Glass ionomer cement particles pre-reacted with chlorhexidine: Physical/chemical properties and antimicrobial activity.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the effects of the functionalization of pre-functionalized GIC particles with chlorhexidine on the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups were prepared: (1) GIC (Bioglass R - Biodinamica) - control group; (2) GIC-CHX 1%: Group containing 1% pre-reacted CHX particles; (3) GIC-CHX 2.5%: Group containing 2.5% pre-reacted CHX particles; (4) GIC-CHX 5%: Group containing 5% pre-reacted CHX particles. Hourglass-shaped specimens (10 mm × 2 mm x 1 mm) were fabricated for mechanical tests including cohesive strength (n = 12), modulus of elasticity (n = 12) and microhardness (n = 10). Discs (10 mm × 2 mm) were prepared for the analysis of Ca+2, PO4- and F- ions release (n = 3), and roughness (n = 12). To evaluate the setting time, a Gilmore needle was used according to ISO 9917-1:2016. Disk-shaped specimens (5 × 1mm) were manufactured and subjected to bacterial activity (n = 9) (Streptococcus mutans ATCC 159). RESULTS: Modulus, roughness, setting time and ions release (Ca+2, PO4-, and F-) there were no statistically significant differences among the groups (p > 0.05). The setting time did not change with the incorporation of CHX. The GIC-CHX 2.5% and GIC-CHX 5% groups exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to the control group and GIC-CHX 1% (p < 0.001). The GIC-CHX 5% group showed the highest microhardness values (p < 0.041), cohesive strength (p < 0.009) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The pre-reacted CHX in GICs was able to confer antimicrobial activity, improve cohesive strength, microhardness, and did not impair ion release, setting time, and roughness.

Polymerization Kinetics, Shrinkage Stress, and Bond Strength to Dentin of Conventional and Self-adhesive Resin Cements.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the kinetics of polymerization and shrinkage stress of resin cements, as well as their bond strength to dentin after 24-h or one-year water storage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three conventional resin cements were evaluated: RelyX Ultimate (RUL), Panavia V5 (PNV), and Multilink N (MLN); and three self-adhesive resin cements: RelyX Unicem 2 (RUN), Panavia SA Cement Plus (PSA), and G-CEM LinkAce (GCL). Degree of conversion (DC), maximum polymerization rate (RPmax) and gel time values were obtained using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR). Shrinkage stress values were determined with a tensiometer, using a universal testing machine (n=5). Indirect resin composite restorations (Solidex) were fabricated and cemented to the dentin surface using self-adhesive resin cements, or conventional resin cements with self-etching adhesive (n=5). Bonding performance was evaluated with the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) test after 24 h or one year of water storage. RESULTS: MLN exhibited a higher DC (76.7%), whereas the percentage of other materials differed slightly (ranging from 54% to 58.5%). The RPmax and shrinkage stress values differed significantly between the cements. PSA showed the longest gel time. Significantly higher µTBS were observed for conventional resin cements after 24-h and one-year storage; a decrease in µTBS was observed for MLN only. CONCLUSION: Self-adhesive resin cements may not perform as well as conventional resin cements. Although both categories of cements presented similar polymerization kinetics and shrinkage values, the self-adhesive resin cements showed lower µTBS compared to those of conventional resin cements. Nevertheless, storage time only affected the bonding performance of MLN.

Effect of Root Repair Materials and Bioactive Glasses on Microhardness of Dentin.

INTRODUCTION: The use of bioactive glasses to re-establish or increase mechanical properties of the root dentin may be an interesting alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of root repair materials and bioactive glasses on the microhardness of human root dentin. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty-four sectioned palatal roots of human molars were prepared and two slices were obtained of the middle third of each root (one corresponding to the control group, without treatment, and the other to the experimental group). The pairs of slices were randomly divided into four groups (n=16). The root canal of experimental slices were filled with one of the following materials: mineral trioxide aggregate (Angelus MTA, Angelus, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil), EndoSequence Root Repair Material (ERRM, Brassler, Savannah, GA, USA), Bioglass (45S5) and an experimental niobophosphate glass (NbG). The specimens were stored in an oven at 37ºC, in an environment with 100% humidity for 60 days. The specimens were subjected to a microhardness test. Four indentations were made at a distance of 20 µm from the root canal lumen. For microhardness analysis, comparing the experimental groups and their respective controls, the Student's-t test was applied. For comparison of the percentage increase in microhardness between the groups, the data were statistically analyzed by using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: All the materials significantly increased the dentin microhardness values (P<0.05). MTA showed a higher increase in microhardness (94.8±42.7%), similar to that of EndoSequence (62.3±39.9%). The 45S5 (46.5±30.0%) and NbG (53.8±31.3%) showed the lowest percentages of increase in microhardness, but were statistically similar to those of EndoSequence. CONCLUSION: All the materials tested were capable of increasing root dentin microhardness.