Comparative Evaluation of Water Sorption, Solubility, and Fracture Resistance of an Alkasite, a Fiber-reinforced Composite, and a Nanohybrid Composite: An In Vitro Study

area and actively contribute to remineralizing the tooth structure.8 Compared with material under neutral conditions, the material in low-pH environments has significantly greater ion release.The inclusion of proprietary isofiller technology leads to a substantial reduction in polymerization shrinkage, enabling the convenient placement of bulk increments.9 The fiber-reinforced composite EverX posterior comprises short e-glass fibers and barium glass filler.It is ideal for use in large cavities as it can arrest the propagation of cracks due to the multidirectional and IntroductIonDental caries, a prevalent condition affecting over one-third of the global population, is now considered the most widespread disease worldwide.The report identified untreated cavities in permanent teeth as a major public health concern, impacting over 2 billion people. 1 Restorative dentistry aims to maintain healthy tooth structure, halt caries progression, and restore tooth shape, function, and esthetics.2 Earlier, we strongly emphasized the treatment principle of "extension for prevention," which has progressively given way to "restriction with conviction." 3 Resin-based composites are currently regarded as universal materials for direct dental restorations.Recently introduced ion-leaching restorative materials can endure high masticatory forces and prevent recurrent caries.This is especially important in high-caries-risk individuals, such as pediatric patients, who cannot tolerate time-consuming restorative treatment.4 Several manufacturers have introduced novel bulk-fill composite resins, suitable in cavities with depths of 4 mm, with enhanced curing that not only minimizes voids within the material mass but also substantially reduces the chairside time during dental treatments, aiming to alleviate patient anxiety and improve comfort.5,6 The "alkasite" restorative Cention N is a resin-based, dual-cure, powder-liquid composite incorporating alkaline fillers designed to enhance its properties.7 These fillers discharge particles, which can counteract the acidic compounds surrounding the restoration