Effect of Aging on Surface Roughness and Color Stability of a Novel Alkasite in Comparison with Current Direct Restorative Materials.

AIM: To compare the surface roughness and color stability of a novel alkasite with current direct restorative materials with and without an aging step. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-six specimens of each of the following materials were prepared: alkasite, ormocer, giomer, high-viscosity glass ionomer, glass carbomer, and nanohybrid composite (control). Half of the specimens in each group were stained, the other half of the specimens were aged and then stained. Color and surface roughness evaluations were conducted at baseline, after aging and after staining, using a dental spectrophotometer, and a three-dimentional (3D) noncontact optical profilometer, respectively. Statistical analyses were completed using one-way analysis of variance, post hoc Tukey test, and paired samples t-test. RESULTS: At baseline and after aging, the surface of alkasite was found to be rougher than nanohybrid composite and ormocer surfaces (p<0.05). However, in terms of roughness increase caused by aging, ormocer, nanohybrid composite, and alkasite were affected in a similar way (p>0.05). In terms of color stability, alkasite was more colored than nanohybrid composite and ormocer (p<0.05), and performed similar to giomer (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The surface roughness and color stability characteristics of alkasite material was between composite resins and glass ionomer-based materials after aging.

Clinical performance of a combined approach for the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth: Three-year results.

OBJECTIVE: The long-term clinical performance of combined therapy including enamel microabrasion and vital bleaching is debatable due to the abrasion of outer enamel surface. The aim of this longitudinal cohort study was to evaluate the 3-year clinical performance of enamel microabrasion in combination with vital tooth bleaching for the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with 176 fluorosed incisors and canines were included in this study. All the teeth were treated with enamel microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent), and at-home bleaching technique (10% Opalescence PF, Ultradent). Fluorosed teeth were evaluated at baseline, after microabrasion, after combined therapy, and at 3-year follow-up in terms of esthetic criteria (esthetic appearance, brown stains, and opaque white areas), side effects, and patient satisfaction using visual analog scales. The data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Fluorosed teeth revealed significantly better esthetic appearance after microabrasion and combined therapy and at 3-year follow-up compared to those at baseline (P P Conclusions: The combined therapy was effective in the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth. However, a significant relapse was observed in the esthetic appearance and brown stains of these patients after 3 years, which also reduced patient satisfaction.

Comparison of enamel microabrasion with a combined approach to the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth.

OBJECTIVE: To compare in vivo the efficacy of enamel microabrasion alone or in combination with vital tooth bleaching for the management of tooth discoloration caused by fluorosis. METHODS: A total of 118 maxillary and mandibular fluorosed incisors and canines in 10 patients, scored from 1 to 7 according to the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis, were included in this study. All of the teeth were initially treated with enamel microabrasion (Opalustre, Ultradent Products Inc, South Jordan, UT, USA), and after 24 hours, an in-office bleaching technique (Opalescence Boost, Ultradent) was utilized (n=118). Standardized images of the teeth were taken using a digital camera prior to treatment and 24 hours after the enamel microabrasion and after the in-office bleaching therapy. The study groups were assigned according to evaluation time: a) after enamel microabrasion (Group 1) and b) after the combined approach (enamel microabrasion and in-office bleaching) (Group 2). Two calibrated and blinded examiners scored Group 1 and Group 2 images by comparing each with baseline images for "improvement in appearance," "changes in brown stains," and "changes in white opaque areas" using the visual analogue scales (VAS) that range from 1 to 7. "Patient satisfaction," "tooth sensitivity," and "gingival problems" were also recorded. The data were analyzed using two sample paired Wilcoxon signed-rank, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U-tests (α=0.05). RESULTS: The combined therapy revealed significantly higher scores than the enamel microabrasion procedure in terms of all of the evaluated criteria (p<0.001). Enamel microabrasion provoked less tooth sensitivity but led to lower patient satisfaction scores than the combined therapy (p<0.001); however, in terms of gingival problems, no differences were found between both groups. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy, including enamel microabrasion and in-office bleaching, was more effective than enamel microabrasion alone in the esthetic management of fluorosed teeth.