Effect of APF gel on micromorphology of resin modified glass-ionomer cements and flowable compomers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface micromorphology of resin modified glass-ionomer cements and flowable compomers. In the study two resin modified glass-ionomers and two flowable compomers were used to prepare standardized 20 cylinderic samples. Samples were divided into four groups. Surface treatments with APF gel for experimental groups (group B,C,D) or distilled water as a control (group A) were performed four times. In group B, only APF gel was applied. In group C, after the APF gel application, the samples were immersed into the demineralizing and remineralizing solutions. In group D, before the APF gel application, the buffer solution was applied. The examinations of the surface micromorphology of the materials were made by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that in group B all of the materials except Compoglass Flow, and in group C all of the materials showed erratic behaviours. In group D, severe erratic effect (score 2) was obtained on the surfaces of Vivaglassliner and Dyract Flow, and for the others score 1 signals were found. The moderate degradation was obtained by applying of only APF gel on the surfaces of both material groups. The addition of pH circulation caused increasing of micromorphologic changes on the surfaces of all materials. The effect of application of buffer solution on the surfaces before APF gel changed according to the materials. If acidulated fluoride gel is preferred for prophylactic therapy in patients' mouth, for the success, either buffer or neutral fluoride have to be applied on the restored teeth by resin based materials before acidulated fluoride application.

Alstrom syndrome: a case report.

Alstrom syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by early obesity, loss of central vision, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss and short stature. Previous studies, have reported no information regarding oral findings. This article describes oral findings in two cases of Alstrom syndrome. In both cases, gingivitis was present and also light yellow-brown discolored enamel bands were observed on the anterior teeth. This staining may have resulted from discoloration of the preexisting slight band-like enamel hypoplasia. The gingiva was examined histologically by light and transmission electron microscopy. Irregular thickness of the basal lamina and delamination of the myelin sheath were detected by transmission electron microscopy. There is no information about pathological odontogenesis in Alstrom syndrome in previous reports. Oral present findings may contribute further information about the clinical manifestations of Alstrom syndrome.

The relation between salivary IgA and caries in renal transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive drugs on the level of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) in patients who have received kidney transplants and the relation between the levels of salivary IgA and dental caries incidence. STUDY DESIGN: Patients who had undergone renal transplantation (n = 28, aged 18-54) were divided into 3 groups according to postsurgical period (0-6 months [G(1)], 6-12 months [G(2)], and >12 months [G(3)]). A healthy control group (n = 10, aged 17-49) was also included in this study. Saliva samples were collected from all patients by the spitting method. After collection, the samples were frozen immediately at -40 degrees C until analysis by the single radial immunodiffusion method. All fissure caries were examined clinically, and proximal caries were examined clinically and radiographically; caries status was determined according to the decay surface index. The findings were evaluated statistically by means of correlation analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the 1-way Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance method. RESULTS: Salivary IgA levels of the patients who had undergone renal transplantation were found to be significantly lower than those of the control patients (G(1) = 6.76 mg/dL, G(2) = 6.80 mg/dL, G(3) = 7.84 mg/dL, and control group = 10.84 mg/dL, P <.001). However, the caries status of the patients who had undergone renal transplantation was not different from that of the control subjects for the first year after the transplant operation. The salivary IgA values of the 3 groups of patients who had undergone transplantation were not significantly different from each other. Thus, it was observed that a decrease in the level of salivary IgA does not result in an increase in caries incidence within 12 months after renal transplantation. The caries rate in the third group of patients who had undergone renal transplantation was found to be significantly different from those in the first and second groups. CONCLUSION: Low salivary IgA levels caused by immunosuppression are not correlated or associated with higher levels of dental caries within the first 12 months after renal transplantation. However, the incidence of dental caries was higher for patients who had undergone renal transplantation than for control subjects 12 months after renal transplantation. Because of the diagnostic processes used, dental caries may not become evident until after 12 months.

The effect of surface treatment on the bond strength of resin composite to dentin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various dentin acid treatments on the tensile bond strength of resin composite to dentin, mediated by Prisma Universal Bond 2. Acid solutions (maleic acid, Na-EDTA, phosphoric acid, citric acid/ferric chloride) were applied to dentin surfaces for 15 seconds or 60 seconds, and tensile bond strengths evaluated. For all acids, there was a significant difference in bond strength for the two treatment times; for phosphoric acid and citric acid/ferric chloride, the 15-second application resulted in a higher bond strength, while the reverse was true for Na-EDTA (sodium-EDTA) and maleic acid. The highest bond strength (19.6 MPa) was associated with 15-second citric acid/ferric chloride application, and the lowest bond strength (5.6 MPa) with 60-second application of citric acid/ferric chloride. The bond strengths with 60-second citric acid/ferric chloride (5.6 MPa), 15-second Na-EDTA (5.8 MPa), and 60-second phosphoric acid (6.3 MPa) were not significantly different from the control (5.7 MPa).

In vitro shear bond strength of adhesive to normal and fluoridated enamel under various contaminated conditions.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the shear bond strength of bonding agents to normal or fluoridated enamel following use of weak or strong acids to prepare enamel surfaces and after contamination with a measured amount of saliva at various stages of the bonding procedure. METHOD AND MATERIALS: One hundred extracted human third molar teeth were randomly separated into 2 basic groups (normal or fluoridated teeth), then divided into 5 subgroups. Group A specimens were not contaminated. After etching, enamel surfaces were dry and clean. Group B was left with wet surfaces after etching. Group C specimens were contaminated with artificial saliva and then dried. Group D specimens were contaminated with artificial saliva, rinsed, and then dried. In group E, all enamel surfaces were left contaminated with saliva after the etching procedures (with maleic acid or phosphoric acids). Adhesive resins were applied to all enamel surfaces according to the manufacturer's instructions. The specimens were then mounted and tested to determine shear bond strength. RESULTS: If normal enamel surfaces were rinsed and dried immediately after contamination, there was no significant reduction of shear bond strength of adhesive to enamel. Specimens in group E and group C had significantly lower bond strengths than did control specimens (group A). In the fluoridated groups etched with the phosphoric acid, statistically significant reductions in bond strengths were obtained in all contamination groups and in the control group. In the fluoridated specimens, there were no statistically significant differences between any of the contamination groups and the control group when maleic acid was used. CONCLUSION: Saliva contamination may not be a risk factor for successful bonding between bonding agent and dental tissues for normal or fluoridated enamel surfaces if they are rinsed and dried immediately after contamination. Etching of normal enamel surfaces with phosphoric acid in the presence of contamination may provide higher shear bond strength than etching with maleic acid.

In vitro plaque formation on some dental filling materials.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of filling and lining materials in various compositions on Streptococcus mutans. Five glass-ionomer cements (Vitrebond, XR Ionomer, Ketac-Bond, Shofu Base Cement, Shofu Lining Cement) and two composite materials (Heliomolar-RO, Concise) were used in this study. Samples from these materials were prepared in sterilized conditions and hung in tryptic soy broth medium containing 5% sucrose. The media were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans ATCC 13419. After 5 days, the plaque that had accumulated on the surfaces was scraped off and weighted in wet and dry conditions. Then the colonies were counted and evaluated in comparison with each other. The least amount of plaque and colony numbers were found on Vitrebond material disks. In conclusion, there were no differences among XR Ionomer, Heliomolar-RO and Ketac Bond. Concise gave better results than some materials containing fluoride; whereas the most abundant amounts of plaque were found on Shofu Lining Cement and Shofu Base Cement.

Determination of fluoride release from light-cured glass-ionomers and a fluoridated composite resin from the viewpoint of curing time.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fluoride releasing pattern of several visible light-curing glass-ionomers and one fluoride-containing filling material, from the viewpoint of curing time. Standardized blocks of Time Line (Caulk-USA), XR-Ionomer (Kerr-USA), Vitrebond (3M-USA) and Heliomolar-Ro (Vivadent-Lichtenstein) were light cured for 20, 40 and 60 s, and then stored in deionized distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days. The water was changed every day and measurements of the fluoride released from the materials were made daily. The results were compared statistically with the results obtained from Ketac-Bond (Espe-Germany) prepared in the same manner. The levels were highest for the first 24 h; in the following days they decreased rapidly. The fluoride-releasing patterns of all these materials were similar to each other. The fluoride release was the highest from XR-Ionomer, and the lowest from Heliomolar-RO. For Time Line glass-ionomer, the fluoride release from 20 s cured blocks was significantly higher than the fluoride release from 40 and 60 s cured blocks at the end of 1 week. It was observed that the fluoride release from Ketac-Bond was significantly lower than XR-Ionomer and Vitre-Bond and higher than Time Line and Heliomolar-Ro.