Evaluation of irradiation effects of near-infrared free-electron-laser of silver alloy for dental application.

In the application of lasers in dentistry, there is a delicate balance between the benefits gained from laser treatment and the heat-related damage arising from laser irradiation. Hence, it is necessary to understand the different processes associated with the irradiation of lasers on dental materials. To obtain insight for the development of a safe and general-purpose laser for dentistry, the present study examines the physical effects associated with the irradiation of a near-infrared free-electron laser (FEL) on the surface of a commonly used silver dental alloy. The irradiation experiments using a 2900-nm FEL confirmed the formation of a pit in the dental alloy. The pit was formed with one macro-pulse of FEL irradiation, therefore, suggesting the possibility of efficient material processing with an FEL. Additionally, there was only a slight increase in the silver alloy temperature (less than 0.9 °C) despite the long duration of FEL irradiation, thus inferring that fixed prostheses in the oral cavity can be processed by FEL without thermal damage to the surrounding tissue. These results indicate that dental hard tissues and dental materials in the oral cavity can be safely and efficiently processed by the irradiation of a laser, which has the high repetition rate of a femtosecond laser pulse with a wavelength around 2900 nm.

Quantitative Evaluation of MDP-Ca Salt and DCPD after Application of an MDP-based One-step Self-etching Adhesive on Enamel and Dentin.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of an experimental 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)-based one-step self-etching adhesive (EX adhesive) applied to enamel and dentin on the production of calcium salt of MDP (MDP-Ca salt) and dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) at various periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The EX adhesive was prepared. Bovine enamel and dentin reactants were prepared by varying the application period of the EX adhesive: 0.5, 1, 5, 30, 60 and 1440 min. Enamel and dentin reactants were analyzed using x-ray diffraction and solid-state phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR). Curvefitting analyses of corresponding 31P NMR spectra were performed. RESULTS: Enamel and dentin developed several types of MDP-Ca salts and DCPDs with amorphous and crystalline phases throughout the application period. The predominant molecular species of MDP-Ca salt was determined as the monocalcium salt of the MDP monomer. Dentin showed a faster production rate and greater produced amounts of MDP-Ca salt than did enamel, since enamel showed a knee-point in the production rate of the MDP-Ca salt at the application period of 5 min. In contrast, enamel developed greater amounts of DCPD than did dentin and two types of DCPDs with different crystalline phases at application periods > 30 min. The amounts of MDP-Ca salt developed during the 30-s application of the EX adhesive on enamel and dentin were 7.3 times and 21.2 times greater than DCPD, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MDP-based one-step adhesive yielded several types of MDP-Ca salts and DCPD with an amorphous phase during the 30-s application period on enamel and dentin.

Ceramic bond durability and degradation mechanism of commercial gamma-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane-based ceramic primers.

PURPOSE: To investigate the bond durability and degradation mechanism of various commercial ceramic primers that are based on gamma-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (gamma-MPTS) and contain various organic additives. The null hypotheses tested were that (1) the type of ceramic primer had no effect on the bond strength after thermocycling and (2) the type of ceramic primer had no effect on the water contact angle after rinsing with THF. METHODS: The adherent was a silica-based ceramic block used for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM). Four commercial ceramic primers, Clearfil Mega Bond Porcelain Bonding kit (CM), Tokuso ceramic primer (TC), GC ceramic primer (CP), and Porcelain Liner M (PL), were compared with a simplified experimental ceramic primer (EP) that comprised gamma-MPTS and an inorganic acid (hydrochloric acid) but no other organic additives. The specimens for the adhesion test were prepared after a dual-curing type resin cement (Link Max) had adhered to the ceramic surfaces treated with each ceramic primer. The bonded specimens were then stored in water at 37 degrees C for 1 day. Then, the bonded specimens were thermocycled between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C in water baths for 5000 or 10,000 cycles. The dwell time in each water bath and the transfer time were 60 and 7 seconds, respectively. The shear bond strength of resin to the ceramic surface was measured under a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/minute by a conventional testing machine. Thereafter, the fracture mode for each specimen was determined. In addition, the water contact angle on the treated ceramic surfaces was measured before and after THF using a cotton pellet. As a control, the contact angle on the ground ceramic surface was measured without any ceramic primer. RESULTS: For all samples, thermocycling led to an increase in the frequency of interfacial failure, reflecting reduced mean bond strength of the resin to the treated ceramic surfaces. However, the bond degradation behavior differed among commercial ceramic primers; in particular, PL exhibited different ceramic bond durability from the others. However, the mean bond strength of PL was only 11.8 MPa and over half the specimens exhibited interfacial failure. In contrast, EP provided significantly higher mean bond strength of 17.2 MPa and most specimens exhibited cohesive failure of the ceramic. Furthermore, the contact angle measurements clearly demonstrated that the commercial ceramic primers created a multilayer consisting of gamma-MPTS species and the organic additives on the ceramic surface.

Effect of the amount of light energy transmitted through CAD/CAM resin block on bonding performance of four types of resin cement adhesive systems.

Resin-ceramic hybrid materials for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM resins) have been developed. In this study, the effects of the amount of light energy transmitted through the four types of 1.5-mm-thick CAD/CAM resin blocks on the bond performance of corresponding resin cement adhesive systems consisting of an adhesive and a dual-curable resin cement were examined. The bond strengths of the four types of resin cement adhesive systems decreased with decreasing the amount of light energy transmitted through CAD/CAM resin block, due to a decrease in the light-curable ability of dual-curable resin cements. However, the degradation behavior of the bond strengths was strongly affected by the types of adhesives and initiator systems utilized. The adhesive consisting of a dimethacrylate monomer and redox-initiators enhanced the bonding performance of the dual-curable resin cement more effectively than the adhesive, which consists of a dimethacrylate monomer and photo-initiators or a γ-me thacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and a 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate.

Effects from applying adhesive agents onto silanated porcelain surface on the resin bond durability.

This study examined the effects on the bond durability of resins arising from the application of adhesive agent on porcelain surface, silanated by a ceramic primer consisting of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (gamma-MPTS), by comparing shear bond strengths before and after thermocycling. When an adhesive agent was applied to a porcelain surface which had been silanated by a ceramic primer for 10 seconds, a significant reduction in resin bonding durability was observed. Extending the silanating period of the ceramic primer to 60 minutes resulted in an increase in resin bonding durability to the porcelain surface. However, the effect on resin bonding durability resulting from the application of adhesive agent was nearly the same as that without adhesive agent application, even though the porcelain surface was silanated for 60 minutes. In other words, positive effects arising from adhesive agent application on resin bonding durability were not observed.

[Bonding of resin cement to bleached dental enamel].

PURPOSE: The effects of bleaching times, types of etching agent and storage period of bleached bovine tooth on the shear bond strength of resin cement to the enamel were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bovine teeth were repeatedly bleached 0, 1, 3, and 5 times then stored in 37 degrees C water for 1 week. The effect of bleaching number of the bovine tooth on the bond strength of resin cement to the enamel was investigated using 40% phosphoric acid (EG) etching technique. Next, the effects of types of etching agent and of storage period of bleached bovine tooth with three times in 37 degrees C water on the bond strength were studied using 10% citric acid-3% ferric chloride (10-3) or 10% citric acid (10-0) solution. RESULTS: The bleaching of bovine tooth allowed for a dramatic decrease in the bond strength from 18.3 MPa to 9.8 MPa (1 time), and 3.9 MPa (3 times), even though the bovine enamel was etched by EG. However, when 10-3 or 10-0 solution was applied to the three times bleached enamel, bond strengths were 13.9 and 10.0 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, prolonging of the storage period of the three times bleached bovine tooth in water to 2 months resulted in a increase in the bond strength from 3.9 to 10.1 MPa, even if bovine enamel was etched by EG, and close to that obtained from the 10-3 etching. CONCLUSION: To obtain the expected bond strength to bleached enamel, it is better to wait for 2 months for a restoration and use the 10-3 etching.

[Studies evaluating measurement accuracy of CMS-JAW, a jaw motion tracking device with six degrees of freedom using an ultrasonic recording system].

PURPOSE: For diagnoses of temporomandibular dysfunction, reports indicate the importance of analyzing jaw movements using a jaw motion tracking device with six degrees of freedom. However, such devices are not widely applied in clinical practice, due to difficulty of use. To determine whether CMS-JAW (a newly developed six degrees of freedom jaw motion tracking device that features easy analysis of jaw movements) offers the measurement accuracy required for clinical use, we evaluated the device by measuring condyle translation and rotation during jaw movement. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated measurement accuracy by comparing measurements of condyle movements obtained from the Win Jaw System, a comparable jaw motion tracking device with six degrees of freedom based on an ultrasonic recording system; the Gnathohexagraph II, a device based on a different measurement principle; and the CMS-JAW. In the experiment, we confirmed the condyle translations and rotations obtained by each device by measuring distances and angles, respectively, with a micro slider for three-dimensional measurements (to an accuracy of 0.01 mm and 0.02 mm) and a digital protractor (to an accuracy of 0.1 degrees). RESULTS: No significant distortions were observed in the space replicated based on the range of condyle translations obtained with CMS-JAW. Deviations from theoretical values were greatest along the z-axis, with a maximum error of 0.20 mm and root mean square (RMS) error of 0.10 mm. The maximum error for angles of condyle rotation was 0.50 degrees; RMS errors ranged from 0.05 to 0.30 degrees. CONCLUSION: Our analysis of condyle movement demonstrates that the CMS-JAW provides acceptable measurement accuracy for clinical applications.

NMR study on the adhesion efficacy of experimental phosphonic acid monomers.

Three experimental self-etching primers - consisting of N-methacryloyl-omega-aminoalkyl phosphonic acid (NMomegaP) with different methylene chain lengths and N-methacryloyl glycine (NMGly) - were formulated. The influence of methylene chain length in NMomegaP derivatives on the chemical nature of calcium salts was examined following their application to tooth components. Bond strengths of experimental self-etching primers created with these monomers to enamel and dentin were also investigated. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that NMomegaPs decalcified tooth components with formation of calcium salts, which changed from calcium hydrogen phosphonate to calcium phosphonate with increase in methylene chain length within the NMomegaP structure. Disparity in calcium salt formation was related to increases in bond strength to enamel from 18 to 24 MPa. However, bond strength to dentin remained unchanged (22 MPa). The relative dependency of bond strength on monomer methylene chain length was probably attributable to the sites where these NMomegaP calcium salts had deposited on the bonding substrates.

Zirconia surface modification by a novel zirconia bonding system and its adhesion mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: Bonding to zirconia has been of great interest over the last 10-15 years. The aim of this study was to develop a zirconia bonding system and clarify its adhesion mechanism. METHODS: A zirconia primer was prepared using tetra-n-propoxy zirconium (TPZr) and water. A silane primer was also prepared using γ-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) and hydrochloric acid. After the zirconia primer was applied to the oxidized zirconia surface, the silane primer was applied to the ZrO2-functionalized layer and the resin cement was applied to the silane-modified layer. Ceramic Primer II was used as a typical MDP-based ceramic primer. Shear bond strengths were measured using a universal testing machine. To clarify the enhancing mechanism of the zirconia bonding system, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were performed. RESULTS: The zirconia bond strength was affected by the surface wettability of zirconia, and the compositions of TPZr and water utilized in the zirconia primer. When the zirconia primer, consisting of 10µL TPZr and 13µL water, was applied to the zirconia surface that had been oxidized by H2O2 above 10%, the maximum bond strength of 8.2MPa was obtained. The mechanism of the zirconia bonding system was established as follows: the hydrolyzed zirconium species formed a more reactive ZrO2-functionalized layer on the oxidized zirconia surface, and the hydrolyzed γ-MPS species adsorbed on that layer introduces a chemical bonding to the resin. SIGNIFICANCE: The novel zirconia bonding system enhanced the bonding performance of the resin, and showed a greater bond strength than an MDP-based ceramic primer.

Experimental and computational approach for evaluating the mechanical characteristics of dental composite resins with various filler sizes.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of particle size of fillers on flexural properties of dental composite resins by laboratory testing with computational analysis validation. Four kinds of silica fillers with mean particle sizes of 3.3, 4.3, 7.9, and 15.5 microm were used. Filler content was kept constant at 70 mass% (or 53.8 vol.%). The three-point bending test was performed with a constant loading speed of 1.0mm/min, and a span length of 20mm using an Instron machine, in order to measure flexural strength and modulus of composite resins with various particle sizes. Test specimens were 2-mm wide, 2-mm thick, and 25-mm long rectangular bars. Furthermore, a numerical simulation using three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis was performed to investigate stress distribution in composite resins under loading. As a result, flexural strength decreased with increasing particle size of the filler of the composite resins (p<0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in Young's modulus among composite resins with various filler sizes (p>0.05). Moreover, FE analysis indicated that stress concentration increased with increasing particle size in agreement with experimental results of flexural strength. In conclusion, within the limitations of this investigation, we confirmed that flexural strength of composite resins decreased with increasing filler particle size. In addition, FE analysis was effective for evaluating stress distributions of dental composite resins with various filler sizes.

Development of bonding system for resin core construction by MomegaA adhesive.

We designed self-etching primers consisting of a series of four N-methacryloyl-omega-amino acids, MomegaA, of different methylene chain numbers for resin core construction. The interacted amount of MomegaA's carboxylic acid with root or crown dentin apatite was determined, and its effects on dentin bond durability examined. The addition of both dentin particles to the MomegaA solutions caused the carbonyl carbon peak of carboxylic acid in MomegaA to shift to a lower field, chiefly because of an acid-base interaction between carboxylic acid and calcium. Then, as the pKa value of MomegaA's carboxylic acid increased, the amount of carboxylic acid that interacted with calcium decreased. In terms of dentin bonding durability, the four tested MomegaA adhesives provided noticeably higher bond strengths of resin to root or crown dentin than ED Primer II. Therefore, from the perspective of restoring pulpless teeth with minimal intervention, carboxylated MomegaA adhesives seemed to be very useful as functional monomers for self-etching primers.

[Effectiveness of methacrylamide monomer for dentin bonding].

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the conditioning efficacy of a self-etching primer consisting of methacrylamide, N-methacryloyl-omega-amino acid (M omega A) derivatives for enhancing the bond strength of resin to crown and root dentins. METHODS: A series of four M omega A derivatives, with different methylene chain numbers, were synthesized, as follows. 1: N-methacrylole glycine (Gly); 2: N-methacrylole-beta-alanine (beta Ala); 3: N-methacrylole-4-aminobutyric acid (Bu); 4: N-methacrylole-5-aminovaleric acid (Va). The dissociation equilibrium pH (pKa) of carboxylic acid in each of the M omega A derivatives was determined. The shear bond strengths of resin to the crown and root dentins, primed with the Gly solution were measured for various conditioning times. We also measured the bond strength to both the dentins following application of the M omega A adhesives with different pKa values for 30 seconds. RESULTS: For the Gly primer, the bond strength of resin to both dentins increased with the conditioning time until 30 seconds, leveled off thereafter by increase in the methylene chain number. The effects of conditioning time on the bond strength to the crown and the root dentin were the same. Furthermore, the bond strengths to the dentins, conditioned with each of the four M omega A derivatives for 30 seconds, were the same, even though the decalcified amounts of the dentin apatite noted following conditioning with Bu and Va were lower than that noted following conditioning with Gly. This was attributed to the pKa value of the acidic groups in the acidic monomer directly relating to the decalcified amount of dentin apatite. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the M omega A solutions, resulted in an increase in the bond strength of resin to both crown and root dentins. In particular, the Bu and Va primers were very useful as primers promoting the bond of resin to dentin, since the etching potential was very low.

Influence of implant/abutment joint designs on abutment screw loosening in a dental implant system.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of implant/abutment joint designs on abutment screw loosening in a dental implant system, using nonlinear dynamic analysis of the finite element method (FEM). This finite element simulation study used two dental implant systems: the Ankylos implant system (Degusa Dental, Hanau, German) with a taper joint (taper joint-type model), and the Bränemark implant system (Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) with an external hex joint (external hex joint-type model). The nonlinear dynamic analysis was performed using three-dimensional finite element analysis. In comparing the movement of the taper type-joint model and external hex type-joint model, it was found that the external hex type-joint model had greater movement than the taper type-joint model. The external hex joint-type model showed rotation movement, whereas the movement of the taper joint-type model showed no rotation. It was concluded that the nonlinear dynamic analysis used in this study clearly demonstrated the differences in rotation of components in dental implant systems with taper or external hex joints.

Influence of cortical bone quality on stress distribution in bone around dental implant.

Using finite element method (FEM), this study sought to investigate how the thickness and Young's modulus of cortical bone influenced stress distribution in bone surrounding a dental implant. The finite element implant-bone model consisted of a titanium abutment, a titanium fixture, a gold alloy retaining screw, cancellous bone, and cortical bone. The results showed that von Mises equivalent stress was at its maximum in the cortical bone surrounding dental implant. Upon investigation, it was found that maximum von Mises equivalent stress in bone decreased as cortical bone thickness increased. On the other hand, maximum von Mises equivalent stress in bone increased as Young's modulus of cortical bone increased. In conclusion, it was confirmed that von Mises equivalent stress was sensitive to the thickness and Young's modulus of cortical bone.

Effects of degree of dissociation of acid used on hydrolytic durability of ceramic primer.

In this study, effects of the degree of dissociation of acids on the hydrolysis rate of methoxy group in γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) and the adsorption characteristics of γ-MPS on ceramic surfaces were studied using acetic, phosphoric, and hydrochloric acids. Hydrolytic stability of γ-MPS adsorption layer at the resin-ceramic interface was thus examined. (29)Si NMR observations of acidactivated γ-MPS and contact angle measurements following ceramic surface silanization were performed. Bond strengths of resin to the silanized ceramic surfaces were measured. Statistical analyses of shear bond strength and contact angle data were performed. Increase in the degree of dissociation of the acid used increased the hydrolysis rate of methoxy group in γ-MPS, but lowered the contact angle to the silanized ceramic surface. Decrease in the contact angle increased the hydrolytic stability of γ-MPS adsorption layer.

Development of MDP-based one-step self-etch adhesive--effect of additional 4-META on bonding performance.

We designed three experimental 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)-based one-step (EX) adhesives consisting of MDP, urethane dimethacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate adhesives with different water contents (98.4, 196.8, and 294.4 mg/g), and 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride (4-META) or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-containing onestep adhesive. The effect of the amount of MDP-calcium (MDP-Ca) salt produced through demineralization of enamel and dentin on the bonding performance was examined. The efficacy of 4-META and HEMA was then discussed. When the amount of water in EX adhesive was increased, the production amount of MDP-Ca salt of enamel increased, but not the dentin. The enamel bond strength slightly increased with increasing the production amount of MDP-Ca salt, in contrast to the dentin. However, addition of 4-META in the EX adhesive (water content=98.4 mg/g) increased both bond strengths, although the production amounts of MDP-Ca salt significantly decreased. The 4-META enhances both bond strengths more effectively than the HEMA.

A selective medium for Rothia mucilaginosa and its distribution in oral cavities.

A selective medium for Rothia mucilaginosa (RMSM) was developed to examine the population of R. mucilaginosa in oral cavities. The growth recovery of R. mucilaginosa on RMSM was 85.1% relative to HI medium. R. mucilaginosa was detected at 3.4% of total bacteria from stimulated saliva of 8 subjects.

A novel selective medium for the isolation and distribution of Rothia dentocariosa in oral cavities.

Rothia dentocariosa is an indigenous microbial flora of dental plaque. To examine the bacterium population in oral cavities, a novel selective medium, designated RDSM, was developed for the isolation of R. dentocariosa. RDSM was prepared by adding 0.5 µg/ml of lincomycin, 10 µg/ml of colistin, and 40% sucrose to Heart Infusion (HI). Average growth recovery of R. dentocariosa on RDSM was 93.8% that of HI medium. Growth of other bacteria including Rothia mucilaginosa, Neisseria, Actinomyces, or streptococci was remarkably inhibited on the selective medium. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by the recovery of R. dentocariosa on RDSM from the stimulated saliva samples of 8 volunteers. R. dentocariosa was detected at 2.6 (range: 1.0-4.6) % to total bacteria of 8.0×10(7)CFU/ml on BHI in their oral cavities. The new selective medium, RDSM, was highly selective for R. dentocariosa and was useful for the isolation of R. dentocariosa from clinical samples.

Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Modified Powdered Milk.

A method to determine butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in modified powdered milk was established. After solvent extraction of fat from powdered milk, BHT was analyzed by gas chromatography. Recovery of BHT from the sample was 89.2% at 10 ppm of spiking, the detection limit being 0.1 ppm. Then an investigation was carried out on the BHT content of modified powdered milk for infants manufactured in Japan. The products manufactured to the end of 1977 contained 0.25-0.40 ppm of BHT. Throughout 1978, a campaign was carried out to avoid contact with plastics during production and manufacture; results were fruitful and the products in the first half of 1979 were quite free of BHT.