Push-out bond strength and SEM fractographical analysis of hollow fibre posts used with self-adhesive resin cement: a pilot study.

Detachment is the major cause of failure of endodontic fibre posts. Hollow posts have been recently introduced to overcome such issue. The primary aim of this pilot study was to compare the push-out bond strength of hollow posts and traditional solid posts. Eight round-shaped single-canal premolars extracted for periodontal reason were selected as sample and equally randomized into two groups: (i) traditional solid fibre posts-TECH21xop and ii) hollow fibre posts-TECHOLE. A dual-curing self-adhesive cement (new TECHCEM) was used for posts placement. Six horizontal sections-two from each portion of the root (coronal, middle and apical)-were obtained from each sample root, yielding a total of 24 sections for each group. Push-out test was performed on the sections and bond strength values were compared between groups and within each group. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) fractographical analysis was conducted on each section. Additional SEM and EDX analyses were performed on new samples of both posts, to assess fibres density and distribution, and the chemical composition of the fibres and the matrix. Hollow posts showed a significantly higher push-out bond strength (6.36 ± 1.22 MPa) than solid posts (3.64 ± 1.62 MPa). Among the three root portions of the same group, there was no significant difference in bond strength. In both groups, the most frequent type of fracture was a mixed adhesive failure with the cement covering 0 to 50% of the post perimeter. Hollow post fibres appear more similar in size and have a more homogeneous distribution, compared to solid posts. The two post types also have different chemical compositions.

Evaluation of the usage-induced degradation of Genius and Reciproc nickel-titanium reciprocating instruments.

The aim of this study was to characterize the main features and the usage-induced degradation of the Genius file after four severely curved root canal instrumentations and to compare their properties to the Reciproc files. Brand new and ex vivo used files were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical metallography, and nano-indentation to disclose their morphological, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and phase composition features. Nano-indentation data were statistically analysed using the Student's t test for normal distribution or the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for not-normal distributions. SEM analysis showed the presence of micro-cracks near the tip on both files after ex vivo usage test. EDS analysis confirmed that both files are manufactured from an almost equiatomic NiTi alloy. DSC analysis revealed that the transition temperature of the Genius is below 20 °C, while that of the Reciproc is above 20 °C. XRD analysis of Genius files identified cubic B2 austenite with minor peaks of residual monoclinic B19 martensite, while the contemporaneous presence of martensite, austenite and hexagonal R-phase was observed in the Reciproc files. Significant differences in nanohardness and modulus of elasticity (P < .05) were observed in both Genius and Reciproc files before and after use. The collected results showed that both instruments can be safely used as single-use files.

The maintenance of inserted titanium implants: in-vitro evaluation of exposed surfaces cleaned with three different instruments.

OBJECTIVE: Changes to titanium implants smooth-surfaces after instrumentation were comparatively analyzed using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM) and white-light confocal (WLC) profilometry, to accurately evaluate curved surfaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty titanium implants screwed to their abutments were randomly split into three groups for cleaning treatment with (S) stainless-steel Gracey-curettes, (T) titanium Langer-curettes, and (P) an ultrasonic-device with the probe covered with a plastic-tip. One sector of each implant was left unprocessed (U). The other sectors were cleaned for either 60 s, to simulate a single cleaning session, or 180 s to simulate a series of sessions. Surface morphology was analyzed by LV-SEM, without metal sputtering. Quantitative evaluations of the roughness of surfaces were performed using a WLC-profilometer. The Wilcoxon and the Mann-Whitney tests were used in statistical comparisons. RESULTS: U-surfaces showed that thin transverse ridges and grooves, i.e. a polarized surface roughness was substantially compromised after S-instrumentation. Small surface alterations, increasing with time, were also recorded after T-·and·P-instrumentation, although to a lesser degree. The gap of the fixture-abutment connection appeared almost completely clean after T-, clotted with titanium debris after S-, and clotted with plastic debris after P-treatment. The mean roughness (Ra) was unchanged after P-, significantly increased after S- and decreased after T-treatment, when compared with U. The Rz roughness-parameter, calculated along the fixture Y-axis, of S, T, and P resulted similar and significantly lower than that of U. Rz (X-axis) resulted unchanged after P-, slightly increased (+40%) after T-, and greatly increased (+260%) after S-treatment, this latter being statistically significant when compared with U. CONCLUSIONS: The careful use of titanium-curettes could produce only minimal smooth surface alteration particularly over prolonged treatments, and avoid debris production that could endanger implant preservation.

Hybrid and fully-etched surface implants in periodontally healthy patients: A comparative retrospective study on marginal bone loss.

BACKGROUND: Human studies on implants with the same design but with different surfaces are lacking at the present time. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the survival rate of and marginal bone loss (MBL) around 2 types of implants with the same design, but with different surfaces: fully "sandblasted and double-etched" (SDE) implants and hybrid (H) implants, with an apical SDE-surface and a coronal machined-surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SDE- and H-surfaces were previously analyzed under SEM and profilometer. Implants were placed in partially edentulous periodontally healthy patients requiring single implant-restoration, in either mandible or maxilla, with cement-retained prosthetic restoration. Twelve months after prosthetic loading, MBL in relation to prosthetic abutment height (AH), calculated radiographically, was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: SEM and profilometer analyses revealed no differences between the SDE-surfaces of either SDE- or H-implants. Transverse ridges and grooves characterized the machined portion of H-implants, clearly influencing the profilometer analysis. In 75 patients, 37 SDE and 38 H-implants were placed and all functioned completely after 12 months. In both SDE- and H-groups, MBL had a significant inverse relationship with AH, with greater intercept and negative slope for SDE-group and intersection of the 2 regression lines at AH = 2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: A 100% survival rate was recorded for SDE- and H-implants placed in pristine bone of periodontally healthy patients; MBL was limited and similar in both SDE- and H-groups; the higher the prosthetic AH, the lesser the MBL around implants; H-implants could reduce bone loss most effectively with abutments lower than 2 mm, realistically exploitable on thin biotypes; SDE-implants could reduce bone loss most effectively with abutments greater than 2 mm, realistically exploitable on thick biotypes.

Hybrid Implants in Healthy and Periodontally Compromised Patients: A Preliminary Clinical and Radiographic Study.

This preliminary clinical and radiographic study examined the survival of, the marginal bone loss (MBL) around, and the influence of prosthetic abutment height (AH) on MBL around hybrid implants placed in two groups of partially edentulous patients: healthy (HPs) and periodontally compromised (PCPs) patients. A total of 93 patients requiring single or multiunit implant restoration, in the mandible or maxilla, were treated while undergoing cement-retained prosthetic restoration. A total of 54 implants (35 in the maxilla and 19 in the mandible) were placed in 45 HPs, and 56 implants (31 in the maxilla and 25 in the mandible) in 48 PCPs. All 110 hybrid implants positioned in pristine bone provided a 100% survival rate in both HPs and PCPs. No statistical differences were recorded comparing the MBL values of maxillae with those of mandibles. In HPs and PCPs, a similar and limited amount of MBL was recorded, and it was found that the higher the AH, the less MBL. In conclusion, results indicate that the hybrid implants examined could reduce the risk of peri-implantitis due to their coronal machined surfaces and improve osseointegration due to their apical rough surfaces.