Wear pattern-associated color stability of prefabricated composite veneers versus ceramic veneers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of different surface wear patterns on the discoloration tendency of two different prefabricated composite veneers and lithium disilicate ceramic veneers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Discoloration tendency of two prefabricated composite resin veneers (Visalys Veneer Chairside (VIS) and Componeer (COM)) were compared to lithium disilicate veneers (IPS) in vitro. For each material, n = 60 samples were allocated to different test groups, and therefore each n = 10 specimens per group went through different wear tests. Mechanical abrasion tests were conducted using a toothbrush simulator, while erosive effects were carried out by citric acid (pH 1.57). A combination of abrasion and erosion tests was conducted as well. Four groups of wear tests were implemented: (1) abrasion, (2) abrasion followed by erosion, (3) erosion, and (4) erosion followed by abrasion. Another group was stored in distilled water as the control and one group was stained without a prior wear test. The staining solution was made from a coffee-tobacco brew. Specimens were stored in the coffee-tobacco solution for 21 days. Color measurements were performed with VITA Easyshade. To evaluate intramaterial discoloration, one half of every specimen was protected with foil. After storage in the staining solution, the first measurement was carried out on the 'protected' (untreated) surface, followed by a second measurement on the 'processed' (treated) discolored surface. Euclidean distance (ΔE) of discoloration was calculated according to the CIE-L*C*h* system. Data were analyzed with ANOVA followed by Games-Howell post hoc test and paired t-test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Highest changes in ΔE were found in COM after 'abrasion' (ΔE -2.55) and 'erosion followed by abrasion' (ΔE -1.41). The discoloration tendency of VIS was affected by all wear tests, but changes were below the perceptive threshold (ΔE -0.19-0.32). Only abrasion followed by erosion affected the discoloration of IPS significantly, but findings were below the perceptive threshold, as well (ΔE -0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Prefabricated composite resin veneers revealed a low level of discoloration tendency after different wear tests. Nevertheless, in most cases the lowest discoloration tendency was found in specimens made from lithium disilicate.

Comparison of Wear Resistance of Prefabricated Composite Veneers Versus Ceramic and Enamel.

PURPOSE: To measure surface roughness before and after wear-tests of two different prefabricated composite veneers and compare them to ceramic veneers and human dental enamel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Roughness (Ra-values) of two prefabricated composite veneers (Visalys Veneer Chairside (VIS) and Componeer (COM)) were compared to lithium disilicate Veneers (e.max CAD) and dental enamel (DENT) in vitro. In total n = 45 specimens per material and enamel samples were used for wear-tests. Wear-out tests were conducted by abrasion tests with a toothbrush simulator (22,000 strokes/ 100 g load; approximately equal to two years of cleansing) and erosion tests were carried out using citric acid (pH 1.57). Ra- and Sa-values were detected by white light interferometer before and after wear-tests. Data were analyzed with ANOVA followed by Games-Howell post hoc test and t-test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: At baseline the lowest Ra- and Sa-values were found in VIS (Ra: 0.01 µm; Sa: 0.04 µm) while DENT revealed significantly higher surface roughness (Ra: 0.11 µm, p < 0.05; Sa: 0.30, p = 0.186). COM had significantly higher Ra-values (Ra: 0.10 µm; Sa: 0.22 µm) after abrasion, while e.max CAD was most resistant to the treatments (Ra: 0.01 µm, p < 0.05; Sa: 0.05 µm, p < 0.05). Compared to DENT all veneers were significantly less affected by citric acid (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prefabricated composite veneers have demonstrated less wear after abrasion and erosion tests compared to DENT, nevertheless, they revealed more wear compared to e.max CAD.

Comparison of Gingival Retraction Materials Using a New Gingival Sulcus Model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the pressure generated by different retraction materials using a novel gingival sulcus model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A gingival sulcus model was made using a polymer frame filled with silicon. A pressure sensor and a sulcus-fluid simulation were embedded into the silicon chamber to evaluate the pressure generated by different retraction materials. Six sizes of Ultrapak retraction cords (Ultradent, sizes #000 - 3), 4 retraction pastes (Expazen, Expasyl, Acteon, Access Edge, Traxodent) and 2 retraction gels (Sulcus Blue, Racegel) were analyzed. The mean and median pressure, interquartile range, and standard deviation (SD) of n = 10 repeated measurements were calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted by Kruskal-Wallis test for differences between the main groups of retraction materials, and Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to analyze differences between the single retraction materials. RESULTS: Pressure (mean ± SD) generated by retraction cords increased with increasing size (48.26 ± 11.29 kPa, size #000 to 149.27 ± 28.75 kPa for #3). There was a significant difference between sizes (p < 0.01), except in #0 versus #1, and #2 versus #3. Retraction pastes generated pressures that ranged from 82.74 ± 29.29 kPa (Traxodent) to 524.35 ± 113.88 kPa (Expasyl). Retraction gels generated pressures from 38.96 ± 14.68 kPa (Racegel) to 95.15 ± 24.18 kPa (Sulcus Blue). Pressure generated by Expasyl was significantly higher than pressure generated by all other tested materials (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pressure generated by retraction pastes and gels depends on the consistency of the retraction material, while pressure generated by retraction cords increased with increasing size of cords. Expasyl was found to generate the highest pressure compared to all other retraction materials.

Oral health and dental anxiety in a German practice-based sample.

OBJECTIVE: Does dental anxiety have an effect on dental and periodontal health? METHODS: Survey data was collected from n = 200 adults (53 % females, average age 49 years) in a cross-sectional study. Dental anxiety was measured with the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS, score 1-5, the greater the score, the greater the anxiety). Clinical parameters including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (SLI), and bleeding on probing (BoP) as well as the DMFT index were recorded and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Rating of dental anxiety was higher in women than in men (65 vs 35 %). Subjects with higher MDAS values visited the dentist less frequently (p = 0.001) and had more decay (DT 6.7 ± 4.2 vs 1.7 ± 2.4; p < 0.001) but fewer filled teeth than subjects with lower ratings of dental anxiety (FT 7.1 ± 4.5 vs 9.8 ± 5.7; p = 0.042). There were no differences in PD or CAL between subjects with or without dental anxiety, while patients with higher MDAS value showed significantly more BoP (50 ± 19 vs 34 ± 20 %; p = 0.002) than patients with low MDAS scores (no or low dental anxiety). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher ratings of dental anxiety had significantly more caries experience and gingivitis. Therefore, dental anxiety is associated with negative effect on dental and periodontal health. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Identifying patients with high dental anxiety and helping to manage this anxiety has important implications to improve oral health in adults. The MDAS appears to be an easy and efficient tool that can be used to identify patients with dental anxiety in dental practices.

Impact of digital impression techniques on the adaption of ceramic partial crowns in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects, digital impression procedures can have on the three-dimensional fit of ceramic partial crowns in vitro. METHODS: An acrylic model of a mandibular first molar was prepared to receive a partial coverage all-ceramic crown (mesio-occlusal-distal inlay preparation with reduction of all cusps and rounded shoulder finish line of buccal wall). Digital impressions were taken using iTero (ITE), cara TRIOS (TRI), CEREC AC with Bluecam (CBC), and Lava COS (COS) systems, before restorations were designed and machined from lithium disilicate blanks. Both the preparation and the restorations were digitised using an optical reference-scanner. Data were entered into quality inspection software, which superimposed the records (best-fit-algorithm), calculated fit-discrepancies for every pixel, and colour-coded the results to aid visualisation. Furthermore, mean quadratic deviations (RMS) were computed and analysed statistically with a one-way ANOVA. Scheffé's procedure was applied for multiple comparisons (n=5, α=0.05). RESULTS: Mean marginal (internal) discrepancies were: ITE 90 (92) µm, TRI 128 (106) µm, CBC 146 (84) µm, and COS 109 (93) µm. Differences among impression systems were statistically significant at p<0.001 (p=0.039). Qualitatively, partial crowns were undersized especially around cusp tips or the occluso-approximal isthmus. By contrast, potential high-spots could be detected along the preparation finishline and at central occlusal boxes. CONCLUSIONS: Marginal and internal fit of milled lithium disilicate partial crowns depended on the employed digital impression technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The investigated digital impression procedures demonstrated significant fit discrepancies. However, all fabricated restorations showed acceptable marginal and internal gap sizes, when considering clinically relevant thresholds reported in the literature.

Effect of CNC-milling on the marginal and internal fit of dental ceramics: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Machined restorations have been investigated for their preciseness before, while detailed information on the milling-step itself are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this laboratory study was to quantify the effect of a novel milling-procedure on the marginal and internal fit of ceramic restorations. METHODS: An acrylic model of a lower left first molar was prepared to receive a ceramic partial crown and was duplicated by one step dual viscosity impressions. Gypsum casts were formed and laser-scanned to realize virtual datasets, before restorations were designed, exported (PRE) and machined from lithium disilicate blanks. Crowns were digitized by a structure-light-scanner to obtain post-milling-data (POST). PRE and POST were virtually superimposed on the reference tooth and subjected to computer-aided-inspection. Visual fit-discrepancies were displayed with colors, while root mean square deviations (RMSD) and degrees of similarity (DS) were computed and analysed by t-tests for paired samples (n=5, α=0.05). RESULTS: The milling procedure resulted in a small increase of the marginal and internal fit discrepancies (RMSD mean: 3µm and 6µm, respectively). RMSD differences were not statistically significant (p=0.495 and p=0.160 for marginal and internal fit, respectively). These results were supported by the DS data. SIGNIFICANCE: The products of digital dental workflows are prone to imprecisions. However, the present findings suggest that differences between computer-aided designed and actually milled restorations are small, especially when compared to typical fit discrepancies observed clinically. Imprecisions introduced by digital design or production processes are small.

Three-dimensional fit of lithium disilicate partial crowns in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: A novel three-dimensional scanning technique was used to investigate the effects a one-step and a two-step impression methods can have on the three-dimensional fit of ceramic partial crowns. METHODS: An acrylic model of a mandibular first molar was prepared to receive a partial coverage all-ceramic crown (mesio-occlusal-distal inlay preparation with reduction of all cusps and rounded shoulder finish line of buccal wall). Type IV plaster replicates were cast based on one-step single viscosity (OS/SV), one-step dual viscosity (OS/DV), and two-step dual viscosity (TS/DV) impressions. Five partial crowns were fabricated per impression method using hot-pressed lithium disilicate ceramics. Then, preparation and restorations were digitized using a non-contact, white-light scanner featuring self-calibrating optics (overall measurement uncertainty of <5µm). Data were entered into quality inspection software which superimposed the records (best-fit-algorithm), calculated fit-discrepancies for every pixel, and colour-coded the results to aid visualization. Furthermore, mean quadratic deviations (RMS) were computed and analyzed statistically with a 1-way ANOVA. Scheffé's procedure was applied for multiple comparisons (α=0.05). RESULTS: Mean RMS-values for marginal (internal) surfaces were: OS/SV 70 (20)µm, OS/DV 78 (34)µm, and TS/DV 107 (52)µm. Differences among impression techniques were statistically significant at p=0.006 (0.001). Qualitatively, occlusal ridges and preparation finish lines were over contoured, whereas inner occlusal boxes and the proximal-occlusal isthmus were under contoured. CONCLUSIONS: OS/SV and OS/DV impressions resulted in statistically significantly smaller marginal and internal discrepancies than the two-step technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Marginal and internal fit of hot-pressed lithium disilicate partial crowns depended on the employed impression technique. One-step impressions are preferred over two-step techniques in many day-to-day clinical situations, especially for the fabrication of partial coverage crown restorations.

Qualitative and quantitative three-dimensional accuracy of a single tooth captured by elastomeric impression materials: an in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The accuracy of impressions has been described in 1 or 2 dimensions, whereas it is most desirable to evaluate the accuracy of impressions spatially, in 3 dimensions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the accuracy and reproducibility of a 3-dimensional (3-D) approach to assessing impression preciseness and to quantitatively comparing the occlusal correctness of gypsum dies made with different impression materials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By using an aluminum replica of a maxillary molar, single-step dual viscosity impressions were made with 1 polyether/vinyl polysiloxane hybrid material (Identium), 1 vinyl polysiloxane (Panasil), and 1 polyether (Impregum) (n=5). Corresponding dies were made of Type IV gypsum and were optically digitized and aligned to the virtual reference of the aluminum tooth. Accuracy was analyzed by computing mean quadratic deviations between the virtual reference and the gypsum dies, while deviations of the dies among one another determined the reproducibility of the method. The virtual reference was adapted to create 15 occlusal contact points. The percentage of contact points deviating within a ±10 µm tolerance limit (PDP(10) = Percentage of Deviating Points within ±10 µm Tolerance) was set as the index for assessing occlusal accuracy. Visual results for the difference from the reference tooth were displayed with colors, whereas mean deviation values as well as mean PDP(10) differences were analyzed with a 1-way ANOVA and Scheffé post hoc comparisons (α=.05). RESULTS: Objective characterization of accuracy showed smooth axial surfaces to be undersized, whereas occlusal surfaces were accurate or enlarged when compared to the original tooth. The accuracy of the gypsum replicas ranged between 3 and 6 µm, while reproducibility results varied from 2 to 4 µm. Mean (SD) PDP(10)-values were: Panasil 91% (±11), Identium 77% (±4) and Impregum 29% (±3). One-way ANOVA detected significant differences among the subjected impression materials (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy and reproducibility of impressions were determined by 3-D analysis. Results were presented as color images and the newly developed PDP(10)-index was successfully used to quantify spatial dimensions for complex occlusal anatomy. Impression materials with high PDP(10)-values were shown to reproduce occlusal dimensions the most accurately.

Marginal and internal fit of pressed lithium disilicate partial crowns in vitro: a three-dimensional analysis of accuracy and reproducibility.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this in vitro study was to visualize and to quantify the marginal and internal fit of heat-pressed ceramic restorations by a novel three-dimensional procedure. Accuracy and reproducibility of the employed measuring method were determined. METHODS: An acrylic model of a lower left first molar was prepared to receive a partial crown and duplicated by single step dual viscosity impressions. Corresponding working casts were formed from Type IV die stone and indirect restorations were fabricated from heat-pressable lithium disilicate ceramics (IPS e.max Press, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein). The acrylic tooth model and the ceramic partial crowns were digitized by a structure light scanner with a measurement-uncertainty of 4 µm and subjected to computer-aided quality inspection. Visual discrepancies in marginal and internal fit were displayed with colors. For quantitative analysis, mean quadratic deviations (RMS) were computed and analyzed by Student's t-test (n=5, α=0.05). RESULTS: Mean RMS-values for accuracy (reproducibility) ranged from 34 (14) µm for internal areas to 78 (23) µm for marginal surfaces. Differences in accuracy (p=0.003) and reproducibility (p<0.001) were statistically significant. In general, areas with sharp internal line angles such as occlusal ridges and the preparation finish line exhibited oversized dimensions, whereas areas with rounded and soft internal line angles were undersized. SIGNIFICANCE: The viability of a computer-aided and three-dimensional approach for assessing marginal and internal fit of indirect restorations was demonstrated. Thereby, the obtained results track complex form changes as they occur during laboratory processing.