An Assessment of 1067 Light Curing Units Measured Twice Between 2015 and 2021.

INTRODUCTION: The physical condition of the tip and the irradiance of LCUs used in dental offices in the United States and Canada was assessed twice. METHODS: The tip irradiance and physical condition of the tip of 1067 LCUs from 544 dental clinics were assessed twice between 2015 and 2021 using the CheckMARC (BlueLight) radiometer. The irradiance values were compared by paired Student's t-test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: There was a wide range of irradiance values (200 to 3,777 mW/cm²). At the first assessment, only 26% of the LCUs had no visible damage or debris on the LCU tip. When retested up to 36 months later, 70% of the LCUs had their tip damage or debris issues entirely or partially resolved. 2.6% of the LCUs delivered an irradiance below 500 mW/cm² on the first and 1.6% on the second assessments. For the 5 brands that had a sufficient sample size, it was concluded that the irradiance increased when the tip damage or presence of tip debris was resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Initially, most LCUs (74%) had at least one problem related to damage or debris on the LCU tip. The irradiance increased when the tip damage or debris was resolved.

Triacrylamide-Based Adhesives Stabilize Bonds in Physiologic Conditions.

In this study, an acrylamide-based adhesive was combined with a thiourethane-based composite to improve bond stability and reduce polymerization stress, respectively, of simulated composite restorations. The stability testing was conducted under physiologic conditions, combining mechanical and bacterial challenges. Urethane dimethacrylate was combined with a newly synthesized triacrylamide (TMAAEA) or HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate; control) to produce a 2-step total-etch adhesive system. Methacrylate-based composites (70 wt% silanized filler) were formulated, containing thiourethane oligomers at 0 (control) or 20 wt%. Standardized preparations in human third molars were restored; then, epoxy replicas were obtained from the occlusal surfaces before and after 7-d storage in water or with Streptococcus mutans biofilm, which was tested after storage in an incubator (static) or the bioreactor (mechanical challenge). Images were obtained from the replicas (scanning electron microscopy) and cross sections of the samples (confocal laser scanning microscopy) and then analyzed to obtain measurements of gap, bacterial infiltration, and demineralization. Microtensile bond strength of specimens stored in water or biofilm was assessed in 1-mm2 stick specimens. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). HEMA-based materials had greater initial gap measurements, indicating more efficient bonding for the acrylamide materials. When tested in water, the triacrylamide-based adhesive had smaller gaps in the incubator or bioreactor. In the presence of biofilm, there was less difference among materials, but the acrylamide/thiourethane combination led to statistically lower gap formation in the bioreactor. HEMA and TMAAEA-based adhesives produced statistically similar microtensile bond strengths after being stored in water for 7 d, but after the same period with biofilm-challenged specimens, the TMAAEA-based adhesives were the only ones to retain the initial bond strength values. The use of a stable multiacrylamide-based adhesive led to the preservation of the resin-dentin bonded interface after a physiologically relevant challenge. Future studies will include a multispecies biofilm model.

Biomaterial and Biofilm Interactions with the Pulp-Dentin Complex-on-a-Chip.

Calcium silicate cements (CSCs) are the choice materials for vital pulp therapy because of their bioactive properties, promotion of pulp repair, and dentin bridge formation. Despite the significant progress made in understanding CSCs' mechanisms of action, the key events that characterize the early interplay between CSC-dentin-pulp are still poorly understood. To address this gap, a microfluidic device, the "tooth-on-a-chip," which was developed to emulate the biomaterial-dentin-pulp interface, was used to test 1) the effect of CSCs (ProRoot, Biodentine, and TheraCal) on the viability and proliferation of human dental pulp stem cells, 2) variations of pH, and 3) release within the pulp chamber of transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß) as a surrogate of the bioactive dentin matrix molecules. ProRoot significantly increased the extraction of TGFß (P < 0.05) within 24 to 72 h and, along with Biodentine, induced higher cell proliferation (P > 0.05), while TheraCal decreased cell viability and provoked atypical changes in cell morphology. No correlation between TGFß levels and pH was observed. Further, we established a biofilm of Streptococcus mutans on-chip to model the biomaterial-biofilm-dentin interface and conducted a live and dead assay to test the antimicrobial capability of ProRoot in real time. In conclusion, the device allows for direct characterization of the interaction of bioactive dental materials with the dentin-pulp complex on a model of restored tooth while enabling assessment of antibiofilm properties at the interface in real time that was previously unattainable.

Effects of systematically varied thiourethane-functionalized filler concentration on polymerization behavior and relevant clinical properties of dental composites.

Introduction of thiourethane (TU) oligomer to resin-based dental restorative materials reduces stress and improves fracture toughness without compromising conversion. Localization of TU at the resin-filler interface via silanization procedures may lead to more substantial stress reduction and clinical property enhancements. The objective of this study was to evaluate composite properties as a function of TU-functionalized filler concentration. TU oligomers were synthesized using click-chemistry techniques and subsequently silanized to barium glass filler. Resin-based composites were formulated using varying ratios of TU-functionalized filler and conventional methacrylate-silanized barium filler. Material property testing included thermogravimetric analysis, real-time polymerization kinetics and depth of cure, polymerization stress, stress relaxation and fracture toughness. Clinical property testing included water sorption/solubility, composite paste viscosity, and gloss and surface roughness measured before and after subjecting the samples to 6 h of continuous tooth brushing in a custom-built apparatus using a toothpaste/water mixture. Increasing TU-filler in the composite resulted in as much as a 78% reduction in stress, coupled with an increase in fracture toughness. Conversion was similar for all groups. After simulated tooth brushing, gloss reduction was lower for TU-containing composites and surface roughness was less than or equal to the control.

Interaction between the Oral Microbiome and Dental Composite Biomaterials: Where We Are and Where We Should Go.

Dental composites are routinely placed as part of tooth restoration procedures. The integrity of the restoration is constantly challenged by the metabolic activities of the oral microbiome. This activity directly contributes to a less-than-desirable half-life for the dental composite formulations currently in use. Therefore, many new antimicrobial dental composites are being developed to counteract the microbial challenge. To ensure that these materials will resist microbiome-derived degradation, the model systems used for testing antimicrobial activities should be relevant to the in vivo environment. Here, we summarize the key steps in oral microbial colonization that should be considered in clinically relevant model systems. Oral microbial colonization is a clearly defined developmental process that starts with the formation of the acquired salivary pellicle on the tooth surface, a conditioned film that provides the critical attachment sites for the initial colonizers. Further development includes the integration of additional species and the formation of a diverse, polymicrobial mature biofilm. Biofilm development is discussed in the context of dental composites, and recent research is highlighted regarding the effect of antimicrobial composites on the composition of the oral microbiome. Future challenges are addressed, including the potential of antimicrobial resistance development and how this could be counteracted by detailed studies of microbiome composition and gene expression on dental composites. Ultimately, progress in this area will require interdisciplinary approaches to effectively mitigate the inevitable challenges that arise as new experimental bioactive composites are evaluated for potential clinical efficacy. Success in this area could have the added benefit of inspiring other fields in medically relevant materials research, since microbial colonization of medical implants and devices is a ubiquitous problem in the field.

Effect of Tack Cure on Polymerization Shrinkage of Resin-based Luting Cements.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Self-cure after tack cure could result in a lower polymerization shrinkage in some resin-based luting cements, which is closely related to lower degree of cure.

The Evolution of Dental Materials over the Past Century: Silver and Gold to Tooth Color and Beyond.

The field of dental materials has undergone more of a revolution than an evolution over the past 100 y. The development of new products, especially in the past half century, has occurred at a staggering pace, and their introduction to the market has been equally impressive. The movement has mostly come in the area of improved esthetics, marked by the gradual replacement of dental amalgam with dental composite and all-metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal indirect restorations with reinforced dental ceramics, all made possible by the rapid improvements in dental adhesive materials. This article covers the time course of dental materials development over the past century in which the Journal of Dental Research has been published. While there have been advances in nearly all materials used in the field, this article focuses on several areas, including dental amalgam, dental composites and light curing, dental adhesives and dental cements, ceramics, and new functional repair materials. A few short statements on future advances will be included at the end.

Effect of Beam Profiles From Different Light Emission Tip Types of Multiwave Light-emitting Diodes on the Curing Profile of Resin-based Composites.

Light activation is an important clinical step for achieving success in restorative procedures. This study evaluated the influence of beam profile from different light emission tip types of multiwave light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the curing profile of resin-based composites. Experimental composites were produced containing either camphorquinone (CQ) or diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TPO) as a photoinitiator. Multiwave LEDs with either a bundle light guide tip (Bluephase G2, Ivoclar Vivadent) or a microlens tip (VALO Cordless, Ultradent) were characterized using a beam profiler. Block-shaped samples (5×5×3 mm depth) of the two composites were cured in a custom-designed mold with the multiwave LEDs positioned to compare the regions exposed to the 420-495 nm (blue) and 380-420 nm (violet) emittances. To map the curing profile, the degree of conversion (DC) of longitudinal thin cross sections from each block was evaluated using transmission FT-NIR. Radiant exposure transmitted through the composites during curing was evaluated at different thicknesses. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey test (α=0.05; ß=0.2). The results indicated that there were differences in the beam profile and the overall radiant exposures transmitted through the composites using each multiwave LED (p<0.01, df=1 F=73.18). However, there were no differences in the curing profiles provided by the two multiwave LEDs (p=0.89, df=12 F=0.52), and similar effects were found according to the different LED emittance regions (p=0.09, df=5, F=2.11). When considering up to 1 mm in depth, no differences in the DC were found between the composites containing either photoinitiators. Starting at 2 mm in depth, the composite containing TPO showed a decrease in DC in the 420-495 nm emittance region, while the composite containing CQ showed a similar decrease in cure efficiency only at 3-mm depth under both 380-420 nm and 420-495 nm emittance regions. Thus, despite the fact that the nonuniform light beam emitted from the two multiwave LEDs was visually distinctly different when delivering 24 J/cm2, this difference did not seem to affect the curing profile of the composites. However, light transmission within 380-420 nm seems to be reduced with depth, directly affecting the curing profile of composites containing a photoinitiator with absorbance falling within this emission range.

Academy of Dental Materials guidance-Resin composites: Part II-Technique sensitivity (handling, polymerization, dimensional changes).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work, commissioned by the Academy of Dental Materials, was to review and critically appraise test methods to characterize properties related to critical issues for dental resin composites, including technique sensitivity and handling, polymerization, and dimensional stability, in order to provide specific guidance to investigators planning studies of these properties. METHODS: The properties that relate to each of the main clinical issues identified were ranked in terms of their priority for testing, and the specific test methods within each property were ranked. An attempt was made to focus on the tests and methods likely to be the most useful, applicable, and supported by the literature, and where possible, those showing a correlation with clinical outcomes. Certain methods are only briefly mentioned to be all-inclusive. When a standard test method exists, whether from dentistry or another field, this test has been identified. Specific examples from the literature are included for each test method. RESULTS: The properties for evaluating resin composites were ranked in the priority of measurement as follows: (1) porosity, radiopacity, sensitivity to ambient light, degree of conversion, polymerization kinetics, depth of cure, polymerization shrinkage and rate, polymerization stress, and hygroscopic expansion; (2) stickiness, slump resistance, and viscosity; and (3) thermal expansion. SIGNIFICANCE: The following guidance is meant to aid the researcher in choosing the most appropriate test methods when planning studies designed to assess certain key properties and characteristics of dental resin composites, specifically technique sensitivity and handling during placement, polymerization, and dimensional stability.

Academy of Dental Materials guidance-Resin composites: Part I-Mechanical properties.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project, which was initiated from the Academy of Dental Materials, was to review and critically appraise methods to determine fracture, deformation and wear resistance of dental resin composites, in an attempt to provide guidance for investigators endeavoring to study these properties for these materials. METHODS: Test methods have been ranked in the priority of the specific property being tested, as well as of the specific test methods for evaluating that property. Focus was placed on the tests that are considered to be of the highest priority in terms of being the most useful, applicable, supported by the literature, and which show a correlation with clinical findings. Others are mentioned briefly for the purpose of being inclusive. When a standard test method exists, including those used in other fields, these have been identified in the beginning of each section. Also, some examples from the resin composite literature are included for each test method. RESULTS: The properties for evaluating resin composites were ranked in the priority of measurement as following: (1) Strength, Elastic Modulus, Fracture toughness, Fatigue, Indentation Hardness, Wear-abrasion (third body) and Wear-attrition (contact/two body), (2) Toughness, Edge strength (chipping) and (3) Wear determined by toothbrush. SIGNIFICANCE: The following guidance is meant to aid the researcher in choosing the proper method to assess key properties of dental resin composites with regard to their fracture, deformation and wear resistance.

Light-emitting Diode Beam Profile and Spectral Output Influence on the Degree of Conversion of Bulk Fill Composites.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the beam profile and the spectral output of monowave and polywave light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and their influence on the degree of conversion (DC) of bulk fill composites. METHODS: A monowave LED (Smartlite Focus, Dentsply) and a polywave LED (Valo Cordless, Ultradent) were characterized using a resin calibrator and a laser beam profile analyzer. Two bulk fill composites, Sonic Fill 2 (SF) containing camphorquinone (CQ) and Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TEB) containing CQ associated with alternative photoinitiators, were placed in custom-designed molds (n=3) and photoactivated by the monowave or polywave LED with 20 J/cm2. To map the DC, longitudinal cross sections (0.5 mm thick) from the center of the restoration were evaluated using FT-NIR microscopy. SF and TEB light transmittances (n=3) through 4-mm-thick specimens were evaluated during curing. Data were analyzed using a split-plot analysis of variance and Tukey test (α=0.05; ß=0.2). RESULTS: The monowave LED had a radiant emittance of 20 ± 0.5 J/cm2 over 420-495 nm, and the polywave LED had an emittance of 15.5 ± 0.4 J/cm2 over 420-495 nm and of 4.5 ± 0.2 J/cm2 over 380-420 nm. The total radiant exposure at the bottom of TEB was 2.2 ± 0.2 J/cm2 with the monowave LED and 1.6 ± 0.3 J/cm2 with the polywave LED, and for SF it was 0.4 ± 0.1 J/cm2 for both LEDs. There were no differences in the curing profiles produced either by the monowave or the polywave LED (p=0.9), according to the regions under influence of blue and/or violet emission at the same depth. There was no statistical difference in the DC for SF using the monowave or polywave LED at any depth (p=0.29). TEB had a higher DC at up to 2 mm in depth when the polywave LED was used (p<0.004), but no differences were found when starting at 2.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Monowave and polywave LEDs emitted nonhomogeneous light beams, but this did not affect the DC homogeneity of bulk fill composites. For composites containing CQ associated with alternative photoinitiators, polywave LEDs had a higher DC, but only at the top part of the restoration; lower wavelength absorption photoinitiators were ineffective in deeper areas.

Models of Caries Formation around Dental Composite Restorations.

The main reason cited for the replacement of dental composite restorations is the recurrence of caries. Numerous models-both in vitro, with acid gels or bacterial biofilms, and in situ, with dental appliances-have been used to study caries formation around dental composites. The literature shows that many factors may affect caries formation, including marginal gap formation, gap size, the local chemical environment, the durability of the bonded interface, the extent of bacterial penetration, and the presence of mechanical loading. Studies have also shown that what have been called wall lesions may form independent of surface lesions, though not likely due to microleakage through very small gap spaces in the clinical situation. Gap size and mechanical loading have been shown to be related to lesion severity within in vitro models, but these results do not correspond exactly with those obtained from in situ studies using restorations in dental appliances. Though not conclusive, some in vitro models have shown that certain materials possessing antimicrobial characteristics may reduce the severity of lesion formation, suggesting possible pathways for developing new composite and adhesive materials for restorations with potentially enhanced longevity.

Effect of Insufficient Light Exposure on Polymerization Kinetics of Conventional and Self-adhesive Dual-cure Resin Cements.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of insufficient light exposure on the polymerization of conventional and self-adhesive dual-cure resin cements under ceramic restorations. METHODS: Two conventional dual-cure resin cements (Rely-X ARC, Duolink) and two self-adhesive resin cements (Rely-X U200, Maxcem Elite) were polymerized under different curing modes (dual-cure or self-cure), curing times (20 and 120 seconds), and thickness of a ceramic overlay (2 and 4 mm). Polymerization kinetics was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the initial 10 minutes and after 24 hours. Data were analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA), one-way ANOVA/Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test, and paired t-test (α=0.05). RESULTS: When light-curing time was set to 20 seconds, the presence of the ceramic block significantly affected the degree of conversion (DC) of all resin cements. Especially, the DC of the groups with 20 seconds of light-curing time under 4 mm of ceramic thickness was even lower than that of the self-cured groups at 24 hours after polymerization (p<0.05). However, when light-curing time was set to 120 seconds, a similar DC compared with the group with direct light exposure (p>0.05) was achieved in all dual-cure groups except Maxcem Elite, at 24 hours after polymerization. CONCLUSIONS: For both conventional and self-adhesive dual-cure resin cements, insufficient light exposure (20 seconds of light-curing time) through thick ceramic restoration (4 mm thick) resulted in a DC even lower than that of self-curing alone.

Influence of the Compliance and Layering Method on the Wall Deflection of Simulated Cavities in Bulk-fill Composite Restoration.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the layering method and compliance on the wall deflection of simulated cavities in bulk-fill and conventional composite restorations and to examine the relationships between the wall deflection and the polymerization shrinkage, flexural modulus, and polymerization shrinkage stress of composites. Six light-cured composites were used in this study. Two of these were conventional methacrylate-based composites (Filtek Z250 and Filtek Z350 XT Flowable [Z350F]), whereas four were bulk-fill composites (SonicFill, Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-Fill, SureFil SDR Flow [SDR], and Filtek Bulk-Fill). One hundred eighty aluminum molds simulating a mesio-occluso-distal cavity (6 W×8 L×4 D mm) were prepared and classified into three groups with mold wall thicknesses of 1, 2, and 3 mm. Each group was further subdivided according to the composite layering method (bulk or incremental layering). Linear variable differential transformer probes were used to measure the mold wall deflection of each composite (n=5) over a period of 2000 seconds (33.3 minutes). The polymerization shrinkage, flexural modulus, and polymerization shrinkage stress of the six composites were also measured. All groups with bulk filling exhibited significantly higher deflection compared with groups with incremental layering. The deflection decreased as mold wall thickness increased. The highest and lowest polymerization shrinkage stresses were recorded for Z350F (5.07 MPa) and SDR (1.70 MPa), respectively. The correlation between polymerization shrinkage and the mold wall deflection decreased with increasing wall thickness. On the other hand, the correlation between flexural modulus and the mold wall deflection increased with increasing wall thickness. For all groups, wall deflection correlated strongly with polymerization shrinkage stress.

Bioactive glass fillers reduce bacterial penetration into marginal gaps for composite restorations.

OBJECTIVE: Bioactive glass (BAG) is known to possess antimicrobial and remineralizing properties; however, the use of BAG as a filler for resin based composite restorations to slow recurrent caries has not been studied. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of adding 15wt% BAG to a resin composite on bacterial biofilms penetrating into marginal gaps of simulated tooth fillings in vitro during cyclic mechanical loading. METHODS: Human molars were machined into approximately 3mm thick disks of dentin and 1.5-2mm deep composite restorations were placed. A narrow 15-20 micrometer wide dentin-composite gap was allowed to form along half of the margin by not applying dental adhesive to that region. Two different 72wt% filled composites were used, one with 15wt% BAG filler (15BAG) and the balance silanated strontium glass and one filled with aerosol silica and silanated strontium glass without BAG (0BAG-control). Samples of both groups had Streptococcus mutans biofilms grown on the surface and were tested inside a bioreactor for two weeks while subjected to periods of cyclic mechanical loading. After post-test biofilm viability was confirmed, each specimen was fixed in glutaraldehyde, gram positive stained, mounted in resin and cross-sectioned to reveal the gap profile. Depth of biofilm penetration for 0BAG and 15BAG was quantified as the fraction of gap depth. The data were compared using a Student's t-test. RESULTS: The average depth of bacterial penetration into the marginal gap for the 15BAG samples was significantly smaller (∼61%) in comparison to 0BAG, where 100% penetration was observed for all samples with the biofilm penetrating underneath of the restoration in some cases. SIGNIFICANCE: BAG containing resin dental composites reduce biofilm penetration into marginal gaps of simulated tooth restorations. This suggests BAG containing composites may have the potential to slow the development and propagation of secondary tooth decay at restoration margins.

Light-Curing Units: A Review of What We Need to Know.

For improved interstudy reproducibility, reduced risk of premature failures, and ultimately better patient care, researchers and dentists need to know how to accurately characterize the electromagnetic radiation (light) they are delivering to the resins they are using. The output from a light-curing unit (LCU) is commonly characterized by its irradiance. If this value is measured at the light tip, it describes the radiant exitance from the surface of the light tip, and not the irradiance received by the specimen. The value quoted also reflects only an averaged value over the total measurement area and does not represent the irradiance that the resin specimen is receiving locally or at a different moment in time. Recent evidence has reported that the spectral emission and radiant exitance beam profiles from LCUs can be highly inhomogeneous. This can cause nonuniform temperature changes and uneven photopolymerization within the resin restoration. The spectral radiant power can be very different between different brands of LCUs, and the use of irradiance values derived from dental radiometers to describe the output from an LCU for research purposes is discouraged. Manufacturers should provide more information about the light output from the LCU and the absorption spectrum of their resin-based composite (RBC). Ideally, future assessments and research publications should include the following information about the curing light: 1) radiant power output throughout the exposure cycle and the spectral radiant power as a function of wavelength, 2) analysis of the light beam profile and spectral emission across the light beam, and 3) measurement and reporting of the light the RBC specimen received as well as the output measured at the light tip.