Clinical evaluation of the fit of lithium disilicate crowns fabricated with three different CAD-CAM systems.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The fit and performance of prostheses fabricated using various computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) systems have been evaluated. However, most studies were conducted in vitro, and relatively few have addressed gingival parameters and prosthesis fit under clinical conditions. PURPOSE: This clinical study aimed to compare the fit of lithium disilicate crowns produced using 3 CAD-CAM systems and evaluate clinical results up to 6 months after delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty participants requiring a single crown were recruited. Three monolithic lithium disilicate crowns were fabricated per participant by using 3 different CAD-CAM systems (intraoral scanners, CAD software, and milling machines): CEREC group (CEREC Bluecam, CEREC AC, CEREC MC); EZIS group (EZIS PO, EZIS VR, EZIS HM); and TRIOS group (TRIOS 3, EXO-CAD, ARUM-4X). The fit of the prostheses was assessed via a silicone replica technique, and the most acceptable crown was delivered; 12 were selected from the CEREC group, 16 from the EZIS group, and 12 from the TRIOS group. Follow-up clinical examinations were performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after delivery. The Kruskal-Wallis test with the post hoc Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to analyze significant differences in crown fit and periodontal conditions among the groups (α=.05). RESULTS: The marginal gap of the CEREC group was significantly higher than that of the EZIS group, and the occlusal gap of the EZIS group was significantly lower than those of the CEREC and TRIOS groups (P<.05). Probing depth, bleeding index, and plaque index showed no intergroup differences at 6 months (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: The lithium disilicate crowns of all groups showed clinically acceptable fit. No significant differences were found among the groups in terms of periodontal conditions after 6 months.

Preparation and Characterization of Resorbable Bacterial Cellulose Membranes Treated by Electron Beam Irradiation for Guided Bone Regeneration.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an excellent biomaterial with many medical applications. In this study, resorbable BC membranes were prepared for guided bone regeneration (GBR) using an irradiation technique for applications in the dental field. Electron beam irradiation (EI) increases biodegradation by severing the glucose bonds of BC. BC membranes irradiated at 100 kGy or 300 kGy were used to determine optimal electron beam doses. Electron beam irradiated BC membranes (EI-BCMs) were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and using wet tensile strength measurements. In addition, in vitro cell studies were conducted in order to confirm the cytocompatibility of EI-BCMs. Cell viabilities of NIH3T3 cells on 100k and 300k EI-BCMs (100 kGy and 300 kGy irradiated BC membranes) were significantly greater than on NI-BCMs after 3 and 7 days (p < 0.05). Bone regeneration by EI-BCMs and their biodegradabilities were also evaluated using in vivo rat calvarial defect models for 4 and 8 weeks. Histometric results showed 100k EI-BCMs exhibited significantly larger new bone area (NBA; %) than 300k EI-BCMs at 8 weeks after implantation (p < 0.05). Mechanical, chemical, and biological analyses showed EI-BCMs effectively interacted with cells and promoted bone regeneration.

The Effect of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Coated Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Bone Graft Material on Osteogenesis.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) coated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as bone graft materials on bone regeneration. The rGO-coated BCP bone graft material was fabricatied by mixing rGO and BCP at various concentrations. The surface charge of rGO-coated BCP was measured to be -14.43 mV, which formed a static electrostatic interaction. Cell viabilities were significantly diminished at higher concentrations of ≥100 µg/mL. The calvarial defects of 48 rats were implanted rGO-coated BCPs at a weight ratio of 2:1000 (rGO2), 4:1000 (rGO4), and 10:1000 (rGO10), repectively. BCP was used as a control group. The micro-CT and histological analysis were performed to evaluate new bone formation at 2 and 8 weeks after surgery. The results showed that the new bone volume (mm³) was significantly higher in the experimental groups than in the control group. Histological analysis showed that new bone areas (%) were significantly higher in the rGO2 and rGO10 than in the control, and significantly higher in rGO4 than in the rGO2 and rGO10. Conclusively, the rGO-coated BCP was found to be effective on osteogenesis and the concentration of the composite was an important factor.

Effects of 3D-Printed Polycaprolactone/ß-Tricalcium Phosphate Membranes on Guided Bone Regeneration.

This study was conducted to compare 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone/ß-tricalcium phosphate (PCL/ß-TCP) membranes with a conventional commercial collagen membrane in terms of their abilities to facilitate guided bone regeneration (GBR). Fabricated membranes were tested for dry and wet mechanical properties. Fibroblasts and preosteoblasts were seeded into the membranes and rates and patterns of proliferation were analyzed using a kit-8 assay and by scanning electron microscopy. Osteogenic differentiation was verified by alizarin red S and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. An in vivo experiment was performed using an alveolar bone defect beagle model, in which defects in three dogs were covered with different membranes. CT and histological analyses at eight weeks after surgery revealed that 3D-printed PCL/ß-TCP membranes were more effective than 3D-printed PCL, and substantially better than conventional collagen membranes in terms of biocompatibility and bone regeneration and, thus, at facilitating GBR.

Retention and wear behaviors of two implant overdenture stud-type attachments at different implant angulations.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant angulation should be considered when selecting an attachment. Some in vitro studies have investigated the relationship between implant angulation and changes in the retention force of the stud attachment, but few studies have evaluated the effect of cyclic loading and repeated cycles of insertion and removal on the stud attachment. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of implant angulation on the retentive characteristics of overdentures with 2 different stud attachments, an experimental system and O-rings in red and orange, after cyclic loading and repeated insertion and removal cycles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The canine region of a mandibular experimental model was fitted with 2 implant fixtures with 2 different stud attachment systems at implant angulations of 0, 15, or 30 degrees. A mastication simulator was used to simulate cyclic loading, and a universal testing machine was used to evaluate retentive force changes after repeated insertion and removal cycles. To simulate the numbers of mastication and insertion and removal cycles per annum, 400000 cyclic loadings and 1080 insertion and removal cycles were performed. Wear patterns and attachment surface deformations were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction (α=.05/3=.017), and the paired-sample Student t test (α=.05). RESULTS: When retentive forces before and after testing were compared, O-ring showed significant retention loss at all implant angulations (P<.001). In contrast, the experimental system showed little retention loss in the 0- and 15-degree models (P>.05), whereas the 30-degree model showed a significant increase in retentive force (P=.001). At all implant angulations, retention loss increased significantly for the orange O-ring, followed by the red O-ring, and the experimental system (P<.001). Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed more intense wear in the matrix than the patrix (abutment that matches to matrix) and more severe wear and deformation of the O-ring rubber matrix than of the experimental zirconia ball. CONCLUSIONS: Upon completion of the experiment, wear and deformation were found for all attachment systems. Even when implants are not installed in parallel, the experimental system can be used without involving great loss of retention.

Cell adhesion and in vivo osseointegration of sandblasted/acid etched/anodized dental implants.

The authors describe a new type of titanium (Ti) implant as a Modi-anodized (ANO) Ti implant, the surface of which was treated by sandblasting, acid etching (SLA), and anodized techniques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adhesion of MG-63 cells to Modi-ANO surface treated Ti in vitro and to investigate its osseointegration characteristics in vivo. Four different types of Ti implants were examined, that is, machined Ti (control), SLA, anodized, and Modi-ANO Ti. In the cell adhesion study, Modi-ANO Ti showed higher initial MG-63 cell adhesion and induced greater filopodia growth than other groups. In vivo study in a beagle model revealed the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of Modi-ANO Ti (74.20%±10.89%) was much greater than those of machined (33.58%±8.63%), SLA (58.47%±12.89), or ANO Ti (59.62%±18.30%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Modi-ANO Ti implants produced by sandblasting, acid etching, and anodizing improve cell adhesion and bone ongrowth as compared with machined, SLA, or ANO Ti implants. These findings suggest that the application of Modi-ANO surface treatment could improve the osseointegration of dental implant.

Effects of PMMA and Cross-Linked Dextran Filler for Soft Tissue Augmentation in Rats.

This study was conducted for evaluation of the ability to maintain efficacy and biocompatibility of cross-linked dextran in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (DiHM) and cross-linked dextran mixed with PMMA in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (PDiHM), compared with hyaluronic acid (HA) filler. Saline and HA solution was administered in the negative and positive control groups, and DiHM and PDiHM were administered in the test groups (n = 10 in each group). The site of cranial subcutaneous injection was the mid-point of the interpupillary line, and the site of intraoral submucosal injection was the ridge crest 2 mm below the cervical line of the mandibular left incisor. Before and immediately after filler injection, intraoral photos and lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken for analysis and comparison of the effect of the filler on the injection sites. The filler injected areas were converted into sequential size changes (%) of the baseline. Histomorphologic examination was performed after 12 weeks. The smallest value in the filler injected area was observed during the experimental period in the normal saline group (p < 0.001), which was almost absorbed at 4 weeks (7.19% ± 12.72%). The HA group exhibited a steady decrease in sequential size and showed a lower value than the DiHM and PDiHM groups (saline < HA < DHiM, PDHiM, p < 0.001). DiHM and PDiHM tended to increase for the first 4 weeks and later decreased until 12 weeks. In this study on DiHM and PDiHM, there was no histological abnormality in cranial skin and oral mucosa. DiHM and PDiHM filler materials with injection system provide an excellent alternative surgical method for use in oral and craniofacial fields.

Influence of Implant transmucosal design on early peri-implant tissue responses in beagle dogs.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the influences of concave, machined and concave-roughened profiles of transmucosal implant designs on early peri-implant tissue responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implants were used and classified by transmucosal profile and surface type as straight-machined implants (SM), concave-machined implants (CM), or concave-roughened implants (CR). A total of 30 implants (10 per each type) with matching transmucosal profiles were placed directly on alveolar crests in randomized order in the edentulous mandibular ridges of three beagle dogs. Healing abutments were connected 4 weeks after implant placement, and prostheses were connected 8 weeks after implant placement and functionally loaded. All animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks. Peri-apical radiographs were obtained and measured to evaluate peri-implant marginal bone levels. Histological specimens were prepared to measure bone resorption, connective tissue contact, epithelial tissue height, biological width, and length of implant-abutment junction to the apical portion of junctional epithelium. RESULTS: Radiographic and histometric analysis showed that least bone resorption occurred around CM implants and greatest bone resorption around SM implants (P < 0.05). Histometric analysis showed that highest connective tissue attachment and shortest biological width had formed around CM implants. CONCLUSION: Concave-machined profiled implants with a transmucosal design may induce less bone resorption and better connective tissue attachment around implants than the straight-machined profiled implants during the early healing phase.

Comparison of fit and trueness of zirconia crowns fabricated by different combinations of open CAD-CAM systems.

PURPOSE: This study aims to clinically compare the fitness and trueness of zirconia crowns fabricated by different combinations of open CAD-CAM systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 40 patients were enrolled in this study, and 9 different zirconia crowns were prepared per patient. Each crown was made through the cross-application of 3 different design software (EZIS VR, 3Shape Dental System, Exocad) with 3 different processing devices (Aegis HM, Trione Z, Motion 2). The marginal gap, absolute marginal discrepancy, internal gap(axial, line angle, occlusal) by a silicone replica technique were measured to compare the fit of the crown. The scanned inner and outer surfaces of the crowns were compared to CAD data using 3D metrology software to evaluate trueness. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the marginal gap, absolute marginal discrepancy, axial and line angle internal gap among the groups (P < .05) in the comparison of fit. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of occlusal internal gap. The trueness ranged from 36.19 to 43.78 µm but there was no statistically significant difference within the groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: All 9 groups showed clinically acceptable level of marginal gaps ranging from 74.26 to 112.20 µm in terms of fit comparison. In the comparison of trueness, no significant difference within each group was spotted. Within the limitation of this study, open CAD-CAM systems used in this study can be assembled properly to fabricate zirconia crown.

In vitro comparison of the accuracy of an occlusal plane transfer method between facebow and POP bow systems in asymmetric ear position.

PURPOSE: This in vitro study aimed to compare the accuracy of the conventional facebow system and the newly developed POP (PNUD (Pusan National University Dental School) Occlusal Plane) bow system for occlusal plane transfer in asymmetric ear position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two dentists participated in this study, one was categorized as Experimenter 1 and the other as Experimenter 2 based on their clinical experience with the facebow (1F, 2F) and POP bow (1P, 2P) systems. The vertical height difference between the two ears of the phantom model was set to 3 mm. Experimenter 1 and Experimenter 2 performed the facebow and POP bow systems on the phantom model 10 times each, and the transfer accuracy was analyzed. The accuracy was evaluated by measuring the angle between the reference virtual plane (RVP) of the phantom model and the experimental virtual plane (EVP) of the upper mounting plate through digital superimposition. All data were statistically analyzed using a paired t-test (P < .05). RESULTS: Regardless of clinical experience, the POP bow system (0.53° ± 0.30 (1P) and 0.19° ± 0.18 (2P) for Experimenter 1 and 2, respectively) was significantly more accurate than the facebow system (1.88° ± 0.50 (1F) and 1.34° ± 0.25 (2F), respectively) in the frontal view (P < .05). In the sagittal view, no significant differences were found between the POP bow system (0.92° ± 0.50 (1P) and 0.73° ± 0.42 (2P) for Experimenter 1 and 2, respectively) and the facebow system (0.82° ± 0.49 (1F) and 0.60° ± 0.39 (2F), respectively), regardless of clinical experience (P > .05). CONCLUSION: In cases of asymmetric ear position, the POP bow system may transfer occlusal plane information more accurately than the facebow system in the frontal view, regardless of clinical experience.

A prospective multicenter clinical study on the efficiency of detachable ball- and spring-retained implant prosthesis.

PURPOSE: This prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the freely detachable zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prosthesis (BSRP) through a comparative analysis of screw- and cement-retained implant prosthesis (SCRP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-center, randomized, prospective clinical study evaluating the clinical usefulness of the detachable zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prostheses was conducted. Sixty-four implant prostheses in 64 patients were examined. Periodic observational studies were conducted at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery of the implant prosthesis. Factors such as implant success rate, marginal bone resorption, periodontal pocket depth, plaque and bleeding index, and prosthetic complications were evaluated, respectively. RESULTS: During the 1-year observation period, all implants survived without functional problems and clinical mobility, showing a 100% implant success rate. Marginal bone resorption was significantly higher in the SCRP group than in the BSRP group only at the time of implant prosthesis delivery (P = .043). In all observation periods, periodontal pocket depth was slightly higher in the BSRP group than in the SCRP group, but there was no significant difference (P > .05). The modified plaque index (mPI) scores of both groups were moderate. Higher ratio of a score 2 in modified sulcus bleeding index (mBI) was observed in the BSRP group in the 6- and 12-months observation. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the newly developed zirconia ball- and spring-retained implant prosthesis could be considered as an applicable and predictable treatment method along with the existing screw- and cement-retained prosthesis.

The effects of Mg-ion implantation and sandblasting on Porphyromonas gingivalis attachment.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of titanium surface treatment on Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterial attachment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Titanium disks of 15 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness (n=40) were subjected to mechanical grinding, or sandblasting. Magnesium (Mg) ions were implanted onto the titanium surface using a plasma source ion implantation method. The structure, chemistry, and surface morphologies of the titanium surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Surface roughness was measured using a laser profilometer. Half of the titanium disks in each group were dipped in saliva for 24 h. All of the titanium specimens were rinsed with distilled water. A P. gingivalis strain was cultured in anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 72 h, and all titanium specimens were dipped in the bacterial suspension at 37°C for 24 h. Specimens were examined at × 3000 magnification using a SEM. The number of bacteria in each of 10 separate fields was determined by directly counting the number of bacterial colonies that adhered to each specimen. The mean values were calculated afterward. The resulting data were analyzed to assess the significance of observed differences based on the method of the surface treatment, ion implantation, and saliva dipping. RESULTS: The amount of P. gingivalis attached to the sandblasted specimens was greater than that on the ground specimens (P<0.001). Moreover, surfaces with Mg-ion implantation had more attachments than nonimplanted surfaces (P<0.001). Saliva dipping acted synergistically with surface roughness and chemical composition of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Chemically modified surface increase the attachment of a major periodontopathic bacterium, P. gingivalis.

Stimulation of healing within a rabbit calvarial defect by a PCL/PLGA scaffold blended with TCP using solid freeform fabrication technology.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing capacity within an 8-mm rabbit calvarial defect using a polycaprolactone (PCL)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold blended with tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) that was constructed using solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technology. The PCL/PLGA/TCP scaffold showed a 37 % higher compressive strength and rougher surface than the PCL/PLGA scaffold. In animal experiments, new bone formation was analyzed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histological and histometric analyses. The PCL/PLGA/TCP groups had significantly greater neo-tissue areas as compared with the control groups at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The PCL/PLGA/TCP group had significantly greater bone density as compared with the control and PCL/PLGA groups at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.005). The results of this study suggest that the PCL/PLGA/TCP scaffold fabricated using SFF technology is useful for recovering and enhancing new bone formation in bony defects in rabbits.

Microhardness and polymerization shrinkage of flowable resins that are light cured using a blue laser.

This study evaluated the microhardness and polymerization shrinkage of flowable resins that are cured using different light sources. Seven flowable resins and two light sources (diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser (LAS) and Optilux 501 (OP)) were chosen for the study. To evaluate the microhardness, a mold (height: 2 mm, inner diameter: 4 mm) was filled with resin and then light cured. The microhardness was measured at the top and bottom surfaces after aging for 24 h. The level of polymerization shrinkage was evaluated for 130 s (during and after the light curing) by measuring the dimensions of the cylindrical shape resin filling. The light intensity of the LAS and OP was approximately 520 mW/cm(2) and 800 mW/cm(2), respectively. The data for the microhardness and polymerization shrinkage were analyzed statistically. The microhardness (Hv) of the specimens at the top and bottom surface ranged from 25.3 ± 0.6 to 55.3 ± 1.0 and 28.0 ± 2.6 to 63.0 ± 2.3, respectively. Admira flow, Grandio flow, and Filtek Z350 flow showed a slightly higher microhardness at the bottom surface than that at the top surface. The degree of polymerization shrinkage (µm) of the specimens ranged from 30.5 ± 1.3 to 45.9 ± 0.6 for LAS and from 35.1 ± 1.5 to 47.1 ± 1.0 for OP. The values obtained using LAS and OP showed a statistical difference, but in many cases, the difference between the absolute values was minor.

Influence of Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment on Retentive Strength between Zirconia Crown and Titanium Implant Abutment.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) on retentive strength (RS) between the zirconia crown and the titanium implant abutment using self-adhesive resin cement. Surface free energy (SFE) was calculated on 24 cube-shaped zirconia blocks, and RS was measured on 120 zirconia crown-titanium abutment assemblies bonded with G-CEM LinkAce. The groups were categorized according to the zirconia surface treatment as follows: Control (no surface treatment), NTP, Si (Silane), NTP + Si, Pr (Z-Prime Plus), and NTP + Pr. Half of the RS test assemblies were aged by thermocycling for 5000 cycles at 5-55 °C. The SFE was calculated using the Owens-Wendt method, and the RS was measured using a universal testing machine at the maximum load until failure. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) was performed to evaluate the effect of surface treatments on the SFE and RS. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the RS according to thermocycling (p < 0.05). For the SFE analysis, the NTP group had a significantly higher SFE value than the Control group (p < 0.05). For the RS test, in non-thermocycling, the NTP group showed a significantly higher RS value than the Control group (p < 0.05). However, in thermocycling, there was no significant difference between the Control and NTP groups (p > 0.05). In non-thermocycling, comparing with the NTP + Si or NTP + Pr group, there was no significant difference from the Si or Pr group, respectively (p > 0.05). Conversely, in thermocycling, the NTP + Si and NTP + Pr group had significantly lower RS than the Si and Pr group, respectively (p < 0.05). These results suggest that NTP single treatment for the zirconia crown increases the initial RS but has little effect on the long-term RS. Applied with Silane or Z-Prime Plus, NTP pre-treatment has no positive effect on the RS.

Effects of Gamma Radiation-Induced Crosslinking of Collagen Type I Coated Dental Titanium Implants on Osseointegration and Bone Regeneration.

This study aimed to compare two methods of crosslinking collagen type I on implanted titanium surfaces, that is, using glutaraldehyde (GA) or gamma-rays (GRs), in a beagle dog model. For in vivo experiments, implants were allocated to three groups and applied to mandibular bone defects in beagle dogs; Group SLA; non-treated Sandblasted, large grit, acid-etched (SLA) implants, Group GA; SLA implants coated with GA crosslinked collagen type I, Group GR; SLA surface implants coated with collagen type I and crosslinked using 25 kGy of 60Co gamma radiation. New bone µCT volumes were obtained, and histologic and histometric analyses were performed in regions of interest. The GR group had significantly better new bone areas (NBAs) and bone to implant contact (BIC) results than the SLA group (p < 0.05), but the GA and GR groups were similar in this respect. New bone volumes and inter-thread bone densities (ITBD) were non-significantly different in the three groups (p > 0.05). Within the limits of this study, gamma-ray collagen crosslinking on titanium implants can be considered a substitute for glutaraldehyde crosslinking.

Effects of abutment screw coating on implant preload.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of tungsten carbide carbon (WC/CTa) screw surface coating on abutment screw preload in three implant connection systems in comparison to noncoated titanium alloy (Ta) screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preload of WC/CTa abutment screws was compared to noncoated Ta screws in three implant connection systems. The differences in preloads were measured in tightening rotational angle, compression force, initial screw removal torque, and postload screw removal torque after 1 million cyclic loads. Preload loss percent was calculated to determine the efficacy of maintaining the preload of two abutment screw types in relation to implant connection systems. RESULTS: WC/CTa screws provided 10 degrees higher tightening rotational angle than Ta screws in all three connection systems. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). External-hex butt joint implant connections had a higher compression force than the two internal conical implant connections. WC/CTa screws provided a statistically significantly higher compression force than Ta screws in all three implant connections (p < 0.05). Ta screws required statistically higher removal torque than WC/CTa screws in all three implant connections (p < 0.05); however, Ta screws needed statistically lower postload removal torque than WC/CTa screws in all three implant connections (p < 0.05). Ta screws had a statistically higher preload loss percent than WC/CTa screws in all three implant connections (p < 0.05), indicating that WC/CTa screws were superior in maintaining the preload than Ta screws. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of present study, the following conclusions were made: (1) WC/CTa screws provided higher preload than noncoated Ta screws in all three implant connection systems. (2) The initial removal torque for Ta screws required higher force than WC/CTa screws, whereas postload removal torque for Ta screws was lower than WC/CTa screws. Calculated Ta screw preload loss percent was higher than for WC/CTa screws, suggesting that WC/CTa screws were more effective in maintaining the preload than Ta screws. (3) Internal conical connections were more effective in maintaining the screw preload in cyclic loads than external-hex butt joint connections.

Effect of Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (NTP) and Zirconia Primer Treatment on Shear Bond Strength between Y-TZP and Resin Cement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) treatment on the sandblasting of mechanical method and zirconia primer of chemical method used to increase the bond strength between zirconia and resin cement. In this study, Y-TZP was divided into 4 groups according to the surface treatment methods as follows: Zirconia primer (Pr), NTP + Zirconia primer (NTP + Pr), Sandblasting + Zirconia primer (Sb + Pr), Sandblasting + NTP + Zirconia primer (Sb + NTP + Pr). Then, two types of resin cement (G-CEM LinkAce and Rely X-U200) were used to measure the shear bond strength (SBS) and they were divided into non-thermal cycling group and thermal cycling group for aging effect. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test. The result of the surface energy (SE), there was no significant difference among the groups (p > 0.05). As a result of the SBS test, the Sb + Pr group had a significantly higher SBS value than the other groups regardless of the resin cement type (p < 0.05), and the decrease rate after thermal cycling treatment was the lowest. On the other hand, the NTP + Pr group showed significantly lower SBS values than the other groups except for the case of using Rely X-U200 (p < 0.05), and the reduction rate after thermal cycling was the highest. The Sb + NTP + Pr group did not differ significantly from the Pr group (p > 0.05). Within the limitations of two successive studies, treatment with NTP after sandblasting used for mechanical bond strength showed a positive effect on initial SBS. However, when NTP was treated before the zirconia primer used for the chemical bond strength, it showed a negative effect on SBS compared to other treatment methods, which was noticeable after the thermal cycling treatment.

Evaluation of 1-Ethyl-3-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl) Carbodiimide Cross-Linked Collagen Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration in Beagle Dogs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone regeneration efficacy of an 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)-cross-linked collagen membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR). A non-cross-linked collagen membrane (Control group), and an EDC-cross-linked collagen membrane (Test group) were used in this study. In vitro, mechanical, and degradation testing and cell studies were performed. In the animal study, 36 artificial bone defects were formed in the mandibles of six beagles. Implants were inserted at the time of bone grafting, and membranes were assigned randomly. Eight weeks later, animals were sacrificed, micro-computed tomography was performed, and hematoxylin-eosin stained specimens were prepared. Physical properties (tensile strength and enzymatic degradation rate) were better in the Test group than in the Control group. No inflammation or membrane collapse was observed in either group, and bone volumes (%) in defects around implants were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). The results of new bone areas (%) analysis also showed similar values in the two groups (p > 0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that cross-linking the collagen membranes with EDC is the method of enhancing the physical properties (tensile strength and enzymatic degradation) of the collagen membranes without risk of toxicity.

Evaluating the Wear of Resin Teeth by Different Opposing Restorative Materials.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the wear properties of resin teeth with different opposing dental restorative materials. One type of resin tooth (Trubyte Biotone) was tested against six types of restorative materials including type III gold alloy (GO), monolithic zirconia (MZ), lithium disilicate glass ceramic (LD), nickel-chromium alloy (NC), feldspathic ceramic (FC), and steatite (ST). Two-body wear tests were performed under a vertical load of 5 kgf and thermo-cycling at 5/55 °C with a total of 120,000 cycles. The wear amount was quantified by measuring the volume loss of the resin teeth and the vertical substance loss of the opposing materials using three-dimensional images. The FC group showed a significantly greater amount of wear of the resin teeth, followed by the ST, NC, LD, MZ, and GO groups. The GO group showed significantly less wear of resin teeth than the other groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the wear of opposing restorative materials between groups. Within the limits of this study, it is recommended that zirconia, rather than feldspathic ceramic, should be used for restorations in the esthetic zone, and gold alloy should be used for areas with little or no esthetic demand.