Measurement of dental crown wear -In vitro study.

The purpose of the study was to test new method for in vitro evaluation of dental material wear with 3D digitization procedure. Thirty dental crowns, made of polyetheretherketone and veneered with composite material, were subjected to wear test. The crown surface was digitized using coordinate measuring machine before and after the performed wear test. Mesh 3D models were reconstructed and average and maximum depth of lost material and volume loss was calculated (GOM Inspect 2016 software). Mean average depth value amounted 12±7 µm, maximum depth value was 42 µm, while mean volume loss was 0.0024 mm3. The smallest measured values were 4 µm for depth value and 0.0003 mm3 for volume loss. Coefficient of variation was very high for all tested parameters (>50%) as a result of data inconsistency. Within the limitations of applied methodology, the possibility of using coordinate measuring machine in measurement of dental material wear was confirmed.

Reliability of conventional shade guides in teeth color determination.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Color matching in prosthodontic therapy is a very important task because it influences the esthetic value of dental restorations. Visual shade matching represents the most frequently applied method in clinical practice. Instrumental measurements provide objective and quantified data in color assessment of natural teeth and restorations. In instrumental shade analysis, the goal is to achieve the smallest deltaE value possible, indicating the most accurate shade match. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of commercially available ceramic shade guides. METHODS: VITA Easyshade spectrophotometer (VITA, Germany) was used for instrumental color determination. Utilizing this device, color samples of ten VITA Classical and ten VITA 3D - Master shade guides were analyzed. Each color sample from all shade guides was measured three times and the basic parameters of color quality were examined: deltaL, deltaC, deltaH, deltaE, deltaElc. Based on these parameters spectrophotometer marks the shade matching as good, fair or adjust. RESULTS: After performing 1,248 measurements of ceramic color samples, frequency of evaluations adjust, fair and good were statistically significantly different between VITA Classical and VITA 3D Master shade guides (p = 0.002). There were 27.1% cases scored as adjust, 66.3% as fair and 6.7% as good. In VITA 3D - Master shade guides 30.9% cases were evaluated as adjust, 66.4% as fair and 2.7% cases as good. CONCLUSION: Color samples from different shade guides, produced by the same manufacturer, show variability in basic color parameters, which once again proves the lack of precision and nonuniformity of the conventional method.

[Fracture toughness of zirconia ceramic crowns made by feather-edge tooth preparation design].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fracture toughness determines functional crown strenght and prevents damages on ceramics during mastication. There is a lack of relevant literature data about fracture toughness of crowns made by feather-edge preparation. Mechanical testing of ceramic samples is supposed to show if feather-edge tooth preparation is a successful method for making ceramic crowns without any risk of reduction of their mechanical properties. This research was done to establish effects of feather-edge tooth preparation on fracture toughness of single zirconia ceramic crowns. METHODS: The research was performed as an experimental study. Sixty (60) ceramic crowns were made on non-carious extracted human premolars. Thirty (30) crowns were made on the basis of feather-edge preparation (experimental group I). The group II included 30 crowns made on 1 mm rounded shoulder. Crowns fabrication was executed on a copy mill production system "Zirkonzahn" (Zirkonzahn GMBH, Gais, Germany). The spherical compression test was used to determine fracture toughness, using 6 mmn diameter ceramic ball. Fracture load for damaging ceramic crown was recorded on a universal testing machine--Zwick, type 1464, with the speed of 0.05 mm/min. RESULTS: The results of this research introduced significant differences between fracture toughness of ceramic samples in every examined group. However, fracture toughness of crowns from both group was above 2000 N, what was double beyond a recommended value. The mean value of fracture toughness in the feather-edge group was 2090 N, and in shoulder group it was 2214 N. CONCLUSION: This research showed a high fracture toughness of zirconia crowns made on feather-edge preparation. The examined crowns showed a fracture resistance at a sufficient distance in relation to the minimum values of functional loads. Further research of functional loads of these crown is necessary, as well as research of marginal adaptation of cemented crowns and gingival inflammatory response.

[Immediate implant loading with fixed dental restorations--an animal model study].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Immediate loading is considered to be the most innovative technique in contemporary implant dentistry. Recent clinical and experimental findings have demonstrated that only implants with high primary stability can be subjected to immediate loading protocol with predictable results. It is generally accepted that the most important prerequsite for successful osseointegration is achievement and maintenance of implant stability. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the possibility for successful application of immediate loading protocol in implant systems with different surface properties. METHODS: In the experimental study 2 mongrel dogs were edentulated bilaterally in the mandibular and maxillary premolar areas. After 3 months implants were placed in a pattern 4 different commercially available implants per quadrant (n = 32): Mk III TiUnite (Nobel Biocare, Sweden), ITI TPS (Straumann, Switzerland), 31-Osseotite (Implant Innovation, USA) and XiVE Cell-Plus (Friadent, Germany). Implants were subjected to immediate loading with 4 unit gold cast bridges, 2 days post implantation. The assessment of implant stability and immediate loading possibilities were done by performing Resonance frequency analysis (RFA). RESULTS: After a 6-month loading period all bridges were in function and all implants occurred well osseointegrated. When summarizing the Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) values, it was noted that resonance frequency was significantly higher for mandibular implants. The results of this experimental setting showed that all evaluated surfaces achieved good implant stability. Increase of ISQ values was found for all implants in the mandible and partially decrease of ISQ values for maxillary implants after 6 months of functional loading with 4 unit bridges. CONCLUSIONS: Investigated endooseal implants did not show different degree of osseointegration, because there was not statisticaly significant difference among observed parameters (ISQh i ISQp) between implant systems.