Background: The study investigates newly developed composite materials with advanced filler technology and modified resin matrices, designed to enhance esthetic quality, clinical efficiency, and mechanical properties. This study evaluated the effect of two light-curing protocols—a conventional low-voltage (LV) protocol (10 s at 1200 mW/cm²) and a high-voltage (HV) protocol (3 s at 3000 mW/cm²)—on the microhardness (MH), bottom/top MH ratio, and the correlation between filler content (wt%, vol%) and MH of bulk-fill resin-based composites (RBCs). Four RBCs were tested: Tetric PlusFill (TPF), Tetric Plus Flow(TPFW), Tetric PowerFill (PFL), and Tetric PowerFlow (PFW). Materials and Methods: Samples were fabricated in the laboratory using specially designed cylindrical molds (diameter = 8 mm, height = 4 mm). Initial MH was measured on the top and bottom surfaces of composite specimens 24 h after light curing using a digital microhardness tester (QNESS 60 M EVO, ATM Qness GmbH, Mammelzen, Germany). The correlation between the filler content (wt%, vol%) and the MH of the RBCs was tested. For the calculation of depth-dependent curing effectiveness, the bottom/top ratio for initial MH was used. Conclusions: The MH of bulk-fill RBCs was found to be influenced by both material composition and the applied light-curing protocol. An increase in filler content resulted in higher MH values under both protocols, with the filler volume fraction exhibiting a stronger correlation than the weight fraction. While both flowable and sculptable Tetric Plus composites exhibited higher MH values under the HV protocol, Tetric Power composites demonstrated greater initial hardness under LV protocol. The flowable composite PFW showed the most pronounced reduction in MH under HV curing. The bottom/top MH ratio exceeded 80% in all tested materials, confirming adequate polymerization throughout the composite layers.

Introduction: Medical students, including dental students, are more likely to be burdened with depression, anxiety, burnout, and anorexic tendencies than their peers studying other subjects. In spite of major public health relevance, there is a large knowledge gap regarding mental health issues among Bosnian dental students. The aim of this research is to estimate the depression prevalence among dental students in Sarajevo according to age, gender, and academic year. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th year students at the Dental School, University of Sarajevo, during 2023-2024. Depression was evaluated using the self-reported patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Statistical analysis included the Shapiro–Wilk test, with data presented as means with standard deviations (SDs), medians (Mdn) with interquartile ranges (IQRs), and frequencies. Comparisons between males and females were analyzed using the Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test and one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal–Wallis test across academic years. Results: In the total sample (n = 324), females outnumbered males, 244 versus 80. Clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥10) was reported in 52.79% of students. The average PHQ-9 value was Mdn = 10.00, IQR (6.00, 16.00), M = 11.1, SD = 6.66. The highest average PHQ-9 values were observed in the 4th year and the lowest in the 6th year. Female students had significantly higher average PHQ-9 scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Dental students in Sarajevo exhibited high depression prevalence, but female students were more affected. These findings emphasize an urgent need for targeted mental health interventions in dental education.

Alkasites are resin-based restorative materials that differ from conventional resin composites in the composition and reactivity of their filler system, which enables ion release. Whether optional light activation changes the mechanical properties of the alkasite Cention Forte, compared with self-curing and with a conventional composite, remains insufficiently documented. This in vitro study compared Cention Forte (urethane dimethacrylate-based matrix; reactive calcium fluorosilicate and barium glass fillers) in self-cured (G1) and light-cured (G2) modes with the nanohybrid composite Tetric EvoCeram (G0; dimethacrylate matrix; barium glass, ytterbium trifluoride, mixed oxide and prepolymerized fillers). Top- and bottom-surface Vickers microhardness (VMHt, VMHb), bottom-to-top ratio (BTR), diametral tensile strength (DTS) and compressive strength (CS) were measured (n = 7). G1 showed the highest VMHt (70.3 HV), followed by G0 (63.0 HV) and G2 (57.8 HV) (p< 0.001). Both Cention Forte groups had BTR values of approximately 1.00 (G0: 0.97) as an indirect, surface-based index. G2 exhibited the highest DTS (39.7 MPa) and G0 the highest CS (311.2 MPa). Curing mode accounted for most between-group variance in microhardness, whereas material composition dominated compressive strength.