Use of Hoy's solubility parameters to predict water sorption/solubility of experimental primers and adhesives

Self-etching primers and adhesives contain very hydrophilic acidic monomers that result in high water sorption/solubilities of their polymers. However, the chemical composition of these products varies widely. The purpose of this work was to vary the chemical composition of experimental self-etching primers and adhesives to determine if the water sorption/solubility of the polymers were affected in a predictable manner. The Hoy's solubility parameters of these mixtures were calculated to permit ranking of the degree of hydrophilicity of the polymers. Water sorption/solubility was measured according to ISO 4049. The results showed highly significant (R(2) = 0.86, P < 0.001) correlations between water sorption and Hoy's solubility parameter for polar forces (delta(p)) of the polymers. Similar correlations were obtained between polymer solubility and delta(p). When these results were compared with previously published results obtained with more hydrophobic resins, excellent correlations were obtained, indicating that Hoy's delta(p) values may be used to predict the water sorption behavior of methylmethacrylate polymers.     

CT angiography of the head and neck: A report of 5 cases

We report on five cases in which patients were examined with CT angiography (CTA). In two cases of facial arteriovenous malformation (AVM), the dilated vascular structure was clearly visible. Moreover, three-dimensional reconstruction allowed observation of the relationship to the bone and comparison with the skin surface. The maximum intensity projection (MIP) image was useful for understanding the spatial relationship between the embolic material and the residual AVM. We also constructed three-dimensional subtraction images. In these images, only the blood vessels and lesion site were visible as bright areas, making it easy to determine the volume of the lesion. CT angiography can be used as a screening method for observing blood vessels and is useful for detailed examination of the relationship between lesions and blood vessels, and for examination of hypervascular lesions.     

Improving the effect of NaOCl pretreatment on bonding to caries-affected dentin using self-etch adhesives

Objective

To evaluate the effect of sodium hypochlorite pretreatment on adhesion to normal and caries-affected dentin using self-etch adhesives.

Methods

Forty extracted human molars with coronal carious lesions were used in this experiment. The occlusal dentin surfaces including the caries-affected dentin in each group were treated as follows: group 1, rinsed with water; group 2, treated with 6% NaOCl for 15 s; group 3, treated with 6% NaOCl for 30 s; group 4, application with Accel for 30 s after NaOCl-30 s pretreatment. After rinsing with water and air-drying, the treated dentin surfaces were applied with self-etch systems (Bond Force and Clearfil Protect Bond) according to the manufacturers’ instructions, and built-up with resin composite. After 37 °C water storage for 24 h, the bonded normal or caries-affected dentin areas were isolated to create an hourglass configuration with a cross-sectional area of approximately 1 mm². The specimens were subjected to tensile stress at a cross-head speed of 1.0 mm/min.

Results

NaOCl-15 s pretreatment significantly improved the μTBS of both self-etch adhesives to caries-affected dentin, while the 30 s pretreatment did not affect them. For normal dentin, NaOCl-30 s pretreatment significantly reduced the μTBS of both self-etch adhesives although the 15 s pretreatment did not alter them. Furthermore, the application of Accel with a reducing effect increased the μTBS to normal and caries-affected dentin treated with NaOCl for 30 s.

Conclusions

The effects of NaOCl pretreatment on bonding of both self-etch adhesives were dependent upon type of dentin (normal and caries-affected dentin) and the treatment time.     

Expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit isoforms in rat salivary glands: occurrence of sense and antisense RNAs of the alpha3 isoform in the sublingual gland

We examined the expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms in rat salivary glands by RT-PCR. Isoform alpha1 was expressed strongly in all three major salivary glands. The alpha2 isoform was expressed in both submandibular gland (SMG) and sublingual gland (SLG) but faintly in the parotid gland (PG). The alpha3 was detected only in the SLG, and the alpha3 mRNA in the SLG was 1/8 of its level in the brain. Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha3 isoform in the SLG, was localized predominantly on the basolateral plasma membranes in serous cells by immunohistochemical method. We also found the presence of natural antisense RNA of the alpha3 isoform in rat SLG: the 1st-strand cDNA prepared with gene-specific forward primers targeted to the CDS region and to the promoter region of the alpha3 gene in place of oligo(dT) or gene-specific reverse primers produced reasonable PCR products corresponding to the alpha3 cDNA sequence by the subsequent PCR reaction. Synthesis of the 1st-strand cDNA with the gene-specific forward primers was prevented by RNase digestion of the total RNA preparation, indicating that the PCR products in the RT-PCR system were not due to the contaminated genomic DNA, if any. The alpha3 protein level in rat SLG increased with aging, and levels of both alpha3 mRNA (sense RNA) and alpha3 antisense RNA were higher in SLGs of aged rats than in those of young rats, respectively.     

A vacuum technique to increase anterior thickness of athletic mouthguards to achieve a full-balanced occlusion.

A full-balanced occlusion is essential for mouthguards. It has been reported that a balanced occlusion for upper and lower anterior teeth is essential for prevention of injuries occurring to the maxillary anterior teeth and alveolar bone caused by horizontal direct impact. The support of the mandibular teeth through the mouthguard is critical to prevent maxillary front tooth injury from a direct impact force. However, some vacuum mouthguard designs may not achieve a full-balanced occlusion. For example, when a player has a malocclusion, an elongated molar or premolar tooth, an open bite, a large over jet or a maxillary protrusion. An improved vacuum fabrication method is necessary to obtain full balanced occlusion in these cases as opposed to conventional vacuum type single-layer mouthguard technique.     

Hardness development of dual-cured resin cements through different thicknesses of ceramics

This study investigated the Knoop hardness of a thin layer in three dual-cured resin cements (Linkmax HV, Nexus 2, and Variolink II HV) irradiated through or not through different thicknesses (1 through 5 mm) of a machinable ceramic. Hardness was recorded at a series of time intervals up to five days, starting from the end of a light irradiation period. Increase in hardness was more rapid over the first 0.5 hour; thereafter it continued at a low rate until maximum hardness was attained. Ceramic thickness had a significant influence on hardness in all dual-cured resin cements, especially when ceramic thickness was more than 4 mm. In addition, it was noted that the polymerization of Nexus 2 seemed to be more dependent on light exposure compared with the other two materials. Variolink II HV and Linkmax HV, on the other hand, seemed to indicate the potential of being compensated by chemical curing to some degree.     

Effects of alumina-blasting and adhesive primers on bonding between resin luting agent and zirconia ceramics

This study evaluated the effect of alumina-blasting and three commercial adhesive primers on the shear bond strength of a dual-cured resin luting agent to zirconia ceramics. Two different-sized zirconia ceramic specimens were treated with or without alumina-blasting and then treated with one of three adhesive primers. Subsequently, specimens were cemented together with Linkmax HV (GC). Half of the specimens were stored in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours and the other half thermocycled 10,000 times before shear bond strength testing. For groups treated with either alumina-blasting or primer, shear bond strength significantly decreased after thermal cycling. For groups treated with both alumina-blasting and one of the three primers, there were no significant differences in shear bond strength before and after thermal cycling (p<0.05). It was thus concluded that the application of each of the three adhesive primers following alumina-blasting was effective for strong bonding of resin luting agent to zirconia ceramics.     

The influence of light intensities irradiated directly and indirectly through resin composite to self-etch adhesives on dentin bonding

This study was designed to evaluate effects of light-irradiated intensities directly and indirectly through resin composites to one- and two-step self-etch adhesives on dentin bonding. One-step (Clearfil S(3) Bond; TS, Bond Force; BF) or two-step (Clearfil SE Bond; SE) self-etch adhesives was applied to dentin surface. The adhesive agent was light-cured with light-intensity of 350 or 600 mW/cm(2), and then resin composite with different colors (translucent or opaque shade) was filled and light-cured with the same light-intensity as the bonding procedure. After 24 h water storage, bond strengths to dentin were determined using μTBS test. For the 600 and 350 mW/cm(2) groups, translucent shade resin obtained higher μTBS than opaque shade resin. Using SE and BF, the 350 mW/cm(2) group in translucent shade resin was higher μTBS than the 600 mW/cm(2) group in opaque shade resin, while TS showed no different μTBS between them.     

A clinical evaluation of the agar alginate combined impression: dimensional accuracy of dies by new master crown technique

PURPOSE: To evaluate the dimensional accuracy of several impression methods including agar alginate combined impression in vivo; the marginal accuracy of stone dies was determined using a new electroformed master crown technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cast cores with knife-edge and chamfer margins and electroformed master crowns were fabricated for 3 patients. Five impressions were taken of each preparation, using agar alginate combined impression and silicone impression materials. Dies were made after impression. The marginal fit of the master crown on each die was analyzed by four-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The marginal fit of the master crown on the dies with chamfer margin was better than those with knife-edge margin for agar alginate combined impression. The shape of the margin did not affect the accuracy when silicone impression material was used. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the agar alginate impression method is clinically acceptable for the chamfer margin, but shape of the margin may affect the dimensional accuracy of dies. The shape of the margin does not affect the accuracy of dies when silicone impression was used. Furthermore, the master crown made by electroforming technique could be useful for clinical evaluation of impression methods.