Effect of screw access channel filling materials on uniaxial retentive force of cement-retained implant restorations.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect of various abutment screw access channel filling materials on the uniaxial retention of castings cemented onto the abutment using temporary cement. METHODS: Ten straight, regular platform Esthetic Abutments were used. Fifty castings were divided into five groups and the abutment screw access channels were filled with composite resin (Filtek Z 250), light-cured temporary filling (Clip), temporary filling (Coltosol), polyvinyl siloxane impression material (Elite H-D), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape. Castings were cemented and thermal cycled. A uniaxial tensile force with a cross-head speed of 5 mm/min, was applied to the castings until cement failure occurred. One-way analysis of variance was used to perform intergroup comparisons of the mean uniaxial retentive force (URF) values and Tukey's HSD test was used to determine the group causing the difference. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the mean URF values for the groups (p < 0.01). The mean URF value for the composite resin group was statistically higher than those for the other filling material groups respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The retention of castings cemented to straight implant abutments using non-eugenol temporary cement may be influenced by the screw access channel filling material.

Comparison of microleakage properties of three different filling materials. An autoradiographic study.

The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage behaviour of three restorative materials using the autoradiographic method. The study was accomplished in vitro using freshly extracted human molars and a Ca45 radioisotope and autoradiography. Twenty-seven molar teeth were divided into three experimental groups of seven specimens each. Class II cavities were prepared at the mesio-occlusal aspect and restored with amalgam and two different composite resins. The restorations were finished, thermocycled and tested for microleakage, using the Ca45 radioisotope. The results were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis test. Amalgam exhibited more leakage compared with composite resins. However the differences among the leakage behaviours of three filling materials were not statistically significant (P=0.064).

Tensile bond strength of ceramic orthodontic brackets bonded to porcelain surfaces.

The aim of this study was to compare various surface treatment methods to define the procedure that produces adequate bond strength between ceramic brackets and porcelain. The specimens used in this study, 60 porcelain tabs, were produced by duplication of the labial surface of a maxillary first premolar. The 6 different preparation procedures tested were: (1) sandblasting with 50 microm aluminum oxide in a sandblasting device, (2) application of silane to the porcelain and the bracket base, (3) sandblasting followed by application of silane, (4) acid etching with 9.6% hydrofluoric acid, (5) acid etching with 9.6% hydrofluoric acid followed by application of silane, and (6) sandblasting followed by application of 4-Meta adhesive. The ceramic brackets were bonded with no-mix orthodontic bonding material. A bonding force testing machine was used to determine tensile bond strengths at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm per second. The results of the study showed that porcelain surface preparation with acid etching followed by silane application resulted in a statistically significant higher tensile bond strength (P < .05). Sandblasting the porcelain surface before silane treatment provided similar bond strengths, but sandblasting or acid etching alone were less effective. Silane application was recommended to bond a ceramic bracket to the porcelain surface to achieve bond strengths that are clinically acceptable.

Effect of different acid treatments on a porcelain surface.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of selected surface treatments on the surface texture of a feldspathic porcelain. The three different etchant treatments were, acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) applied for 10 min and hydrofluoric acid (HF) applied for 1 and 4 min. After acid treatment, half of the specimens from each group were cleansed with water and others were subjected to ultrasonic cleaning and then dried. Half of the specimens cleansed with two different methods were treated with silane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the effects of such treatments. Etching with APF displays shallow patterns. Etching for 1 min with HF displays deep channels, pores and precipitates on the surface and as the etching time increased these channels were replaced by larger channels. EDS analyses show that the crystalline precipitates on the etched surfaces, which were not readily soluble in water, were the reaction products of Na, K, Ca, Al, etc. HF displayed a more roughened surface than the APF gel. However, the precipitates remain on the surface after acid application, they can only be removed by ultrasonic cleaning and cannot be removed by rinsing.

Stress distribution on the metal framework of the implant-supported fixed prosthesis using different veneering materials.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated stress distribution in metal frameworks constructed on implants under masticatory forces using computer simulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to study four different veneering materials-metal framework combinations using Calcitek implants. The veneering materials used in the study were porcelain, heat-polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate) resin, microfilled composite resin, and glass-modified composite resin. All computations were conducted for different levels on the buccal and lingual sides. RESULTS: Changing the veneering material on the prosthesis produced significant effects on stress levels and stress distribution on the metal frameworks. Stresses were concentrated along the marginal area of the prosthesis. Acrylic resin showed greater displacement than porcelain, probably because of its lower modulus of elasticity. CONCLUSION: In comparison to porcelain, more stress is borne by the acrylic resin-veneered metal framework under static loading.

The effect of veneering materials on stress distribution in implant-supported fixed prosthetic restorations.

In this study, the effect of various materials used in fabricating superstructures for implant-retained fixed partial dentures on stress distribution around implant tissues was investigated. Five different mathematical models consisting of 11,361 nodes and 54,598 elements were constructed to study porcelain, gold alloy, composite resin, reinforced composite resin, and acrylic resin veneering materials using the 3-dimensional finite element analysis method. MARC K7.2/Mentat 3.2 software was used for the analysis. Reference points were determined on the cortical bone, where perpendicular, oblique, and horizontal forces were applied. Stress values created by oblique and horizontal forces appeared to be higher than those created by vertical forces. Stress seemed to be concentrated at the cortical bone around the cervical region of the implant. Gold alloy and porcelain produced the highest stress values in this region. Stresses created by acrylic resin and reinforced composite resin were 25% and 15% less, respectively, than porcelain or gold alloy. Porcelain and gold alloy produced stress values at the lingual implant sites that reached the ultimate strength values of the cortical bone.

The effect of enamel air abrasion on the retention of bonded metallic orthodontic brackets.

The purpose of this study was to compare the conventional acid-etch technique with an air abrasion surface preparation technique. Eighty freshly extracted noncarious human premolar teeth were randomly divided into the following 4 groups: (1) acid etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds (Express Dental Products, Toronto, Canada), (2) sandblasted with 50 mu aluminum oxide by a microetcher (Danville Engineering Inc, Danville, Calif), (3) polished with pumice followed by acid etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, (4) sandblasted with 50 mu aluminum oxide by a microetcher followed by acid etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds. All the groups had stainless steel brackets (Dentaurum, Standard Edgewise) bonded to the buccal surface of each tooth with no-mix adhesive (Express Dental Products, Toronto, Canada). A Lloyd testing machine (Lloyd Instrument LR 30K; Segensworth West, Foreham, UK) was used to determine tensile bond strengths at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/sec. The mean bond strength values of these are as follows: the only sandblasted group was 38.05 +/- 9.93 N; the only acid-etched group was 62.72 +/- 11.44 N; the group that was polished with pumice followed by acid etched was 69.78 +/- 14.87 N; and the group that was sandblasted followed by acid etched was 89.31 +/- 13. 34 N. The statistical analysis was done by an analysis of variance and Scheff¿e test. The sandblasting followed by acid etching group had significantly higher bond strength values when compared to the other 3 groups. This study showed that sandblasting should be followed by acid etching to produce enamel surfaces with comparable bond strength. The current findings indicate that enamel surface preparation using sandblasting with a microetcher alone results in a significantly lower bond strength and should not be advocated for clinical use as an enamel conditioner.

Evaluation of colour and hardness changes of soft lining materials in food colorant solutions.

The aim of this study was to measure the colour stability and viscoelastic properties of three commercially available soft lining materials in vitro, by exposing them to 3% erythrosine, tartrazine and sunset yellow solutions. The colour changes were determined using a computer controlled spectrophotometer. The colour change of three soft lining materials--Molloplast B, Flexor and Coe Super Soft--were determined after 1, 3 and 6 months storage in three different food colorant solutions. The colour changes of Molloplast B was not noticeable. Only the initial colour value of Flexor was significantly different from the other time interval colour measurements. On the other hand, the colour difference of Coe Super Soft was found to be significantly different at all comparative time interval measurements (P<0.05). According to Shore A hardness values, Molloplast B had an initial hardness of 44 in all three solutions, and there was a slight increase after 6 months. Flexor had an initial hardness of 39, at the end of 6 months the hardness changed a little. Coe Super Soft was fairly hard after processing and Shore A hardness was initially 89 which increased to 95 later on. According to these results, only the hardness values of Coe Super Soft showed a statistically significant difference when compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test at the P<0.05 level. As a conclusion, silicon type soft lining material seems to be more resistant to colour change and hardness than the acrylic type soft liners.

Comparision of diametral tensile strength of microwave and oven-dried investment materials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Microwave drying technique for investment materials is believed to be timesaving by accelerating the elimination of free water content. PURPOSE: This study compared the diametral tensile strength of 4 investment materials used in removable partial denture framework fabrication. The investment materials were subjected to microwave and conventional oven drying at different time intervals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Type III partial denture casting investments (Wirovest, Wiroplus, Biosint, PH2) were tested. A total of 160 specimens were prepared in cylindrical form at a height of 40 mm and a diameter of 20 mm, in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations. Forty specimens were prepared from each product; 20 specimens were dried at 230 degrees C for 1 hour in an electric furnace, the other 20 were dried in a microwave oven for 10 minutes at 600 W. The dried specimens were tested at 2- and 4-hour intervals in diametral compression at a crosshead speed of 0. 5 cm/min. RESULTS: The microwave drying technique resulted in greater diametral tensile strength values for all investment materials. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, microwave drying of type III dental investment materials at 600 W for 10 minutes was, apart from strengthening the material, timesaving for the dental laboratory.

Color stability of denture base acrylic resins in three food colorants.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Three commonly used artificial dyes in food technology are erythrosine, tartrazine, and sunset yellow. PURPOSE: The color stability of 5 commercially available denture base acrylic resins (QC-20, Meliodent, Trevalon, Trevalon High, and Lucitone) was studied in vitro. METHODS: The specimens were exposed to 3% erythrosine, tartrazine, and sunset yellow solutions at 23 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C. Color changes were determined with a computer-controlled spectrophotometer. Five specimens from each material were processed, and initial color measurements were made after 1, 3, and 6 months of exposure to the staining solutions. Finally, the color stability was quantitatively measured again, and color differences (DeltaE) were calculated. RESULTS: For the observations made in 1, 3, and 6 months intervals, the specimens that exhibited the least color change were in the sunset yellow solution. The greatest color changes observed according to the National Bureau of Standards unit system were Lucitone (2.71) in erythrosine solution, Lucitone (2.54), QC-20 (1.71) in tartrazine solution, and QC-20 (1.66) in sunset yellow solution. The changes in the other acrylic resins in the 3 solutions were slight and at trace level. CONCLUSIONS: All materials tested were acceptable from the standpoint of color stability for long-term exposure to these food colorants.

Evaluation of titanium in oral conditions and its electrochemical corrosion behaviour.

Due to its excellent biocompatibility and good mechanical properties, titanium has been used successfully in dentistry for many years. In this study, complete dentures with titanium palatal plates were applied to 10 patients who were in need of upper dentures. The clinical performance of cast titanium palatal plates was determined over a period of 6 months. No increase in accumulation of denture plaque nor mucosa irritation was observed. After the above period, the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of cast titanium and chromium-cobalt palatal plates were compared with the titanium plates that were not left in an oral environment after casting. For the electrochemical corrosion tests, a corrosion cell was designed and artificial saliva with lactic acid was used, with the temperature during the tests being about 37 degrees C. The potential difference between the test sample and the saturated calomel electrode was measured, and after the determination of the rest potentials, the anodic potentiodynamic polarization curves were traced at a rate of 1 mV/s. From the standpoint of corrosion, the titanium plates used by the patients for a 6-month period corroded more than the titanium not used by the patients. This may be due to the casting and processing conditions and the effect of the oral environment.

Effects of different surface treatment methods on the bond strength of composite resin to porcelain.

In this study failures of composite resin/ porcelain interfaces under shear loading were examined. Porcelain firing were made onto metal cylinders and porcelain surfaces were roughened with burrs or treated with hydrofloric acid gel and/ or sandblasted with a Microetcher. Two silane coupling agents were used in five groups, each of which had 22 samples. All of the treated samples were restored with a hybrid-type composite resin. Then each group was divided into two subgroups according to storage times of 24 h and 30 days. After thermocyling the samples which were stored for 30 days, all of the groups were subjected to shear force at the composite resin/porcelain interface until fracture occurred. The results showed that there were differences both in the 24-h and 30-day storage period bond strengths between the various surface treatment methods. The samples treated with all three of the Microetcher, hydrofloric acid and silane exhibited the highest shear bond values after 24 h storage, followed by the microetched/silane and the hydrofluoric acid/silane groups (F: 570.31, P: 0.00). After 30 days, the highest mean shear bond strength values were again with samples treated by all three processes. The storage period and thermocycling decreased the bond strength of samples, however, there was a significant difference among groups (F: 1388-55, P: 0.00). Silane pre-treatment of porcelain was important as the mean bond strength of sandblasted/etched specimens were significantly lower than the other groups which were treated mechanically, in 24 h. Sandblasting seems to have little effect on the bonding. The comparison of 24-h and 30-day samples have also significant difference (F: 91.4376, P: 0.00).

Effect of muscle relaxation splint therapy on the electromyographic activities of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of splint therapy on the electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles (anterior temporalis and masseter) before and after the application of a muscle relaxation splint. Electromyography recordings from the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were analyzed quantitatively during maximal biting in the intercuspal position both before and after treatment without a splint. Fourteen patients whose chief complaint was masticatory muscle pain were selected for the study. After the initial evaluations muscle relaxation splints were applied, and the patients were instructed to use the splints for 6 weeks. Surface electromyographic recordings were taken from each patient before the beginning of clinical therapy and after 6 weeks of wearing the splints. The data obtained were analyzed through paired sample t tests and Wilcoxon's signed rank tests. The results of the study were as follows: (1) the electromyographic activity of the two muscles during maximal biting was not markedly changed after the muscle relaxation splint was used; and (2) the changes observed in electromyographic activity of the involved and noninvolved sides were insignificant as well.

Effect of anterior repositioning splints on the electromyographic activities of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles.

The effect of anterior repositioning (AR) splint therapy on masticatory muscle activity was investigated in seventeen patients with internal derangement; disk displacement with reduction in particular. Integrated electromyography (EMG) recordings from the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were analyzed quantitatively during maximal biting in intercuspal position before and after eight week treatment period, EMG recordings were taken for each subject prior to the beginning of clinical therapy and final EMG recordings were made without AR splint to provide a standard for comparison. The results of the investigation revealed the following: 1. AR splint therapy did not cause any significant modification of the EMG activity in the recorded muscles during maximal biting in intercuspal position; 2. Before and after treatment the EMG activity from the masseter muscle was less than from the temporal muscle; 3. AR splint therapy resulted in reduction of the pain (88.2%) and jaw joint sounds (64.7%) and mean vertical opening which was 42.17 mm before treatment increased to 45.06 mm.

Effect of 4-META adhesive on the bond strength of different metal framework designs and acrylic resins.

The effect of relining the 4-META adhesive resin onto metal alloy of a partial denture framework was tested. Seventy-two metal frameworks with three different retentive patterns were designed. Half of the specimens were treated with 4-META, the other group was left untreated. Thirty-six specimens were first divided into three groups in which 12 samples had different designs of retention, i.e. mesh, ring-shaped and flat plane. Then, each different retentive design was divided into two groups and in one group Lucitone 199 and the other QC acrylic resin were processed. Finally they were subjected to shear test. While samples with adhesive exhibited greater bond strength than the others, samples without adhesive may be ranked in the order mesh, ring-shaped and flat planes with regard to shear bond strength. In samples with adhesive, the flat plane ones displayed better results. Statistically significant differences were observed in the relationships between the groups.

Comparison of stress distribution around vertical and angled implants with finite-element analysis.

The distribution of stress around implants placed in the first molar region of the mandible was biomechanically analyzed in a two-dimensional mathematical model. Two types of implants, vertical and angled, were subjected to a vertical load of 100 N and a horizontal load of 50 N in turn. The magnitudes and contours of compressive and tensile stress within the surrounding bone were determined. For the sake of comparison, maximal compressive stress and maximal tensile stress at the surrounding bone were calculated. There were no measurable differences in stress values and contours when a horizontal load was applied to the vertical and angled implants. However, with the vertical loading, the compressive stress values were five times higher around the cervical region of the angled implant than around the same area in the vertical implant.

In vivo solubility of three types of luting cement.

The in vivo solubility of glass-ionomer, zinc polycarboxylate, and zinc phosphate luting cements was compared. The specimens were inserted in the lingual flanges of the mandibular dentures of 10 edentulous patients. After 8 months, the cement specimens were removed and the amount of solubility was measured with direct techniques. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate surface topography after disintegration. The elements present in each cement were determined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The zinc phosphate and zinc polycarboxylate cements demonstrated approximately equal solubility. Glass-ionomer cement exhibited significantly less solubility than did either zinc phosphate or polycarboxylate cement.

The effect of weight loss of liquid on the diametral tensile strengths of various kinds of luting cements.

The role of water evaporation from the liquids of the cements were tested, and the effect of this loss on their strength was evaluated for 0, 10, 20 and 30 minute, intervals. After 30 minutes the evaporation of liquid from the cements was so high that they lost their luting consistency. The data suggests that the highest weight loss was with polycarboxylate cement liquids, with glass-ionomer and zinc phosphate cement liquids following respectively. However, when diametral tensile strength test values were evaluated it was determined that glass-ionomer exhibited the highest resistance to fracturing and zinc phosphate the lowest. Upon examination of samples which were fractured, while polycarboxylate and glass-ionomer cracked and split into large fragments, zinc phosphate cements fractured into a multitude of small pieces. On the basis of this study, it appears that the manufacturers' recommendations about the powder-to-liquid ratio and the mixing procedures is confirmed particularly and should be adhered to for optimal results.

In vitro corrosion behavior of 13 prosthodontic alloys.

The corrosion behavior of 12 high-gold, low-gold, palladium-silver, and nickel-chromium alloys was tested using electrochemical techniques. A 22-carat-gold alloy was used as a control. High-gold alloys were extremely resistant to corrosion, but the resistance of the alloys decreased with decreasing mobility (from high-gold, to palladium-silver, to low-gold, to nickel-chromium alloys). Tests were also made to determine the type of corrosive attack; nickel-chromium alloys exhibited pitting, and palladium-silver alloys demonstrated the selective dissolution of the silver-rich phases. The corrosion resistance of noble alloys was far superior to that of nickel-chromium-based alloys; therefore, the palladium-silver alloys, which have a moderate price range, may be more suitable for restorations.