Effects of occlusal and brushing cycles on wear of composite resins in combined wear test.

The effects of occlusal cycles and brushing cycles on wear of composite resins were investigated using a combined wear test, which carried out occlusal and toothbrush wear tests alternately. Worn volume and maximum worn depth were measured to evaluate wear under four combinations of two different cycles (occlusal cycles: 50 and 150 cycles; brushing cycles: 20 and 50 cycles). With composite resin APX, which consisted of relatively large and irregular-shaped filler particles, its worn volume and worn depth significantly increased with the number of occlusal cycles. With composite resin Z100, which consisted of relatively small and irregular-shaped filler particles, its wear values significantly increased with both brushing and occlusal cycles. With composite resin SRE, which consisted of small, irregular-shaped, inorganic filler particles and large organic filler particles, its worn volume significantly increased with the occlusal cycle when under a lower brushing cycle. With composite resin SDX, which consisted of spherical inorganic filler particles and large organic filler particles, its wear was not influenced by increases in both brushing and occlusal cycles.

Evaluation of Stress Distribution on Implant-Retained Auricular Prostheses: The Finite Element Method.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress distribution around two craniofacial implants in an auricular prosthesis according to the removal forces. Three attachment combinations were used to evaluate the stress distribution under removal forces of 45 and 90 degrees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three attachment designs were examined: (1) a Hader bar with three clips; (2) a Hader bar with one clip and two extracoronal resilient attachments (ERAs); and (3) a Hader bar with one clip and two Locators. The removal force was determined by means of an Instron universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 10 mm/minute. All three designs were created in three dimensions using SolidWorks. The applied removal force and the models were then introduced to finite element software to analyze the stress distribution. RESULTS: The angle of removal force greatly affected the magnitude and direction of stress distribution on the implants. The magnitude of stress under the 45-degree removal force was higher than the stress at 90 degrees. The combination of the 1,000-g retention clip and 2,268-g retention Locator exhibited the highest stress on the implant flange when the removal force was applied at 45 degrees. CONCLUSION: The removal angle greatly influences the amount of force and stress on the implants. Prosthodontists are encouraged to inform patients to remove the prosthesis at 90 degrees and, if possible, use a low-retentive attachment to reduce stress.

Surface textures of composite resins after combined wear test simulating both occlusal wear and brushing wear.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between the texture of worn surfaces of composite resins and the maximum wear depth. Three types of composite resins were investigated: a hybrid composite resin consisting of irregular-shaped inorganic filler particles (APX); a composite resin which contained small, irregular-shaped, inorganic filler particles and large organic composite filler particles (SRE); and another which contained spherical inorganic filler particles and large organic composite filler (SDX). Surface profile measurement and elemental analysis were carried out on the worn surfaces of these three composite resins using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). For the composite resin which exhibited the largest maximum wear depth, its surface texture was slightly rough with fine pores and grooves. For the composite resin with lowest maximum wear depth, it had a smooth worn surface due to the large organic composite filler being abraded during the combined wear test.