Topographical Analysis of Human Enamel after Phosphoric Acid Etching and Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation.

Introduction: Dental hard and soft tissues have been successfully removed by using the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, but there is a controversy about using lasers over conventional tooth surface preparation for bonding aesthetic restoration. Surface roughness and wettability in response to Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation are essential properties for restoration longevity. Methods: Fifty-one intact human premolars removed in orthodontic treatment were included in this study and divided into three groups (n=17). The first group (G1) was the control without surface treatment, (G2) was treated with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, and (G3) was treated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser using the following parameters: 2 W or 3 W at 20 Hz, 10% air and water ratio using the MZ6 laser tip. The standardization of laser irradiation was accomplished by a computerized numerical control unit. The surface of the samples was evaluated by using a light microscope, profilometer, atomic force microscopy (AFM), SEM, and wettability tests. Results: The SEM examination revealed that the lased enamel surface was clean, irregular, and devoid of a smear layer, while the acid etch surface was relatively smooth and covered with a smear layer. The surface roughness of the lased enamel surface was significantly higher than that of other groups, according to the results of the profilometer as well as the AFM tests. The wettability test showed that the lased enamel surface recorded a significant reduction in the contact angle in comparison to the other groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be used as an alternative and safe method to the acid-etching technique for surface treatment.

Bio-hybrid dental implants prepared using stem cells with ß-TCP-coated titanium and zirconia.

PURPOSE: This study investigated periodontal ligament (PDL) restoration in osseointegrated implants using stem cells. METHODS: Commercial pure titanium and zirconium oxide (zirconia) were coated with beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) using a long-pulse Nd:YAG laser (1,064 nm). Isolated bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMSCs) from rabbit tibia and femur, isolated PDL stem cells (PDLSCs) from the lower right incisor, and co-cultured BMMSCs and PDLSCs were tested for periostin markers using an immunofluorescent assay. Implants with 3D-engineered tissue were implanted into the lower right central incisors after extraction from rabbits. Forty implants (Ti or zirconia) were subdivided according to the duration of implantation (healing period: 45 or 90 days). Each subgroup (20 implants) was subdivided into 4 groups (without cells, PDLSC sheets, BMMSC sheets, and co-culture cell sheets). All groups underwent histological testing involving haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry, stereoscopic analysis to measure the PDL width, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The natural lower central incisors were used as controls. RESULTS: The BMMSCs co-cultured with PDLSCs generated a well-formed PDL tissue that exhibited positive periostin expression. Histological analysis showed that the implantation of coated (Ti and zirconia) dental implants without a cell sheet resulted in a well-osseointegrated implant at both healing intervals, which was confirmed with FESEM analysis and negative periostin expression. The mesenchymal tissue structured from PDLSCs only or co-cultured (BMMSCs and PDLSCs) could form a natural periodontal tissue with no significant difference between Ti and zirconia implants, consequently forming a biohybrid dental implant. Green fluorescence for periostin was clearly detected around the biohybrid implants after 45 and 90 days. FESEM showed the invasion of PDL-like fibres perpendicular to the cementum of the bio-hybrid implants. CONCLUSIONS: ß-TCP-coated (Ti and zirconia) implants generated periodontal tissue and formed biohybrid implants when mesenchymal-tissue-layered cell sheets were isolated from PDLSCs alone or co-cultured BMMSCs and PDLSCs.

Influence of Fiber Laser (1064 nm) on Shear Bond Strength of Titanium Abutment and Resin Cement.

Introduction: The present study was performed to evaluate the influence of a 1064 nm fiber laser on shear bond strength (SBS) at the interface of titanium and resin cement. Methods: Forty titanium discs of 6 mm × 3 mm (diameter and thickness respectively) were categorized into four groups (n=10): control group without any surface treatment and three groups treated with a fiber laser with 81 ns pulse duration, 30 kHz frequency, 10000 mm/s scanning speed, 0.05 mm spot size, and different average power values (3, 5 and 7 W) depending on the tested group. Titanium disc characterization was performed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface roughness tester. Phase analysis was achieved using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Following these tests, resin cement application to titanium discs was performed. SBS values were determined by the universal testing machine. After debonding, the surface of titanium discs was examined by the stereomicroscope for the determination of failure modes. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD tests (α=0.05). Results: A higher surface roughness value was observed in the 7 W group followed by the 5 W and 3 W groups, and the lowest surface roughness was in the control group. Additionally, the lowest SBS value was obtained from the control group and the highest SBS value was obtained from the 7 W group followed by the 5 W and 3 W groups. Conclusion: SBS between titanium abutment and resin cement can be significantly enhanced by using a fiber laser as a surface treatment considering tested laser parameters; additionally, a positive association between surface roughness and SBS was noted in the experimental groups.

Effects of Long Durations of RF-Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of Hydroxyapatite on Titanium Dental Implants.

OBJECTIVES: Dental implant is a revolution in dentistry; some shortages are still a focus of research. This study use long duration of radiofrequency (RF)-magnetron sputtering to coat titanium (Ti) implant with hydroxyapatite (HA) to obtain a uniform, strongly adhered in a few micrometers in thickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of substrates, discs and root form cylinders were prepared using a grade 1 commercially pure (CP) Ti rod. A RF-magnetron sputtering device was used to coat specimens with HA. Magnetron sputtering was set at 150 W for 22 hours at 100°C under continuous argon gas flow and substrate rotation at 10 rpm. Coat properties were evaluated via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy, and Vickers hardness (VH). Student's t-test was used. RESULTS: All FESEM images showed a homogeneous, continuous, and crack-free HA coat with a rough surface. EDX analysis revealed inclusion of HA particles within the substrate surface in a calcium (Ca)/phosphorus (P) ratio (16.58/11.31) close to that of HA. Elemental and EDX analyses showed Ca, Ti, P, and oxygen within Ti. The FESEM views at a cross-section of the substrate showed an average of 7 µm coat thickness. Moreover, these images revealed a dense, compact, and uniform continuous adhesion between the coat layer and the substrate. Roughness result indicated highly significant difference between uncoated Ti and HA coat (p-value < 0.05). A significant improvement in the VH value was observed when coat hardness was compared with the Ti substrate hardness (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prolonged magnetron sputtering successfully coat Ti dental implants with HA in micrometers thickness which is well adhered essentially in excellent osseointegration.

Implementation and characterization of coating pure titanium dental implant with sintered ß-TCP by using Nd:YAG laser.

OBJECTIVES: This work presents laser coating of grade 1 pure titanium (Ti) dental implant surface with sintered biological apatite beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP), which has a chemical composition close to bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pulsed Nd:YAG laser of single pulse capability up to 70 J/10 ms and pulse peak power of 8 kW was used to implement the task. Laser pulse peak power, pulse duration, repetition rate and scanning speed were modulated to achieve the most homogenous, cohesive and highly adherent coat layer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microscopy (EDX), optical microscopy and nanoindentation analyses were conducted to characterise and evaluate the microstructure, phases, modulus of elasticity of the coating layer and calcium-to-phosphate ratio and composition.Results showed that the laser power and scanning speed influenced coating adherence. The cross-sectional field-emission scanning electron microscopy images at low power and high speed showed poor adherence and improved as the laser power increased to 2 kW. Decreasing the scanning speed to 0.2 mm/s at the same power of 2 kW increased adherence. EDX results of the substrate demonstrated that the chemical composition of the coat layer did not change after processing. Moreover, the maps revealed proper distribution of Ca and P with some agglomeration on the surface. The sharp peaks on the X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that ß-TCPs in the coat layer were mostly crystalline. The elastic modulus was low at the surface and increased gradually with depth to reach 19 GPa at 200 nm; this value was close to that of bone. The microhardness of the coated substrate increased by about 88%. The laser pulse energy of 8.3 J, pulse peak power of 2 kW, pulse duration of 4.3 min, repetition rate of 10 Hz and scanning speed of 0.2 ms-1 yielded the best results. CONCLUSION: Both processing and coating have potential use for dental implant applications.