Effect of different zirconia surface pretreatments on the flexural strength of veneered Y-TZP ceramic before and after in vitro aging.

PURPOSE: The investigation of zirconia core surface pretreatments on the flexural strength of bilayered zirconia ceramics before and after artificial accelerating aging. METHODS: Ninety bar-shaped specimens were manufactured from Yttria Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (Y-TZP) and divided in three groups depending on zirconia surface pretreatment before veneering: layering with liner, pretreatment with silane-containing gas flame (SGF) with the Silano-Pen device and alumina air-abrasion. Half of the veneered specimens in each group (n=15) underwent artificial accelerating aging. A 4-point bending test was performed to determine flexural strength. Three specimens from each group were further analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) before veneering and after fracture (aged and non-aged subgroups). RESULTS: Alumina air-abrasion was correlated to increased phase transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic zirconia phase. Qualitative analysis revealed that with the majority of the specimens pretreated with the silane-containing gas flame, areas of the veneering material remained firmly attached to the zirconia core after flexural strength testing. There was no statistically significant difference on the flexural strength among the groups before or after aging. Artificial accelerating aging resulted in statistically significant higher flexural strength of the specimens after aging. CONCLUSION: SGF pretreatment can be an acceptable and feasible alternative method before the veneering of Y-TZP zirconia as it presented slightly higher bond strength compared with alumina air-abrasion which was associated with higher tetragonal to monoclinic (t→m) phase transformation. Accelerating aging leads to an increase of the mechanical properties under in vitro conditions.

Odontogenic differentiation and biomineralization potential of dental pulp stem cells inside Mg-based bioceramic scaffolds under low-level laser treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the potential of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) to promote odontogenic differentiation and biomineralization by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) seeded inside bioceramic scaffolds. Mg-based, Zn-doped bioceramic scaffolds, synthesized by the sol-gel technique, were spotted with DPSCs and exposed to LLLI at 660 nm with maximum output power of 140 mw at fluencies (a) 2 and 4 J/cm2 to evaluate cell viability/proliferation by the MTT assay and (b) 4 J/cm2 to evaluate cell differentiation, using real-time PCR (expression of odontogenic markers) and a p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP)-based assay for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were used for structural/chemical characterization of the regenerated tissues. Exposure of the DPSCs/scaffold complexes to the proposed LLLI scheme was associated with statistically significant increase of odontogenesis-related markers (bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2): 22.4-fold, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP): 28.4-fold, Osterix: 18.5-fold, and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2): 3.4-fold). ALP activity was significantly increased at 3 and 7 days inside the irradiated compared to that in the non-irradiated SC/DPSC complexes, but gradually decreased until 14 days. Newly formed Ca-P tissue was formed on the SC/DPSC complexes after 28 days of culture that attained the characteristics of bioapatite. Overall, LLLI treatment proved to be beneficial for odontogenic differentiation and biomineralization of DPSCs inside the bioceramic scaffolds, making this therapeutic modality promising for targeted dentin engineering.

Is there a potential for durable adhesion to zirconia restorations? A systematic review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: With a number of zirconia ceramic materials currently available for clinical use, an overview of the scientific literature on the adhesion methods and their potential influence is indicated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to classify and analyze the existing methods and materials proposed to improve adhesion to zirconia surfaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The current literature of in vitro studies examining the bond strength on zirconia ceramics, including clinical studies from 1998 until 2014, was analyzed. A search of the English language literature was undertaken using MEDLINE and PubMed, and a hand search was made for any relevant research paper from the library of a dental school. Papers evaluating only alumina restoration bond or ceramic-zirconia bond were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 134 publications were identified for analysis. Different adhesive techniques with different testing methods were reviewed. Results were difficult to compare in that the parameters varied in each research protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Airborne-particle abrasion and tribochemical silica coating are reference pretreatment methods. Adhesive monomers are necessary for chemical bonding. Surface contamination and aging have negative effects on adhesion to zirconia. Many factors influence each combination of zirconia material, such as surface treatment, adhesive medium, and aging conditions. Laboratory studies should be confirmed by clinical trials.

Bonding indirect resin composites to metal: part 2. Effect of alloy surface treatment on elemental composition of alloy and bond strength.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study compared the effect of different surface treatments of a medium-gold, high-noble alloy on the shear bond strength of an indirect, highly filled resin composite to the alloy and on the elemental composition of the alloy surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety disks, cast in a medium-gold, high-noble porcelain-fused-to-metal alloy (V-Deltaloy), received three different surface treatments: sandblasting with 50-microm Al2O3 (group 1) or 250-microm Al2O3 (group 2) and chemical agents, or with 250-microm Al2O3 without chemical agents (group 3) prior to bonding of an indirect resin composite (Artglass, and chemical agents Siloc-pre and Siloc-bond). The specimens were tested in shear, half of them after 24-hour dry storage at room temperature and the rest after 10-day storage in normal saline solution at 37 degrees C and thermocycling (2,500 cycles between 5 and 55 degrees C). Morphologic and qualitative changes on the alloy surface after sandblasting with 50- or 250-microm Al2O3 were examined by SEM using EDS analysis and compared with polished specimens. Statistical analysis was performed using two-factor ANOVA. RESULTS: The mean shear bond strengths (in MPa) after dry or wet storage and thermocycling were 29 and 24 for group 1, 21 and 18 for group 2, and 17 and 12 for group 3, respectively; there was a statistically significant difference among the groups. Sandblasting of the alloy surface led to statistically significant changes in elemental composition. These changes were of greater magnitude when 50-microm Al2O3 particles were used. CONCLUSION: The particle size used for sandblasting influences the shear bond strength between a high-noble alloy and a highly filled indirect resin composite, as well as the elemental composition of the alloy surface.