Evaluation of several instrumentation techniques and irrigation methods on the percentage of untouched canal wall and accumulated dentine debris in C-shaped canals.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of instrumentation using Reciproc Blue (RB; VDW, Munich, Germany) and XP-endo Shaper (XP-S; FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-deFonds, Switzerland) systems on the area of untouched canal wall (AUCW), accumulated hard-tissue debris (AHTD) and the efficacy of three irrigation protocols on percentage reductions (red%) of AHTD within C-shaped canals of mandibular molars. METHODOLOGY: Seventy mandibular molars with C-shaped canals were scanned, matched and assigned to two shaping groups (n = 35): RB and XP-S. Following instrumentation, specimens were triple-matched with respect to the amount of remaining debris and assigned to three irrigation subgroups (n = 10): syringe-and-needle irrigation (SNI), XP-endo Finisher (XP-F; FKG Dentaire) and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI). The AUCW% and AHTD% after instrumentation and the red% of AHTD after irrigation were calculated from micro-computed tomography. Data were analysed using comparisons for two groups (RB vs. XP-S) or multiple subgroups followed by pairwise comparison procedures (SNI vs. XP-F vs. PUI) at α = 0.05. RESULTS: For RB and XP-S, 33.04% and 30.45%, respectively, of the canal wall remained untouched (P > 0.05). For both groups, the apical third had larger AUCW% than the coronal third (P < 0.05). Instrumentation with RB left more debris (2.8%) than XP-S (1.1%) (P < 0.05). The PUI and XP-F subgroups had higher mean red% of AHTD than the SNI subgroup; the difference was significant for RB (P < 0.05) but not for XP-S. CONCLUSIONS: Both RB and XP-S systems were associated with similar AUCW after instrumenting C-shaped canals. RB left significantly greater levels of AHTD compared with XP-S. PUI and XP-F irrigation removed more debris than SNI when using the RB system.

The effect of glutathione on 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate cytotoxicity and on resin-dentine bond strength.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of reduced glutathione (GSH) application on 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) cytotoxicity on rat pulpal cells and evaluate the effect of etched-dentine treatment with GSH on the immediate microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of etch-and-rinse adhesive. METHODOLOGY: The cytotoxicity of 10 mmol L(-1) HEMA, 10 mmol L(-1) HEMA + 1 mmol L(-1) GSH, 10 mmol L(-1) HEMA + 5 mmol L(-1) GSH and 10 mmol L(-1) HEMA + 10 mmol L(-1) GSH was compared (6 h and 24 h). Cells viability was measured by means of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, followed by morphological observation of cells. Etched-dentine surfaces were rinsed and treated with one of the following solutions: 2% GSH, 5% GSH or 10% GSH, bonded with Adper Single Bond Plus (3M, ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) and restored with resin composite. The control group received no GSH treatment. After 1 day of water-storage at 37 °C, the specimens were subjected to µTBS testing. Cytotoxicity and µTBS data were analysed by one-way anova and Tukey post hoc tests (P < 0.05). RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups. HEMA elicited a remarkable toxic effect. 10 mmol L(-1) GSH prevented HEMA-induced damage at both exposure times. Whilst 5 mmol L(-1) GSH lost its protective effect at 24-h exposure time and 1 mmol L(-1) GSH showed no protective effect at both exposure times, GSH had no significant effect on the immediate µTBS; however, 5% GSH had higher bond strength value when compared to 10% GSH (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Controlled concentrations of GSH had a protective effect against HEMA cytotoxicity. GSH had neither positive nor negative influence on µTBS.

High-Performance Dental Resins Containing a Starburst Monomer.

Dimethacrylate-based chemistries feature extensively as resin monomers in dental resin-based materials due to their distinguished overall performance. However, challenges endure, encompassing inadequate mechanical attributes, volumetric shrinkage, and estrogenicity. Herein, we first synthesized a novel resin monomer, 9-armed starburst polyurethane acrylate (NPUA), via the grafting-onto approach. Compared to the primary commercial dental monomer 2,2-bis [p-(2'-hydroxy-3'-methacryloxypropoxy) phenyl] propane (Bis-GMA) (with a viscosity of 1,174 ± 3 Pa·s and volumetric shrinkage of 4.7% ± 0.1%), the NPUA monomer achieves the lower viscosity (158 ± 1 Pa·s), volumetric shrinkage (2.5% ± 0.1%), and cytotoxicity (P < 0.05). The NPUA-based resins exhibit the higher flexural strength, flexural modulus, hardness, and hydrophobicity and lower volumetric shrinkage, water absorption, and solubility compared to the Bis-GMA (70 wt%)/TEGDMA (30 wt%) resins. The NPUA-based composites exhibit significantly higher flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness and lower volumetric shrinkage (171.4 ± 3.0 MPa, 12.6 ± 0.5 GPa, 2.0 ± 0.2 GPa, and 3.4% ± 0.2%, respectively) compared to the Bis-GMA group (120.3 ± 4.7 MPa, 9.4 ± 0.7 GPa, 1.5 ± 0.1 GPa, and 4.7% ± 0.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). This work presents a viable avenue for augmenting the physicochemical attributes of dental resins.

Enhanced Bonding to Caries-Affected Dentin Using an Isocyanate-Based Primer.

Dental caries is the most common oral disease and the most common cause of resin restorations. In minimally invasive dentistry, the principle behind cavity preparation is to remove external caries-infected dentin (CID) and preserve internal caries-affected dentin (CAD) and sound dentin (SD). The cavity floor is mainly composed of CAD, but the poor bonding performance of CAD has become a widespread concern. This study evaluated the performance of a new collagen-reactive monomer (ITCM) used as a primer to improve the bonding performance of CAD. The experimental specimens were grouped as follows: SD, CAD, and ITCM-pretreated CAD (CAD-ITCM). Dentin slices were obtained for attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis. The bonded samples were subjected to microtensile bond strength analysis after 24 h of water storage or aging by thermocycling, and the bonding interface quality was evaluated by nanoleakage assessment, interfacial nanoindentation testing, and in situ zymography. Cytotoxicity experiments with ITCM were performed. ATR-FTIR showed that the isocyanate groups in ITCM can covalently bind and form hydrogen bonds with the collagen in CAD to mediate chemical bonding. ITCM pretreatment significantly improved the bond strength of CAD (P < 0.05), reduced interfacial nanoleakage, improved the sealing of the bonding interface, enhanced the homogeneity of the hybrid layer, and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase activity. In addition, ITCM presented acceptable biocompatibility for dental restorative application. Taken together, this study reported the application of ITCM to induce collagen-based chemical bonding in the CAD bonding system, which fills the gap in strategies to improve the bonding performance of CAD immediately and after aging and has important clinical application prospects.

Retention of Intrafibrillar Minerals Improves Resin-Dentin Bond Durability.

The concept of extrafibrillar demineralization involves selective removal of apatite crystallites from the extrafibrillar spaces of mineralized dentin without disturbing the intrafibrillar minerals within collagen. This helps avoiding activation of endogenous proteases and enables air-drying of partially demineralized dentin without causing collapse of completely demineralized collagen matrix that adversely affects resin infiltration. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential of quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (QCMC)-based extrafibrillar demineralization in improving resin-dentin bond durability. Isothermal titration calorimetry indicated that QCMC synthesized by quaternization of O-carboxymethyl chitosan had moderate affinity for Ca2+ (binding constant: 8.9 × 104 M-1). Wet and dry bonding with the QCMC-based demineralization produced tensile bond strengths equivalent to the phosphoric acid (H3PO4)-based etch-and-rinse technique. Those bond strengths were maintained after thermocycling. Amide I and PO43- mappings of QCMC-conditioned dentin were performed with atomic force microscope-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR). Whereas H3PO4-etched dentin exhibited an extensive reduction in PO43- signals corresponding to apatite depletion, QCMC-conditioned dentin showed scattered dark areas and bright PO43- streak signals. The latter were consistent with areas identified as collagen fibrils in the amide I mapping and were suggestive of the presence of intrafibrillar minerals in QCMC-conditioned dentin. Young's modulus mapping of QCMC-demineralized dentin obtained by AFM-based amplitude modulation-frequency modulation recorded moduli that were the same order of magnitude as those in mineralized dentin and at least 1 order higher than H3PO4-etched dentin. In situ zymography of the gelatinolytic activity within hybrid layers created with QCMC conditioning revealed extremely low signals before and after thermocycling, compared with H3PO4-etched dentin for both wet and dry bonding. Confocal laser scanning microscopy identified the antibacterial potential of QCMC against Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Taken together, the QCMC-based demineralization retains intrafibrillar minerals, preserves the elastic modulus of collagen fibrils, reduces endogenous proteolytic activity, and inhibits bacteria biofilms to extend dentin bond durability.

Applications of Cryogenic Electron Microscopy in Biomineralization Research.

Biological mineralization is a natural process manifested by living organisms in which inorganic minerals crystallize under the scrupulous control of biomolecules, producing hierarchical organic-inorganic composite structures with physical properties and design that galvanize even the most ardent structural engineer and architect. Understanding the mechanisms that control the formation of biominerals is challenging in the biomimetic engineering of hard tissues. In this regard, the contribution of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been nothing short of phenomenal. By preserving materials in their native hydrated status and reducing damage caused by ion beam radiation, cryo-EM outperforms conventional transmission electron microscopy in its ability to directly observe the morphologic evolution of mineral precursor phases at different stages of biomineralization with nanoscale spatial resolution and subsecond temporal resolution in 2 or 3 dimensions. In the present review, the development and applications of cryo-EM are discussed to support the use of this powerful technique in dental research. Because of the rapid development of cryogenic sample preparation techniques, direct electron detection, and image-processing algorithms, the last decade has witnessed an exponential increase in the use of cryo-EM in structural biology and materials research. By amalgamating with other analytic techniques, cryo-EM may be used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the kinetics and thermodynamic mechanisms in which organic macromolecules participate in the transformation of mineral precursors from their original liquid state to amorphous and ultimately crystalline phases. The present review concentrates on the biomineralization of calcium phosphate mineral phases, while that of calcium carbonate, silica, and magnetite is only briefly mentioned. Bioinspired organic matrix-mediated inorganic crystallization strategies are discussed from the perspective of tissue regeneration engineering.

Apical surgery: endoscopic findings at the resection level of 168 consecutively treated roots.

AIM: Endoscopic evaluation of the cut root face after root-end resection during apical surgery. METHODOLOGY: Consecutive cases undergoing apical surgery from June 2006 to May 2008 were enrolled. After root-end resection, the cut root face was inspected with a rigid endoscope and the following findings were assessed: number of canals, presence of isthmus, presence and location of craze lines/cracks, frosted dentine, and gaps between root filling material and dentine. Craze lines/cracks, frosted dentine and gaps were further correlated with the age group of the patient (<45 vs. ≥ 45 years), the type of treated tooth and the presence or absence of a post/screw. RESULTS: The final material included 168 resected roots. The highest frequency of isthmuses was found in mesial roots of mandibular first molars (88.5%). A craze line/crack was seen in 9.5%, frosted dentine in 79.8% and gaps in 83.3% at the cut root faces. Significant differences were observed for the location of the microfindings at the resected root surfaces (buccal vs. mesial vs. lingual vs. distal, P > 0.0001). Premolars had significantly more craze lines/cracks than anterior teeth (P = 0.006) and molars (P = 0.000). Frosted dentine was significantly more frequently seen in premolars (P = 0.027) and molars (P = 0.001) compared to anterior teeth. The age groups and the presence or absence of a post/screw did not significantly influence the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Frosted dentine and gaps were frequently observed with endoscopy at the resected root surfaces. The type of tooth appeared to affect the occurrence of a craze line/crack and of frosted dentine.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that utilizes machines to mimic intelligent human behavior. To appreciate human-technology interaction in the clinical setting, augmented intelligence has been proposed as a cognitive extension of AI in health care, emphasizing its assistive and supplementary role to medical professionals. While truly autonomous medical robotic systems are still beyond reach, the virtual component of AI, known as software-type algorithms, is the main component used in dentistry. Because of their powerful capabilities in data analysis, these virtual algorithms are expected to improve the accuracy and efficacy of dental diagnosis, provide visualized anatomic guidance for treatment, simulate and evaluate prospective results, and project the occurrence and prognosis of oral diseases. Potential obstacles in contemporary algorithms that prevent routine implementation of AI include the lack of data curation, sharing, and readability; the inability to illustrate the inner decision-making process; the insufficient power of classical computing; and the neglect of ethical principles in the design of AI frameworks. It is necessary to maintain a proactive attitude toward AI to ensure its affirmative development and promote human-technology rapport to revolutionize dental practice. The present review outlines the progress and potential dental applications of AI in medical-aided diagnosis, treatment, and disease prediction and discusses their data limitations, interpretability, computing power, and ethical considerations, as well as their impact on dentists, with the objective of creating a backdrop for future research in this rapidly expanding arena.

Dentin Cross-linking Effect of Carbodiimide After 5 Years.

Carbodiimide (EDC)-based dentin primers preserve hybrid layer (HL) integrity. However, aging >1 y has not been investigated. The present study examined whether the cross-linking effect of EDC was reflected in dentin bond strength, endogenous enzymatic activity, and the chemical profile of the HL after 5-y aging in artificial saliva. Noncarious human third molars (N = 42) were cut to expose middle/deep coronal dentin and treated as follows: group 1, dentin etched with 35% H3PO4, pretreated with a 0.3M aqueous EDC primer for 1 min and restored with XP Bond (Dentsply Sirona); group 2, as in group 1 but without EDC pretreatment; group 3, Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray-Noritake) primer applied to dentin surface, followed by EDC pretreatment as in group 1 and application of bond; group 4, as in group 3 without EDC pretreatment. After composite buildup, the specimens were cut into sticks or slabs, depending on the experiment. All tests were performed at baseline (T0) and after 5 y of aging (T5) in artificial saliva at 37 °C. Microtensile bond strength (µTBS) was tested at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until failure. Endogenous enzymatic activity was investigated with in situ zymography. The chemical profile of HL was determined via Raman spectroscopy. Three-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey test were used to analyze µTBS and in situ zymography data (α = 0.05). EDC pretreatment and aging significantly influenced µTBS and in situ zymography results (P < 0.05). Higher bond strength and lower gelatinolytic activity were identified in the EDC-treated groups at T5 (P < 0.05), especially in the etch-and-rinse groups. Raman spectra revealed less defined amide III peaks in control specimens at T5. The EDC cross-linking effect persisted in the HL for 5 y in terms of bond strength, collagen structure preservation, and dentinal enzyme silencing.

A novel dentin bonding scheme based on extrafibrillar demineralization combined with covalent adhesion using a dry-bonding technique.

Dentin bonding is a dynamic process that involves the penetration of adhesive resin monomers into the extrafibrillar and intrafibrillar demineralized collagen matrix using a wet-bonding technique. However, adhesive resin monomers lack the capacity to infiltrate the intrafibrillar space, and the excess water that is introduced by the wet-bonding technique remains at the bonding interface. This imperfectly bonded interface is inclined to hydrolytic degradation, severely jeopardizing the longevity of bonded clinical restorations. The present study introduces a dentin bonding scheme based on a dry-bonding technique, combined with the use of extrafibrillar demineralization and a collagen-reactive monomer (CRM)-based adhesive (CBA). Selective extrafibrillar demineralization was achieved using 1-wt% high-molecular weight (MW) carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) within a clinically acceptable timeframe to create a less aggressive bonding substance for dentin bonding due to its selectively extrafibrillar demineralization capacity. CMCS demineralization decreased the activation of in situ collagenase, improved the shrinking resistance of demineralized collagen, and thus provided stronger and more durable bonding than traditional phosphoric acid etching. The new dentin bonding scheme that contained CMCS and CBA and used a dry-bonding technique achieved an encouraging dentin bonding strength and durability with low technical sensitivity. This bonding scheme can be used to improve the stability of the resin-dentin interface and foster the longevity of bonded clinical restorations.

Canal and isthmus debridement efficacies of two irrigant agitation techniques in a closed system.

AIM: To compare canal and isthmus debris debridement efficacies of the manual dynamic irrigation (MDI) and apical negative pressure (ANP) techniques in the mesial root of mandibular first molars with narrow isthmi, using a closed canal design. METHODOLOGY: Micro-computed tomography was employed to select 20 teeth, each containing a narrow isthmus. Each root was sealed at the apex with hot glue and embedded in polyvinylsiloxane to simulate a closed canal system. The teeth were submitted to a standardized instrumentation protocol. Final irrigation was performed with either the MDI or the ANP technique using the EndoVac system (N=10). Masson trichrome-stained sections were prepared from completely demineralized roots at 10 canal levels between 1 and 2.8mm of the anatomical apices. Areas occupied by canals and isthmus of each root and debris in the corresponding regions were digitized by the NIH Image J software and statistically analysed using two-way repeated measures anova. RESULTS: For the instrumented canals, there were no differences between the two groups (P=0.131) in the area occupied by debris at all canal levels (P=0.343). Conversely, for the isthmus, less debris was found in the ANP group (P<0.001) but no differences were seen in each group with respect to the 10 canal levels (P=0.352). CONCLUSION: Neither technique completely removed debris from the isthmus regions. However, the EndoVac system, which encompasses the ANP concept, removed considerably more debris from narrow isthmi in mandibular mesial roots.

Root canal debridement using manual dynamic agitation or the EndoVac for final irrigation in a closed system and an open system.

AIM: This study examined canal debridement efficacy by testing the null hypothesis that there is no difference between a 'Closed' and an 'Open' system design in smear layer and debris removal using either manual dynamic agitation or the EndoVac for irrigant delivery. METHODOLOGY: Forty teeth were divided into four groups and submitted to a standardized instrumentation protocol. Final irrigation was performed with either manual dynamic agitation or the EndoVac on groups of teeth with or without a sealed apical foramen. Smear and debris scores were evaluated using SEM and analysed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistic. RESULTS: The ability of manual dynamic agitation to remove smear layer and debris in a closed canal system was significantly less effective than in an open canal system and significantly less effective than the EndoVac (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The null hypothesis was rejected; the presence of a sealed apical foramen adversely affected debridement efficacy when using manual dynamic agitation but not the EndoVac. Apical negative pressure irrigation is an effective method to overcome the fluid dynamics challenges inherent in closed canal systems.

Oropharyngeal Secretion as Alternative for SARS-CoV-2 Detection.

This study aimed to determine if sampling of oropharyngeal secretions (OSs) helps improves detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by nucleic acid amplification testing of potential patients with COVID-19. The first prospective study consisted of 75 patients with COVID-19 who were ready for discharge and who had 2 consecutive negative results per nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) of viral samples retrieved with nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs). Because of detection of potential false negatives in that cohort, the NAAT results of paired OS and NPS samples from 50 additional recruits with COVID-19 during their recovery stage were used in a second prospective study to compare the diagnostic values of the 2 viral RNA sampling methods. For identification of the frequency of inconsistency between the sampling methods, the McNemar's test was used for difference analysis and the kappa statistic for consistency analysis. OSs obtained from 2 of the 75 participants in the first study yielded positive results for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Both were male and aged >60 y. Subsequent chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassays indicated that they were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies. For parallel NAAT of OS and NPS samples in the second study, McNemar's test indicated that the difference between the frequencies of inconsistent parts of OS and NPS was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Cohen's kappa coefficient for OS and NPS was 0.244, which is indicative of fair consistency. The NPS test has a risk of sending home more patients (59%) who still have the infection, while the OS test will make such an error in fewer patients (14%). Although OS sampling improves the accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing, it has to be emphasized that this conclusion is based on a very small sample size. Detection of viral RNA from a patient's secretions is not confirmative of viral infectivity.

Isocyanate-terminated urethane-based methacrylate for in situ collagen scaffold modification.

When damaged or fractured collagen-rich hard tissues are repaired by resin material, the collagen matrix may be used as a scaffold, after removal of the natural minerals, for resin monomers to penetrate and polymerize in-situ. Formation of a collagen-polymer hybrid biocomposite via mechanical hybridization provides a stable and strong link between endogenous tissue and the prosthesis for successful clinical integration. However, the heterogeneity between hydrophobic resin polymers and hydrophilic collagen presents a challenge to the quality of hybrid biocomposite. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential benefits of a collagen-reactive monomer (CRM, an isocyanate-terminated urethane-based methacrylate) with covalent affinity to collagen as "chemical link" to enhance in-situ resin hybridization within a collagen scaffold. Here, the CRM ligand with active isocyanate group may be chemically grafted onto the collagen receptor via covalent and hydrogen bonds. Dentin-derived collagen chemical modified by CRM shows improved mechanical property, thermostability and enzymatic stability. Moreover, CRM inhibited both exogenous and endogenous collagenase activities. The modification of collagen by chemical grafting of resin monomers improved its mechanical and physicochemical properties and demonstrated the potential of CRM for use in promoting chemical adhesion and creating a much stronger and durable bonding interface. Formation of a chemical bond between polymer and collagen scaffold in-situ improves the mechanical performance of collagen and may create a much stronger and durable collagen-polymer hybrid material. Addition of CRM into adhesives might effectively prolong the longevity of clinical resin-bonded restorations.

Evaluation of a Collagen-Reactive Monomer with Advanced Bonding Durability.

This study evaluated the use of a new collagen-reactive monomer (CRM), isocyanate-terminated urethane methacrylate precursor, which has covalent affinity to dental collagen, in the formation of dentin-resin bonds and compared it with 2 other dental adhesives. Dentin specimens were bonded with either the CRM-based adhesive (CBA), One-Step (OS; Bisco, Inc.), or a negative adhesive (NA) control and subjected to 24-h storage in water, thermocycling to simulate 1-y clinical function, or a matrix metalloproteinase-mediated aging process. We tested the microtensile bond strength (µTBS), characterized the bonding interface with an atomic force microscope, conducted micro-Raman analysis, and performed leakage tests and in situ zymography. CBA and OS exhibited comparable bonding strength after 24 h (P > 0.05); however, there was a sharp decrease in µTBS after aging for all except CBA (P < 0.001). Raman spectra results indicated increased collagen crosslinking and chemical reaction between the adhesive and collagen in the CBA group. CBA achieved high-quality hybridization with collagen, improving mechanical properties and integrity, and decreased the enzyme-mediated degradation of the bonding interface by inhibiting collagenolytic activity. With the promising bonding durability of coapplied CBA, CRM may be the first dental adhesive to provide strong and long-lasting resin-dental collagen bonding without the additional conditioning step. The use of CBA results in high-quality hybrid layers that protect the resin-dentin interface from harmful biological and chemical activities commonly occurring in the oral environment.

Effect of temperature on water sorption and solubility of dental adhesive resins.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of temperature on water sorption and solubility characteristics of four commercial dental adhesives. The null hypothesis tested was that temperature has no effect on the water sorption and solubility characteristics of these adhesives. METHODS: The tested materials were: three-step etch-and-rinse (All-Bond 2, AB), two-step etch-and-rinse (One-Step, OS), two-step self-etch (Clearfil SE Bond, SE) and one-step self-etch (Clearfil S3 Bond, S3) adhesives. Seven resin disks (6mm in diameterx1mm in thickness) were prepared from each tested material and were stored in deionized water at 23 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 55 degrees C. Water sorption and solubility of the resin disks were measured before and after water immersion and desiccation following two consecutive sorption and desorption cycles. The water sorption and solubility values obtained were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison tests. The relationships between maximum water sorption, solubility and kinetics of water diffusion with temperature were evaluated by means of Pearson correlation statistic. RESULTS: OS exhibited the highest water sorption and solubility values in the second sorption-desorption cycle at 55 degrees C (p<0.001). This is followed by S3, SE and AB with no significant difference between SE and AB. Significant positive correlations were observed between maximum water sorption (r=0.307, p<0.01), solubility (r=0.244, p<0.05), water sorption (r=0.651, p<0.001) and desorption (r=0.733, p<0.001) diffusion coefficients (obtained using Fick's law of diffusion) with temperature in the second cycle. SIGNIFICANCE: High temperatures increased water sorption of simplified adhesives. Such water sorption may contribute to the failure of resin-dentin bonds.

Dislocation resistance of ProRoot Endo Sealer, a calcium silicate-based root canal sealer, from radicular dentine.

AIM: To examine the dislocation resistance of three root canal sealers from radicular dentine with and without immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF), using a modified push-out test design that produced simulated canal spaces of uniform dimensions under identical cleaning and shaping conditions. METHODOLOGY: Sixty single-rooted caries-free human canine teeth were used. Standardized simulated canal spaces were created using 0.04 taper ProFile instruments along the coronal, middle and apical thirds of longitudinal tooth slabs. Following NaOCl/ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid cleaning, the cavities were filled with ProRoot Endo Sealer, AH Plus Jet or Pulp Canal Sealer. After setting, half of the cavities were tested with a fibre-optic light-illuminated push-out testing device. The rest were immersed in SBF for 4 weeks before push-out evaluation. Failure modes were examined with stereomicroscopy and field emission (FE)-scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Location of the sealer-filled cavities did not affect push-out strengths. ProRoot Endo Sealer exhibited higher push-out strengths than the other two sealers particularly after SBF storage (P < 0.001). Failure modes were predominantly adhesive and mixed for Pulp Canal Sealer and AH Plus Jet, and predominantly cohesive for ProRoot Endo Sealer. Spherical amorphous calcium phosphate-like phases that spontaneously transformed into apatite-like phases were seen in the fractured specimens of ProRoot Endo Sealer after SBF storage. CONCLUSIONS: When tested in bulk without a main core, both 'sealer type' and 'SBF storage' were significant in affecting push-out results. The ProRoot Endo Sealer demonstrated the presence of spherical amorphous calcium phosphate-like phases and apatite-like phases (i.e. ex vivo bioactivity) after SBF storage.

The effect of ultrasonic removal of various root-end filling materials.

AIM: To compare residual root-end filling material in apical root-end cavities following their removal with ultrasonic retrotips. METHODOLOGY: Thirty single-rooted teeth were filled with Thermafil and AH Plus sealer. Root-ends were resected at 90 degrees, 3 mm from the apex. Root-end cavities were prepared with diamond burs and ultrasonic retrotips and filled with one of three filling materials: group I: Retro-TC (calcium silicate-based cement), group II: IRM (Dentsply, Germany), group III: Vitrebond (3M ESPE, USA). After 30 days of storage, ultrasonic retrotips were used to remove materials from the root-end cavities. The ultrasonic application time was fixed at 60 s. Polyether impressions and replicas of the root-ends were made. Root apices and replicas were examined by one operator under a scanning electron microscope. Remnants of residual materials were evaluated using a four-level scoring system; fractures, smear layer and exposed dentinal tubules were also examined. RESULTS: Forty per cent of the specimens filled with Retro-TC revealed complete removal of the material with exposure of dentinal tubules, whilst 60% contained residual cement. Twenty per cent of specimens filled with IRM were completely devoid of material, whereas 80% had retained material. Ten per cent of specimens filled with Vitrebond retained a moderate amount of material whilst 90% had substantial retention of the material. Statistically significant differences were found (P < 0.05) amongst the three groups of materials. CONCLUSIONS: Retro-TC was successfully removed in 40% of cases using ultrasonics retrotips for 60 s, whereas IRM and Vitrebond specimens had evidence of retained material in 80% and 90% of all specimens respectively.

In vivo chlorhexidine stabilization of hybrid layers of an acetone-based dentin adhesive.

The current in vivo study evaluated the degradation of dentin hybrid layers in deep occlusal-surface resin composite restorations using TEM. Caries-free premolars scheduled for extraction as part of orthodontic treatment were prepared and restored, then extracted after 12 months. The adhesive used was a single-bottle etch-and-rinse acetone-based product (Prime & Bond NT, Dentsply/Caulk). Control group restorations (n=8) were placed according to the manufacturer's instructions, while the experimental group received application of a 2% solution of chlorhexidine digluconate after etching and rinsing and prior to application of the adhesive. Extensive degradation was observed in all of the teeth in the control group after 12 months, while no degradation was observed in the experimental group. In vitro testing showed no significant difference in immediate microtensile bond strength between the control and experimental adhesive protocols.

MMP-8-Responsive Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogel for Intraoral Drug Delivery.

Currently available drug delivery systems for oral diseases suffer from short retention time and poor local concentrations at the target site. A biodegradable stimulus-responsive hydrogel was synthesized in the present study to evaluate its application as an environmentally sensitive carrier for on-demand intraoral drug delivery. The hydrogel was synthesized from diacrylate-containing polyethylene glycol-based scaffolds and a cysteine-terminated peptide crosslinker (CGPQG↓IWGQC) via a Michael-type addition reaction. Because CGPQG↓IWGQC can be cleaved by matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), minocycline hydrochloride, bovine serum albumin, or an antibacterial peptide (KSL) was incorporated into the scaffolds to evaluate the MMP-8-responsive release behavior of the on-demand drug delivery system. Hydrogel characterization and gelation kinetics were examined with gel time, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and measurements of rheologic parameters. Degradation behavior and MMP-8-responsive drug release were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography and protein-specific assay. Biocompatibility evaluation indicated that the hydrogels were noncytotoxic. Antibacterial testing demonstrated that the released drugs were able to maintain bioactivity. Taken together, these results suggest that the MMP-8-sensitive hydrogel is a promising candidate for on-demand intraoral localized drug delivery. Because MMP-8 is one of the most important biomarkers for periodontitis, the MMP-8-responsive hydrogel has potential to be used for in situ adaptive degradation in response to chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis. This notion has to be tested in animal models of periodontal disease.