Effectiveness of wet and dry mercury vapour suppressant systems in a faculty of dentistry clinic.

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a liquid and a dry commercial mercury vapour suppressant system. Measurements were made in a student dental clinic, using a mercury vapour detector for periods up to 76 weeks. The two products examined were Mercon vap liquid in a stock jar and the Mercon tainer dry jar system. Amalgam scrap jars were removed from the study when the mercury vapour concentration in the jars exceeded the arbitrary cut-off criterion of 0.05 mg Hg m(-3). Results showed that the mercury vapour concentration in the liquid system exceeded the cut-off criterion in 44 weeks or less, whereas the dry system remained below the detection limit (0.01 mg Hg m(-3)) for the maximum measurement period of 76 weeks. It was concluded that the dry system is more effective and reliable than the liquid system. The reliability of the liquid system may be influenced by contact of amalgam scrap with the portion of the inner wall of the jar that is not covered by liquid. It is proposed that amalgam scrap contaminates the wall with mercury during its insertion.

Dimensional stability and dehydration of a thermoplastic polycarbonate-based and two PMMA-based denture resins.

This study compared the dimensional stability and dehydration of a thermoplastic polycarbonate denture base resin with two conventional polymethyl methacrylate denture base resins. Maxillary complete dentures were fabricated from the three denture materials and the accuracy of fit along the posterior palatal border of the cast used in processing was measured. Measurements were conducted at five palatal locations immediately after processing and at 7 and 30 days during immersion in water (23 degrees C) and at 7 and 30 days during dehydration (23 degrees C, 65-75% relative humidity). Percentage mass loss during dehydration was determined with an electronic balance. The thermoplastic material was separately compared with each of the conventional resins using a modified Welch two-sample t-test, with a Bonferroni correction for P values. For mean palatal dimensional change, the thermoplastic resin was generally not statistically different from the conventional resins after processing and during immersion (P > or = 0.06), but was generally less than the conventional resins during dehydration (P < or = 0.02). For mean percentage mass loss, the thermoplastic resin consistently showed much smaller, statistically significant values compared with the conventional resins (P < 0.001). It was concluded that the thermoplastic resin should show dimensional changes in service comparable with the conventional resins, but less dimensional change caused by dehydration.

Considerations in measuring the electrical potentials of metallic restorations in vivo.

Many variables are believed to affect the accurate measuring of metallic restoration electrical potentials. This study examined the effects of intra- versus extra-oral location of the reference electrode, the type of metallic probe used to make contact with the restoration, and scratching and brushing of the restoration surface. Dental amalgam restorations were measured in 40 human subjects. Results showed that only the location of the reference electrode affected the central tendency of the potential. The study discusses the significance of some experimental variables in the accurate measuring of metallic potentials and the need to consider individual subject differences when statistically analysing for the central tendency of a sample.

The effects of the coupling of titanium implants and dissimilar metal abutments on osteoblast differentiation in vitro.

This study evaluated the effect of titanium endosseous dental implants coupled to dissimilar materials on the capacity of preosteoblasts in bone marrow culture to differentiate, to form alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies, and to mineralize. Ten UCLA abutments were cast in each of 4 alloys: Type III gold, ceramometal gold, commercially pure grade I titanium, and titanium-aluminum-vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V); 10 ceramic abutments and 30 sterile Brånemark System implants were also used. Five abutments of each material and 5 implants were incubated individually in rat bone marrow culture, as were 5 of each abutment attached to an implant; bone marrow cultures not containing test samples were used as controls. Following 17 days of culture, the solution potentials of individual abutments (except ceramic), the implant, and the implant-abutment couples were measured in the test medium. One dish of each group of 5 was then stained for bone nodule mineralization; the remainder were quantified by area for alkaline phosphatase staining. Statistical analysis of measured in vitro potentials showed that the uncoupled samples formed 2 groups, and coupled samples formed 3 groups. Analysis of variance for alkaline phosphatase-positive area values showed no significant differences between coupled or uncoupled groups and the control. Normal cell differentiation and morphology as well as a lack of zones of inhibition, were observed. Bone nodule mineralization was evident in all groups. It was concluded that the presence of these commonly used implant abutment biomaterials coupled to titanium endosseous dental implants had no adverse effects on the in vitro capacity of preosteoblasts in marrow to differentiate and to form mineralized bone nodules, despite measured differences in solution potentials.

Corrosion and cytotoxicity evaluation of thermafil endodontic obturator carriers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of two metallic and two plastic Thermafil carrier materials, and to separately evaluate the in vitro corrosion behavior of the two metallic carriers. Stainless-steel, Ti-6AI-4V, Polysulfone, and Vectra carriers were evaluated for cytotoxicity using the ISO-recommended agar overlay test. The two metallic carriers were additionally corrosion tested in 0.9% NaCl solution for 174 wk, at 37 degrees C. Elemental analyses of the corrosion solutions were periodically conducted using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Agar overlay results showed that the four carrier materials were not cytotoxic to L929 fibroblasts. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy results showed that the metallic materials had small mass loss rates. Scanning electron microscopy showed no evidence of pitting or crevice corrosion.

Improved fit of maxillary complete dentures processed on high expansion stone casts.

PURPOSE: Although relatively well-fitting dentures are produced at low cost and with easy-to-manipulate material, current denture base materials are not ideal. Because acrylic resin complete and removable partial dentures change dimensionally as a result of polymerization and thermal contractions, a high expansion stone was tested in this study to determine its ability to compensate for some of the dimensional change. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Maxillary complete dentures were processed on type III dental stone and high expansion stone casts. The accuracy of fit along the posterior palatal border was measured and compared after the prostheses were trimmed and polished and after their immersion in water at 23 degrees C at 1-day and 1-week intervals. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the data revealed that at every measurement interval the maxillary complete dentures processed on high expansion stone had posterior palatal border openings that were significantly smaller when compared with type III dental stone (p < 0.001).

Posterior palatal seal adaptation: influence of a high expansion stone.

In this follow-up investigation, the ability of a new, high expansion stone to reduce acrylic resin denture base processing distortions was studied and compared with a previously reported investigation of bases processed on buff stone. Denture bases were processed by the continuous-injection and trial-pack techniques on flat vault palate casts and then trimmed and polished. Measurements were made at the posterior palatal border opening at 1 day and 1 week immersion in water (23 degrees C). Results showed that denture bases processed on high expansion stone had better posterior palatal seal adaptation compared with those processed on buff stone, independent of processing techniques.

Mercury vapour suppression by various liquid media.

Fresh and used photographic fixer, Merconvap and water were evaluated for their ability to suppress the vapourization of mercury. Mercury vapour concentration above the four test storage liquids was measured at various times between 10 min and 335 days, using a mercury vapour measuring instrument. The data were analysed using a Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparison test (P = 0.05). The results showed that fresh and used fixer and Merconvap suppressed the vapourization of mercury to below the detection limit of the measuring instrument (0.01 mg/m3). Water was much less effective compared with the other liquids and showed an increase in mercury vapour concentration with log t.

Posterior palatal seal adaptation: influence of processing technique, palate shape and immersion.

Accuracy of fit of denture bases is critical to adequate retention. This study compared the dimensional change of a newer continuous-injection technique with a standard trial-pack technique as determined by measuring the posterior palatal border opening. The influence of palate shape and immersion were also assessed. Stone casts were made from master moulds with either a high or flat palate. Denture base adaptation was measured at 5 mm intervals across the entire posterior palatal border. Measurements were made after deflasking, trimming and polishing, and after immersion in room temperature water for 1 h, 1 day and 1 week. Statistical analysis (P < 0.05) showed that where differences occurred between the two techniques, openings were always smaller for the continuous-injection technique. It was also shown that dimensional changes were always larger for the flat palate compared with the high palate. Dimensional change using the continuous-injection technique was reduced by immersion in water, while no influence was observed for the trial-pack technique. It was concluded that the continuous-injection technique showed smaller dimensional changes compared with the standard trial-pack technique, and that these changes were influenced by palate shape and immersion in water.

Surface topography of demineralized dentin preceded by formalin fixation.

Formalin treatment of dentin, prior to burnishing demineralization, results in a "tufted" collagen surface that may optimize bonding of hydroxyethyl methacrylate dentinal bonding agents. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a clinically acceptable formalin treatment time that will yield a deeply tufted collagen surface. The exposed dentin of periodontally healthy and periodontally diseased human teeth was treated with formalin for various treatment times before "burnishing" demineralization with citric acid. Photographs of the specimens revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the number of tufted surfaces found in the healthy group, as a whole, and the number found in the diseased group. No statistically significant difference was found among fixation times within either tooth group. It was concluded that 2 minutes of fixation was sufficient to produce a tufted fibrillar surface.

Crevice corrosion products of dental amalgam.

The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro corrosion products that resulted from crevice corrosion of low- and high-copper dental amalgams. Specimens were potentiostatically polarized in a chloride-containing electrolyte while set against a PTFE surface to form a crevice. After 16 h, corrosion products were examined by light microscopy, SEM, EDS, and XRD. Analysis showed the presence of three previously reported products [Sn4(OH)6Cl2, SnO, and Cu2O] and a new product, CuCl, which formed on high-copper, gamma 2-free amalgams. Thermodynamic considerations show that CuCl is stable for the reported in vivo potentials of amalgam restorations and the high acidity and high chloride ion concentration associated with crevice corrosion.

An in vivo and in vitro study of the loss of plasticizer from soft polymer-gel materials.

Polymer-gel materials used as short-term denture soft linings are blended with plasticizers to lower the glass transition temperature (Tg). A lower Tg allows for greater polymer chain mobility, thus producing a more flexible material. The present work evaluated the loss of plasticizers due to leaching both in vivo and in vitro. Two commercial denture soft-lining materials (A and B) were tested. These were both poly(ethyl methacrylate) polymers, blended with alcohol and phthalate esters. A clinical study was conducted in which patients wore, sequentially, dentures bearing (on separate occasions) each of the two soft-polymer lining materials. The two materials A and B were randomly assigned for each of ten patients and were worn for 14 and 30 days, respectively. With one exception, patients wore dentures with both lining materials, for a total of 19 clinical evaluations. The plasticizer loss occurring during the clinical trial was determined by GC analysis from the initial and terminal day sampling of plasticizer content of the soft polymer-gel materials. The results of this analysis were compared with results obtained from an in vitro leachability study by use of sink conditions in water at 37 degrees C for the same two commercial soft polymers conducted over the same time periods of 14 and 30 days. The results indicated that a higher loss of plasticizer occurred in vivo, compared with the in vitro tests for 17 of the 19 clinical evaluations. The average plasticizer lost in vivo from material A at 14 days was 122 +/- 58 mg/g, and for material B at 30 days it was 33 +/- 27 mg/g.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chemical and molecular weight analyses of prosthodontic soft polymers.

A number of studies have been made investigating the properties of dental prosthodontic soft polymer materials. In such materials, which are used as short-term denture soft liners, the polymer component is complexed with one or more plasticizers. This lowers the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the polymer by allowing greater chain mobility and produces a more flexible material. Little information is available relating to the polymer components of such soft-lining materials. The chemical composition and molecular-weight distribution of a polymer help to determine its ability to form a plasticized soft polymer-gel. In the present work, both pyrolysis depolymerization/gas chromatography (GC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) have been used to characterize 11 commercial polymer powders. By use of SEC and polymer standards having a narrow molecular-weight range, it has been possible for accurate molecular-weight distributions to be determined for all 11 powders. The peak molecular weights were found to be between 1.79 x 10(5) and 3.28 x 10(5). These values are above the molecular weight at which chain entanglement occurs. The polydispersity ratios (Mw/Mn) were between 2.09 and 4.48. Methacrylate polymers can be readily decomposed thermally to their constituent monomers, which, once recovered, can be analyzed by gas chromatography. The simple pyrolysis apparatus used in the present study was easily assembled and was capable of producing both qualitative and quantitative results. None of the commercial polymers analyzed gave methacrylate decomposition products with pendant chains greater than ethyl (-CH2-CH3). All of the commercial polymers successfully studied by the pyrolysis test method proved to be poly(ethyl [100-79%]/methyl [0-21%] methacrylate) polymers or co-polymers.

Gel strength and rate of gelation of soft polymers.

A rheometer was used to characterize the gelation rate of six commercial short- to medium-term (chairside intra-oral gelation) denture soft-lining materials. Shear puncture force was measured from one to 60 days for six short- to medium-term materials as well as for three heat-cured (polymerizable) materials. The observed increase in puncture force with age of the specimen was considered to be a function of increased polymer chain entanglement and/or loss of plasticizer. Reduction in puncture force with age occurred for some materials as a result of hydration of the polymer gel. Rheometer setting time (gelation rate) and puncture force values for the intra-oral gelation materials were influenced by the quantity of ethyl alcohol present in the mixing liquid. In general, the higher the level of ethyl alcohol, the shorter the gelation time and the stronger the gel. The characterization of the properties may help develop improved prosthodontic treatment procedures, and allow better management of soft-tissue recovery following trauma.

The dimensional accuracy of 12 impression material and die stone combinations.

This study determined the dimensional accuracy of dies made using a combination of four impression materials and three Type IV die stones. A metal die was prepared for a molar complete cast crown, and 10 stone replicas were made using 12 different combinations of impression materials and die stones. The distances between reference points on the metal and stone dies were measured in three directions with a traveling microscope. Analysis of variance and Duncan's MR comparisons (P less than or equal to .05) showed that all of the stone dies were larger than the metal die. Although there were significant differences between some of the impression material/die stone combinations, all of the stone dies were measured to be within 9 microns of each other. No one impression material/die stone combination consistently produced the smallest or largest die in the three measured directions.

Clinical implications of resilient denture lining material research. Part II: Gelation and flow properties of tissue conditioners.

The clinical effectiveness of tissue conditioners and functional impression materials is influenced by their gelation and flow properties. Laboratory tests were previously conducted that simulated the conditions of clinical use to the extent possible on six commercial intraoral-gelling resilient denture liners. The liners were found to vary significantly in their gelation times and to flow throughout the 7-day study. Their initial flow after mixing was influenced most by the time of loading. While extrapolations to the clinical environment require caution, the results of this study imply that the dentist should (1) adapt clinical techniques to the gelation times of particular materials, (2) reduce the initial flow of some materials by delaying denture placement on the supporting mucosa, and (3) expect the materials to be effective tissue conditioners for at least 7 days.

Comparison of the dimensional stability of two waxes and two acrylic resin processing techniques in the production of complete dentures.

Two base plate waxes and two denture processing techniques were independently compared for dimensional stability. Occlusion rims were constructed from extra hard and medium soft base plate waxes and teeth were set. Acrylic resin bases were processed by a trial packing technique, and a continuous injection system. Tooth movement was measured in the horizontal and vertical planes to assess wax and denture base dimensional changes at various steps in the process, and after 1, 3, and 8 weeks of denture base immersion in water at room temperature. Posterior palatal border adaptation, incisal pin opening and loss of centric occlusion contacts, were also measured. Results showed there were no significant differences between the two waxes as determined by tooth movement in the horizontal and vertical planes. In comparison to the trial packing technique, the continuous injection system showed significantly smaller changes for incisal pin opening and loss of centric occlusion, and better adaptation of the posterior palatal border to the cast. Measurement of tooth movement in the horizontal and vertical planes showed no significant differences between the two processing techniques for times prior to immersion in water, whereas after 8 weeks immersion the continuous injection technique showed smaller dimensional changes, relative to the original dimensions at the time of investing.

Clinical implications of resilient denture lining material research. Part I: Flexibility and elasticity.

The clinical use of resilient denture liners is based on their flexibility and elasticity. The nine commercial resilient denture liners measured were less flexible during and after simulated chewing and clenching test sequences. The elasticity of the intraoral-cure liners reached maximal values at 24 hours. Although interpretations require caution, the results imply that the dentist should (1) use maximum liner thickness in the denture base when conditioning abused supporting tissues because of the material's tendency to stiffen under function, and (2) leave a functional impression in the mouth for at least 24 hours before pouring the cast.

Correlation of dental amalgam crevice corrosion with clinical ratings.

In vitro corrosion behavior of gamma 2-containing and gamma 2-free dental amalgams was examined under crevice conditions which simulated the amalgam-tooth interface. By means of potentiostatic testing, current-density/time behavior and integrated anodic current were measured for 16 hr. All of the amalgams demonstrated crevice corrosion susceptibility. Crevice corrosion propagation for gamma 2-free vs. gamma 2-containing amalgams was characterized by lower acceleration and maximum rates during the most dynamic period. Integrated anodic current results were correlated with marginal breakdown ratings reported in two clinical investigations. Strong and significant coefficients were found between integrated current and marginal breakdown ratings when gamma 2-containing and gamma 2-free amalgams were correlated as a single group, but not when correlated separately.