

Dry
25-7 580 14 23-4 580 14 21-3 577 14 21-3 577 14
100% & H 25-7 580 14 21-3 580 14 23-4 577 14 24-5 577 14
Wet
23-4 580 14 21-3 580 14 19 5 577 14 21-3 577 14

L=luminance.
A=dominant wave length (nm).
Pe=spectral purity.

The yellow discolouring effect of the liners of the composites was most apparent
under moist conditions. Using the system described previously for measurement of
the colour change (von Fraunhofer & Davies, 1973), a pattern emerged whereby
alteration in the luminance values was detected with all systems. Overall, there was
a decrease in luminance when Dycal, Cavitec and Poly F were set against Adaptic and
Concise but an increase or little change occurred with Procal. This alteration in luminance is indicative of changes in the composite surface topography, Procal causing the
least disruption. There was little alteration in the spectral purity and dominant
wavelength for the Adaptic systems except when exposed to Cavitec. Here, a shift in
dominant wavelength of 5 fxm occurred, a definite alteration in colour. However, these

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G. L. Lingard, E. H. Davies andJ. A. von Fraunhofer

Table 7. Colorimetric studies with Concise

No bond

Dry
100%
Wet
Cavitec Dry
100%
Wet
PolyF Dry
100%
Wet
Dycal Dry
100%
Wet

& H

&H

& H

& H

Test

A Pe

A Pe

A Pe

A Pe

24-5 579 18
23-4 579 18
24-5 579 18
24-5 579 18
24-5 579 18
24-5 579 18
25-3 578 19
24-3 578 19
24-5 578 19
23 -4 579 18
23-4 579 18
24-5 579 18

26-9
26-9
28-8
19-5
20-8
21-8
27-8
26-2
21-5
19-5
26-9
23-4

578 19
578 19
578 19
579 18
578 21
578 21
578 19
578 18
578 19
577 20
578 19
578 19

26-9
26-9
26-9
24-5
24-5
24-5
24-1
25-3
24-5
24-5
26-5
24-5

579 18
579 18
579 18
580 18
580 18
580 18
578 22
578 21
578 22
578 19
578 19
578 19

26-9
23-4
26-5
20-4
20-4
20-4
28-3
14-2
27-7
25-9
26-5
21-8

580 18
579 IB
579 18
580 18
579 18
579 18
578 18
578 18
578 18
577 17
578 19
578 21

Procal

Control

Test

Control
Lining
material 37C

Bond

L = luminance
A = dominant wave length (nm).
Pe = spectral purity
Table 8. Indentation hardness (V.P.N.)
Adaptic

Bondt

No bond*
Control

Concise
No bond*

Test

Control

Test

97-6 68-6
91 8 86 9
90-0 77-2

99-4
861
94-1

68-1
95-1
94-1

89-2 65-5
101 0 100-0
101-0 83-2

91-6 98-5
95-1 105-0
94-1 84-7

&H

97-6
908
90-0

79-8
861
68-1

99-4
92-4
87-6

79-2
78-5
90-8

90-0
99-4
103-0

80-3
82-5
84-0

92-4
95-8
93-2

81-2
94-1
87-6

Poly F Dry
100% & H
Wet

98-5
91 6
91-6

91-6
82-5
81-2

99-4
91 6
87-6

95-2
90-0
70-2

90-0
89-2
81-6

91-5
94-6
93-2

81-6
94-1
90-8

Procal

98-5 97-6
91-6 9 4 6
90 0 94 6

90-8
103-0
101-0
90-8
100-0
101-0

92-4
97-6
99-4

91-6
95-1
93-2

91-6
94-2
94-2

Dycal

Dry
100% & H
Wet

Cavitec Dry
100%
Wet

Dry
100% & H
Wet

99 4 98-5
87-6 91-6
91 6 91 6

Control

Test

Bondt
Control

Test

* No bonding medium (unfilled resin layer) present.

t Unfilled resin intermediate applied to the lining material.

factors showed greater variance when the Concise systems were examined, Cavitec
causing an alteration in spectral purity of 3 % and all three linings, viz. Cavitec,
Dycal and Procal, caused a 1-2 /xm shift in dominant wavelength.
From the readings it is apparent that Concise is affected to a greater degree by
the lining materials than Adaptic, and of these Cavitec had the most marked effect.

Interaction of restorative materials and liners

111

With the use of a bonding intermediate, the chromaticity values for Adaptic remained
more or less constant but those for Concise exhibited some variation; in particular,
a change in luminance of 2-5 % was found when it was exposed to Procal, Cavitec
a n d P o l y F .

.,-.,.--::.:.;-

.-

, - , . - . , , , , . : ,

;::-,-:-v^..^'::".;

This finding also suggests a smoother surface on placing an intermediate between

the lining and composite; Adaptic being less affected than Concise.
It seems that the differences in chromaticity values do not accurately reflect the
observed colour change and this may be due to two factors. A relationship does
exist between luminance, spectral purity and surface roughness (von Fraunhofer &
Davies, 1973) although this is little understood. Therefore, as the differences were not
in the dominant wavelength, reflecting a true shift in colour, but predominantly in
luminance with some alterations in spectral purity the recorded chromaticity assessment may merely reflect characteristics of the surface topography rather than an
actual shift in colour.
It is possible that the standard head of the colorimeter, measuring light reflected
from the sample surface at 45, should be modified. This follows from the fact that
in any measurement of the optical properties of a surface, the geometry of the measuring head can be a factor in the results obtained. Thus, in studying a gloss or bright
surface, i.e. one having a specular refiectance greater than 50 %, a 45 or 60 (from the
normal to the surface) measuring head should be used but for a very glossy or bright
surface, a higher angle (20) instrument is required whilst lower angles should be
utilized for matt surfaces. In contrast, the sheen of a surface should be measured at
low angles, i.e. greater than 70. Thus with a dental restorative material which is
required to exhibit both brightness and sheen, the measurement of optical properties
inevitably requires a compromise to be made, particularly when the surface colour,
which is affected by the measuring angle, is required to be characterized. It is possible
that if a different geometry measuring head were used, any shifts in the dominant
wavelength could be more readily detected. A low angle instrument, for example,
might be able to detect colour changes arising from surface roughness.
Alterations in surface roughness was visually assessed (Tables 2-5). An overall
increase in surface roughness did occur although inherent in the experimental design
was a smooth setting surface for all the lining materials. The most severe disruption
occurred with Cavitec and Poly F, although the use of the intermediate bonding
agent reduced the roughness in all cases except with Cavitec.
Gross changes in surface hardness (Table 3) were also noted when Cavitec was
set against Adaptic and Concise; while these were less for Dycal, there were still
some changes. Procal and Poly F caused little effect.
These findings were generally substantiated when the macrohardness was measured.
Of all specimens Procal caused the least alteration whether in the unbonded or bonded
state. Contrast this with Dycal where alterations of 5-29 V.P.N. were measured
with Adaptic and 1-23 V.P.N. with Concise, the greatest of these occurring in dry
storage. These were reduced with the application of the intermediate resin where
a slight increase was noted with the exception of Dycal-Adaptic in dry conditions.
For Cavitec, on the other hand, macrohardness differences of 5-22 V.P.N. with
Adaptic and 7-19 V.P.N. with Concise were noted. The application of an intermediate bond allowed only slight reduction, and this was chiefly with Concise. An
unexpected decrease of up to 20 V.P.N. was seen for composites set against Poly F
as this was not anticipated following the visual assessment. The greater decrease

128

G. L. Lingard, E. H. Davies andJ. A. von Fraunhofer

in hardness of Poly F was recorded in moist conditions. When a bonding intermediate

was incorporated into the system, less reduction in hardness occurred which confirmed
the visual characteristics. Since the respective bonding mediums contain no filler
particles an assumption that this would result in a further decrease in surface hardness
was not validated. In fact the antithesis occurred, therefore confirming that the
reaction at the composite lining interface is modified by the application of a bonding
medium thus allowing the system to achieve greater strength.
The interaction is probably due to air entrapped between the filled resin and the
lining material thereby inhibiting the polymerization of the adjacent resin. This
incomplete polymerization may be due to a reaction of the atmospheric oxygen
within the chain forming radicals so preventing the chain propogation and cross
linkage to give a highly polymerized structure (von Fraunhofer 1971). The presence
of a bonding medium would effectively reduce the amount of entrapped air so allowing
a more complete polymerization of the resin and therefore achieving a smoother,
harder surface. An alteration in the surface continuity would in turn modify the
optical properties of the resin; as this disruption would be situated at the liningcomposite interface, a greyish discolouration described by Grajower et al (1974)
would be evident.
There is no doubt that both Dycal and Cavitec, when set against Adaptic and
Concise, cause a yellowish discolouration and that this is almost entirely corrected
by the use of an intermediate bond. Dycal and Procal have calcium hydroxide bases,
Cavitec a zinc oxide-eugenol base while Poly F is a carboxylate cement containing
fiuoride. However, the first three all have a common constituent, the essential oils.
A trace of butylene glycol disalicylate being present in Dycal, the eugenol base of
Cavitec and methyl salicylate in Procal. It has been suggested that the essential oils
are incompatable with the cornposites (Messing, 1971) and so causing a yellowish
or greyish discolouration but if this is so, it is not clear how Procal does not interact
as do Dycal and, to a greater degree, Cavitec.
The undersurface of the lining material was also discoloured, this being more
intense than that which occurred in the composites. It is possible the initial reaction
is within the lining material and a by-product is the yellow discolouration which
subsequently penetrates the softened composite, more so in moist or wet conditions.
This interaction would of course be masked by an intermediate resin.
Conclusions

In situations where large areas of dentine are exposed, so requiring a lining prior to
placement of a composite restoration, as in class II fractures seen in anterior teeth
of children, the result of this study indicates the lining material of choice to be Procal.
This lining apparently allows little interaction with either Adaptic or Concise used
with or without an intermediate bond. Dycal, on the other hand gave good results
providing an intermediate bond was used to prevent an interaction between these
materials and atmospheric oxygen, resulting in a poorly polymerized resin surface
which may discolour yellow, have a decreased surface hardness and an increased
surface roughness.
Alternatively, Poly F can be used although when the pulp is in close proximity, a
calcium hydroxide based lining may offer greater protection. There is no discolouration
of the composite when set against Poly F, but a marked increase in surface roughness
does occur, which in tooth fractures with a large labial component, requiring extensive

Interaction of restorative materials and liners

129

lining, may cause an alteration in the optical properties of the composite resulting
in a greyish discolouration. This effect is reduced through the application of an
enamel bonding medium.
Cavitec is not recommended as although the interaction is modified by the intermediate resin, this is less than for Procal, Dycal and Poly F, and the liner would
appear to have a greater adverse effect.
Acknowledgment

We are indebted to Professor G.B. Winter for the motivation and support for this
study.
References
Bow, P. (1976) The case of composite restorative materials in dental practice. Journal of the Dental
Association of South Africa, 31, 449.
CIVJAN, S., HUGET, E . F . & DE SIMON, L . B . (1973) Compatibility of resin composites with varnishes,
liners and bases. International Association of Dental Research Abstracts, 11, 65 (51st General
meeting).
VON FRAUNHOFER, J . A . (1971) The surface hardness of polymeric restorative materials. British
Dental Journal, 130, 243.
VON FRAUNHOFER, J.A. & DAVIES, E . H . (1973) The effect of surface finish and ultra-violet light on
the colour of restorative dental materials. Israeli Journal of Dental Medicine, 11, 8.
GRAJOWER, R . , HIRSCHFELD, Z . & ZALKIND, M . (1974) Compatibility of a composite resin with pulp
insulating materials. A scanning electron microscope study. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 31,70.
GRIFFIN, J.R. & CANNON, R . W . S . (1973) The properties and clinical application of the modern
composite resin. Australian Dental Journal, 18, 26.
MESSING, J . J . (1971) The use of silicate and composites in practice. Proceedings of the British Society
for Restorative Dentistry, 1, 33.
PEYTON, R . & CRAIG, R . (1971) Restorative Dental Materials C. Mosby, St Louis, U.S.A.
REISBECK, M . H . & BRODSKY, J.F. (1971) Strength parameters of composite resins. Journal of Prosthetic
Dentistry, 26, 178.

Manuscript accepted 25 January 1979