Influence of high expansion dental stone used as investing medium on the changes in occlusal vertical dimension of complete dentures

Problem statementDespite advances in materials and techniques, complete dentures made of acrylic resin experience an increase in the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) during processing. Many factors that affect the OVD of complete dentures are known. However, no study has examined the effect of using high-expansion dental stone (type V) as an investing material on the OVD.PurposeThis study investigated the effects of using a high-expansion dental stone as an investing material on changes in the OVD of complete dentures.Material and methodsTwenty sets of simulated upper and lower dentures were processed by the compression molding technique. Specimens were equally divided into 2 groups. In the dental stone type III (DST III) group, the lower, middle, and upper parts of a flask were filled with DST III. In the dental stone type V (DST V) group, the procedure was the same as in the DST III group, except that the middle layer was made of high-expansion DST V. Changes in the OVD were measured before and after denture processing. Collected data were analyzed with t-test statistics. Differences were considered statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.ResultsBoth groups showed a small increase in the OVD as a result of processing, but the OVD increase was significantly less in the DST V group compared to the DST III group.ConclusionHigh-expansion DST V can be recommended as an investing material to reduce the increase in the OVD that may occur while processing complete dentures.     

Influence of silane and solvated bonding agents on the bond strength to glass‐fibre posts

The combined use of silane and solvated bonding agents on the bond strength to glass‐fibre posts was investigated. A model Bis‐GMA/HEMA adhesive was formulated with no solvent, 30% of ethanol or 80% of acetone. The surfaces of rectangular‐shaped posts were silanated or not and one of the agents was applied, except for the control group. Cylinders of resin cement (RelyX ARC, 3M ESPE, Saint Paul, MN, USA) were built‐up on the surfaces (n = 20) and submitted to shear testing. All groups showed higher bond strengths when the surfaces were silanated. When no silanization was carried out, the use of bonding agents, either solvated or non‐solvated, increased the bond strengths. All groups treated with both silane and bonding agent showed higher bond strengths than the group that was only silanated. Control and ethanol‐based adhesives were similar, whereas the acetone‐based agent yielded higher bond strengths. Adhesive failures were predominant. Combination of silane and adhesive enhanced the bond to fibre posts.     

复合树脂多色分层美学修复用于Ⅳ类洞的美学探讨

目的:应用多色分层复合树脂修复前牙Ⅳ类洞,观察其美学修复效果。方法:选取40颗Ⅳ类洞患牙,先经牙体预备,而后制备硅橡胶背板,比色,粘结,多色分层树脂修复,最后进行咬合调整,精细抛光,分别于术后1周、3、6、12、24月复查修复体充填效果。结果:36例充填体在24个月内的各项评价指标均达到临床满意的美学效果。结论:多色分层复合树脂修复前牙牙体,在较少磨除牙体组织的同时取得较好的临床美学效果。     

Validation of micro-CT against the section method regarding the assessment of marginal leakage of sealants

Background: The aim of this study was to validate the micro‐CT and related software against the section method using the stereomicroscope for marginal leakage assessment along the sealant‐enamel interface. Methods: Pits and fissures of the occlusal surface of 10 teeth were sealed with a resin‐fissure sealant material without acid etching, thermocycled for 5000 cycles, immersed in 50% silver nitrate for three hours and scanned using micro‐CT. Teeth were embedded in epoxy resin and cut in three sections. The middle section was subjected to micro‐CT and stereomicroscopy. Images were taken from the left and right sides of the sealant‐enamel interface at both the left and the right site of the section. Two experienced evaluators assessed marginal leakage. Results: Both assessment instruments observed no leakage in 37 out of the 40 images evaluated. Leakage at the sealant‐enamel interface was observed in three stereomicroscopy images only. A fracture line in the sealant was seen on eight stereomicroscopy images and observed in only two micro‐CT images. Conclusions: The quality of the micro‐CT and related software used in the present study does not qualify it to replace the section method as the gold standard for marginal leakage assessment at the sealant‐enamel interface of permanent teeth.     

Surface characteristics of aesthetic restorative materials - an SEM study

To determine the degree of surface roughness of glass-ionomer cements (GICs) and polyacid-modified resin composite (PAMRC) after polishing and immersion in various foodstuffs. Three tooth-coloured restorative materials were used: a PAMRC (F2000), a conventional glass-ionomer cement (CGIC) (Fuji IX) and a resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (RM-GIC) (Fuji II LC). Disk-shaped specimens were prepared and tested with either a plastics matrix finish or after polishing with wet silicon carbide papers up to 2000-grit. All specimens were immersed in 37 degrees C-distilled water for 1 week, followed by three different foodstuffs (red wine, coffee or tea) for a further 2 weeks. Replicas of specimens were prepared by taking polyvinyl siloxane impressions, casting in epoxy resin, gold sputter-coating and examining using a Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. The polished and matrix finish specimens of F2000 showed many microcracks at low magnification, and eroded surfaces with missing and protruding particles at high magnification in the polished specimens. The surface-polished specimens of Fuji II LC were considerably rougher than the matrix-finish specimens, with large voids and protruding filler particles. The effects of foodstuffs on Fuji II LC and F2000 were not noticeable. The CGIC became noticeably rougher after exposure to coffee and tea. All specimens had the smoothest surface when they were cured against a plastics matrix strip, and all materials had a rougher surface after polishing. None of the foodstuffs produced a perceptible increase in roughness on RM-GIC and PAMRC surfaces, whereas coffee and tea markedly increased the surface roughness of Fuji IX.     

Effects of Filling Rate and Resin Concentration on Pore Characteristics and Properties of Carbon Based Wood Ceramics

As a kind of novel porous ceramics, wood ceramics can be used for filtration, friction, energy storage and electrode materials, etc. In current work, the carbon based wood ceramics (C WCMs) was prepared using pine wood powder and phenolic resin as starting materials. The effects of filling rate of wood powder and resin concentration on pore characteristics and properties of C WCMs were characterized and analyzed with different techniques. Furthermore, the association among porosity of C WCMs, filling rate of wood powder and resin concentration was explored with multiple regression model. The results showed that: increasing the resin concentration and the filling rate of wood powder can improve the mechanical properties of C WCMs, but reduce the porosity and air permeability; when resin concentration is more than 50%, a large amount of caking will appear in the C WCMs, causing internal defects; changing the filling rate under a certain resin concentration can obtain the C WCMs with better pore structure; the porosity of C WCMs has a good linear relationship with resin concentration and filling rate, under the condition that sintering process and the size of wood powder are determined.     

Microleakage Analysis of Different Bulk-Filling Techniques for Class II Restorations: µ-CT,SEM and EDS Evaluations

This study aimed to compare two different bulk-filling techniques, evaluating the internal and external adaptation of class II resin-composite restorations, by analysing the gap formation using microcomputed tomography (µ-CT) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Two standardized mesio/disto-occlusal (MO/DO) cavities were prepared in eight extracted human third molars that were divided, according to the filling technique used, in the following two groups (n = 4): BG (Bulk&Go group) and BT (Bulk Traditional group). After universal bonding application, followed by the light curing, all teeth were restored using a bulk-fill composite. Specimens were scanned with µ-CT to evaluate 3D interfacial gaps. Acquired µ-CT data were analysed to quantify the gap formation. Complementary information to the µ-CT analysis were obtained by SEM. Thereafter, the chemical composition of tooth–restoration interface was analysed using EDS. The µ-CT analysis revealed gaps formation at the tooth–restoration interface for both the BG and BT groups, while within the restoration, only in the BT group there was evidence of microleakage formation. The scanning electron micrographs of both groups showed that the external marginal integrity of the restoration was preserved, while EDS showed the three different structures (tooth surface, adhesive layer and resin composite) of the tooth–restoration interface, highlighting the absence of gap formation. In both BG and BT, the two filling techniques did not show significant differences regarding the internal and external marginal adaptation of the restoration. To achieve a successful restoration, the clinician could be advised to restore a class II cavity using a single increment bulk-filling technique (BG), thus treating it as a class I cavity.