Evaluation of Cytotoxicity, Cell Attachment, and Elemental Characterization of Three Calcium Silicate-Based Sealers.

We investigated three calcium silicate-based sealers with respect to their chemical characterization, cytotoxicity, and attachment to RAW264.7 cells. BioRoot RCS (BR), Bio-C Sealer (BC), and Sealer Plus BC (SPBC) were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) (n = 4) for elemental characterization, and using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate cell morphology and adhesion. Cytotoxicity was determined at different dilutions (1:1, 1:2, and 1:5) using the succinate dehydrogenase activity (MTT assay). Statistical analysis was performed for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test and for homoscedasticity using Levene's test, and one-way ANOVA, Tukey's/Dunnett's post hoc tests for cell viability and XRF (α = 0.05). Calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide were detected by FTIR in all groups. EDX detected a higher calcium content for BR and SPBC and aluminum only in the premixed sealers. XRF detected the highest calcium release in BR (p < 0.05). The surface morphology showed irregular precipitates for all the sealers. SPBC at a 1:2 dilution resulted in the lowest cell viability compared to BR (p < 0.05) and BC (p < 0.05). The calcium silicate-based sealers produced a statistically significant reduction in cellular viability at a 1:1 dilution compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). All the sealers maintained viability above 70%.

Effect of temperature and humidity on post-gel shrinkage, cusp deformation, bond strength and shrinkage stress - Construction of a chamber to simulate the oral environment.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the effect of environment on post-gel shrinkage (Shr), cuspal strains (CS), microtensile bond strength (µTBS), elastic modulus (E) and shrinkage stress in molars with large class II restorations. METHODS: Sixty human molars received standardized Class II mesio-oclusal-distal cavity preparations. Restorations were made with two composites (CHA, Charisma Diamond, Heraus Kulzer and IPS Empress Direct, Ivoclar-Vivadent) using three environment conditions (22°C/50% humidity, 37°C/50% humidity and 37°C/90% humidity) simulated in custom developed chamber. Shr was measured using the strain gauge technique (n=10). CS was measured using strain gauges. Half of the teeth (n=5) were used to assess the elastic modulus (E) and Knoop hardness (KHN) at different depths using microhardness indentation. The other half (n=5) was used to measure the µTBS. The composites and environment conditions were simulated in a two-dimensional finite element analysis of a tooth restoration. Polymerization shrinkage was modeled using Shr data. The Shr, CS, µTBS, KHN and E data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (significance level: 0.05). RESULTS: Both composites had similar Shr, CS, µTBS and shrinkage stress. CHA had higher elastic modulus than IPS. Increasing temperature and humidity significantly increased Shr, CS and shrinkage stress. µTBS were similar for groups with lower humidity, irrespective of temperature, and higher with higher humidity. E and KHN were constant through the depth for CHA. E and KHN values were affected by environment only for IPS, mainly deeper in the cavity. Shrinkage stress at dentin/composite interface had high inverse correlation with µTBS. Shrinkage stress in enamel had high correlation with CS. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing temperature and humidity caused higher post-gel shrinkage and cusp deformation with higher shrinkage stresses in the tooth structure and tooth/restoration interface for both composites tested. The chamber developed for simulating the oral environment conditions will improve the realism of in vitro studies. Clinical significance Simulating oral temperature and humidity is important to better determine the biomechanical behavior of composite resin restoration. Avoiding high humidity during restorative procedures using rubber dam isolation may reduce cuspal deformation and shrinkage stress and improve the bonding strength of posterior composite restorations.

Effect of silane type and air-drying temperature on bonding fiber post to composite core and resin cement.

This study evaluated the influence of silane type and temperature of silane application on push-out bond strength between fiberglass posts with composite resin core and resin cement. One hundred and sixty fiberglass posts (Exacto, Angelus) had the surface treated with hydrogen peroxide 24%. Posts were divided in 8 groups according to two study factors: air-drying temperature after silane application (room temperature and 60 ºC) and silane type: three pre-hydrolyzed--Silano (Angelus), Prosil (FGM), RelyX Ceramic Primer (3M ESPE) and one two-component silane--Silane Coupling Agent (Dentsply). The posts (n=10) for testing the bond strength between post and composite core were centered on a cylindrical plastic matrix and composite resin (Filtek Z250 XT, 3M ESPE) that was incrementally inserted and photoactivated. Eighty bovine incisor roots (n=10) were prepared for testing the bond strength between post and resin cement (RelyX U100, 3M ESPE) and received the fiberglass posts. Push-out test was used to measure the bond strength. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (α=0.05). ANOVA revealed that temperature and silane had no influence on bond strength between composite core and post. However, for bond strength between post and resin cement, the temperature increase resulted in a better performance for Silane Coupling Agent, Silano and RelyX Ceramic Primer. At room temperature Silane Coupling Agent showed the lowest bond strength. Effect of the warm air-drying is dependent on the silane composition. In conclusion, the use of silane is influenced by wettability of resinous materials and pre-hydrolyzed silanes are more stable compared with the two-bottle silane.