Utility of biphasic calcium phosphate cement as a seal for root-end filling.

The recently developed biphasic calcium phosphate cement (BCPC) consists of α-tricalcium phosphate-tetracalcium phosphate as the solid phase and calcium phosphate solution as the liquid phase. BCPC powder is composed of a single solid solution with a monomodal size distribution. Here, we used a bacterial leakage model to examine the utility of BCPC as a seal for root-end filling. We prepared large (median particle size=9.96 µm; BCPC-L) and small (median particle size=4.84 µm; BCPC-S) BCPC powders. In total, 45 single-rooted teeth were instrumented, resected at the root-end, and retrofilled with experimental materials. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was used as the control. After visual confirmation of BCPC powder size and retrofilling quality by microscopy, bacterial leakage tests were conducted using Enterococcus faecalis. The bacterial leakage tests did not reveal any significant differences between BCPC-S and MTA. Our findings suggest that BCPC-S is useful for root-end filling.

Efficacy of prototype endodontic obturators for novel root canal obturation techniques using a resin-based sealer in various powder-liquid ratios.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine novel techniques using prototype endodontic obturators to obturate a resin-based sealer. METHODS: Powder-liquid ratios of MetaSEAL Soft were changed to obtain suitable root canal sealing, and the physical properties for various powder-liquid ratios were analyzed according to ISO-6876. Tensile bond strength was also examined. Prototype endodontic obturators with a combination of thread numbers and pitch angles were analyzed for sealing ability after MetaSEAL Soft was obturated in simulated root canals. RESULTS: Powder-liquid ratios of 1.0:1, 1.1:1, 1.2:1, and 1.3:1 showed suitable physical properties; however, flow for 1.4:1 was below a standard value. Tensile bond strength increased gradually when the powder-liquid ratio changed from 1.0:1 to 1.3:1, and 1.3:1 and 1.4:1 showed the highest and lowest bond strengths, respectively. Sealing ability increased when pitch angles of the obturators were 5°, 8°, and 11°; 11° showed the best results. Similarly, sealing ability increased when the thread number was 12, 17, and 22 pitches; 22 showed the best results. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the prototype endodontic obturator can be useful for obturating MetaSEAL Soft, and a powder-liquid ratio of 1.3:1 MetaSEAL Soft may be the most suitable for achieving excellent sealing.

Castability and mechanical properties of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy in dental casting.

The castability, mechanical properties, and fracture characteristics of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy were compared with those of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy and pure titanium (CP Ti) for application of this ß-type titanium alloy in cast dental prostheses. Cast specimens were prepared with a centrifugal casting machine. A tensile test was performed according to ISO standard 22674. The castability index for Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was lower than those for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. The tensile strength of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 852 MPa, which was lower than that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and higher than that of CP Ti. The proof strength of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 799 MPa, which was comparable to that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and higher than that of CP Ti. The elastic modulus of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 81.0 GPa, which was lower than the values for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. Elongation of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 5.1%, which was comparable to that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and less than that of CP Ti. The shape of the fractured segment was narrower for Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al than for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. The deformation characteristics of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al may result in decreased stress relative to increased strain during plastic deformation in the stress-strain diagram. In conclusion, Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy has a low elastic modulus and exhibits limited ductile plastic deformation in cast dental prostheses.

Surface porosity of stone casts resulting from immersion of addition silicone rubber impressions in disinfectant solutions.

This study investigated the effects of immersion of addition silicone rubber impressions in disinfectant solutions on the surface porosity of the resulting stone casts. Five brands of type 2 and 3 addition silicone rubber impression materials and one brand of type 4 dental stone were used. Impressions of a master die designed to simulate an abutment tooth were immersed in disinfectant for 30 minutes. The disinfectants used were 2% glutaraldehyde solution and 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde solution. The surface porosities of stone casts obtained from two brands of impression materials immersed in disinfectant for 30 minutes were determined. Results suggest that impression materials immersed in disinfectant solutions need sufficient time before pouring into dental stone.

Dimensional changes in stone casts resulting from long-term immersion of addition-type silicone rubber impressions in disinfectant solutions.

There is a concern that long-term immersion of impressions in disinfectant solutions may cause changes in the dimensions of the resulting stone casts. This study investigated the dimensional changes in stone casts resulting from immersion of five brands of addition-type silicone rubber impressions in disinfectant solutions for 30 min and 24 h. Impressions of a master cast designed to simulate an abutment tooth were immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde and 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde. The diameter of the stone cast was measured using a laser scan micrometer. For four brands of impression materials, 30-min immersion in disinfectant solutions produced no dimensional changes in the stone casts. For four brands of impression materials, 24-h immersion caused a significant decrease in the stone cast dimensions.

Effect of immersion disinfection of alginate impressions in sodium hypochlorite solution on the dimensional changes of stone models.

This study investigated the effect of the immersion of alginate impressions in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 15 min on the dimensional changes of stone models designed to simulate a sectional form of a residual ridge. Five brands of alginate impression materials, which underwent various dimensional changes in water, were used. A stone model made with an impression that had not been immersed was prepared as a control. The immersion of two brands of alginate impressions that underwent small dimensional changes in water did not lead to serious deformation of the stone models, and the differences in the dimensional changes between the stone models produced with disinfected impressions and those of the control were less than 15 µm. In contrast, the immersions of three brands of alginate impressions that underwent comparatively large dimensional changes in water caused deformation of the stone models.

Effect of laser irradiation conditions on the laser welding strength of cobalt-chromium and gold alloys.

Using tensile tests, this study investigated differences in the welding strength of casts of cobalt-chromium and gold alloys resulting from changes in the voltage and pulse duration in order to clarify the optimum conditions of laser irradiation for achieving favorable welding strength. Laser irradiation was performed at voltages of 150 V and 170 V with pulse durations of 4, 8, and 12 ms. For cobalt-chromium and gold alloys, it was found that a good welding strength could be achieved using a voltage of 170 V, a pulse duration of 8 ms, and a spot diameter of 0.5 mm. However, when the power density was set higher than this, defects tended to occur, suggesting the need for care when establishing welding conditions.

Usefulness of orthodontic adhesive-containing fluorescent dye.

Orthodontic adhesive is often left on the tooth surface when a multibracket appliance is debonded, and it is difficult to remove because its colour is similar to that of the tooth. If the adhesive changed colour during debonding, residual adhesive could be more easily removed. This in vitro study evaluated the usefulness of adhesive mixed with a small amount of fluorescent dye for clinical orthodontics. Sixty-four metal brackets were bonded to flattened bovine enamel surfaces using adhesives with three concentrations (0.001, 0.002, and 0.003 per cent) of fluorescent dye, and the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores for each adhesive were determined. Colour penetrating through the transparent bracket was measured using a colour analyser. SBS and fluorescence intensity were examined to determine the stability of the adhesives after they were subjected to a thermal cycle test (1000 cycles). For data that were normally distributed, one-way analysis of variance followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test was used to identify significant differences among the groups. If the data were not normally distributed, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test followed by the Mann-Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction was used. Differences in ARI were determined with the chi-square test. The SBS of the adhesive with 0.003 per cent fluorescent dye was significantly lower than that of the control (Transbond). In ARI tests, significantly more of the adhesive with 0.003 per cent dye was left on the tooth surface after 24 hours compared with the other adhesives. With regard to colour penetration, the adhesive with 0.003 per cent dye was five times more visible than to others. SBS and fluorescence intensity of the adhesives were not affected by thermal cycling. Therefore, an adhesive containing less than 0.002 per cent fluorescent dye provides both sufficient bond strength for orthodontic brackets and sufficient fluorescent colour for easy visualization without aesthetic impairment.

The influence of storing alginate impressions sprayed with disinfectant on dimensional accuracy and deformation of maxillary edentulous stone models.

This study investigated the effects of storing impressions for 3 hours after spraying them with a disinfectant solution on dimensional change and deformation of maxillary edentulous stone models. Three brands of alginate impression materials, characterized by a small degree of contraction in 100% relative humidity, were used. The spray disinfectants used were 1% sodium hypochlorite solution and 2% glutaraldehyde solution. A stone model taken from an impression that had not been sprayed or stored was prepared as a control. The results indicated that the differences in dimensional change between the control and disinfected stone models were less than 24 mum, and that no deformation was observed in the stone models.

Effects of disinfection of combined agar/alginate impressions on the dimensional accuracy of stone casts.

This study investigated the effects of disinfection of combined agar/alginate impressions on the dimensional accuracy of resultant stone casts. Impressions of a master cast designed to simulate an abutment tooth were prepared by combining each of two brands of cartridge-form agar impression materials with an alginate impression material. The impressions were immersed in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes or 2% glutaraldehyde for 30 minutes. The remaining impressions were sprayed with these two disinfectants and then stored in sealed bags for 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Stone casts obtained from the non-disinfected impressions were also prepared as control. Changes in diameter of the stone casts were then measured. Results indicated that storage for 10 minutes after spraying with 1% sodium hypochlorite was an appropriate disinfection method for combined agar/alginate impressions, as well as immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes.