In vitro cytotoxicity of self-curing acrylic resins of different colors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of acrylic resins of different colors over time. METHODS: Specimens were divided into 4 groups (n = 6) according to the color of the acrylic resin (Orto Class, Clássico, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil): Group 1, clear acrylic resin; Group 2, pink acrylic resin; Group 3, blue acrylic resin; and Group 4, green acrylic resin. All specimens were fabricated according to the mass manipulation technique and submitted to mechanical polishing protocol. The control was performed with an amalgam specimen (C+), a glass specimen (C-) and cell control (CC). Specimens were immersed in Minimum Eagle's Medium (MEM) and incubated for 24 h at 37ºC. The extracts from the experimental material were filtered and mixed with L929 fibroblast. Cytotoxicity was evaluated at four different times, 24, 48, 72 and 168 h. After contact, cells were incubated for 24 h and added to 100 µ of 0.01% neutral red dye. The cells were incubated for 3 h for pigment incorporation and fixed. Cells viability was determined by a spectroscopic (BioTek, Winooski, Vermont, USA) with a 492-nm wavelength λ=492 nm). RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the experimental groups and the CC and C- groups. CONCLUSION: Clear, pink, blue and green self-curing acrylic resins fabricated by means of the mass manipulation technique and mechanically polished are not cytotoxic. Neither the pigment added to the self-curing acrylic resin nor the factor of time influenced the cytotoxicity of the material.

Effect of saliva contamination on bond strength with a hydrophilic composite resin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of saliva contamination on the bond strength of metallic brackets bonded to enamel with hydrophilic resin composite. METHODS: Eighty premolars were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 20) according to bonding material and contamination: G1) bonded with Transbond XT with no saliva contamination, G2) bonded with Transbond XT with saliva contamination, G3) bonded with Transbond Plus Color Change with no saliva contamination and G4) bonded with Transbond Plus Color Change with saliva contamination. The results were statistically analyzed (ANOVA/Tukey). RESULTS: The means and standard deviations (MPa) were: G1) 10.15 ± 3.75; G2) 6.8 ± 2.54; G3) 9.3 ± 3.36; G4) 8.3 ± 2.95. The adhesive remnant index (ARI) ranged between 0 and 1 in G1 and G4. In G2 there was a prevalence of score 0 and similar ARI distribution in G3. CONCLUSIONS: Saliva contamination reduced bond strength when Transbond XT hydrophobic resin composite was used. However, the hydrophilic resin Transbond Plus Color Change was not affected by the contamination.

Multiloop edgewise archwire in the treatment of a patient with an anterior open bite and a long face.

An adolescent girl with an Angle Class III malocclusion, excessive lower facial height, and anterior open bite sought nonsurgical treatment. She was treated with a multiloop edgewise archwire (MEAW). In association with a chincup, MEAW mechanics allowed the successful correction of the anterior open bite and the molar relationship, without major alterations of the patient's profile. Combined orthodontic and surgical treatment should be considered for patients with skeletal anterior open-bite malocclusion. For patients who do not want surgery, however, MEAW treatment is an alternative that can have excellent results.

Organization and quantification of the collagen fibers in bone formation during orthodontic tooth movement.

The organic matrix of alveolar bone is composed fundamentally of type I collagen. Polarized light microscopy provides unique information about the structure, composition and polymerization degree of a variety of organic and inorganic tissues that is not available with other techniques. The aim of this research was to compare two methodologies of polarized light analysis for collagen organization in bone formation during orthodontic tooth movement and determined maturity of collagen over the time. Thirty Wistar rats were euthanized 3, 7 and 14 days after the NiTi unilateral closed-coil spring was stretched between the upper right first molar and the incisors. The control consisted by contra-lateral site. The first molar area was fixed, decalcified and histologically processed using picrosirius pigment. The collagen birefringence of bone turnover was analyzed by color percentage and phase retardation. We observed an increase in collagen fiber organization over time with two methodologies. The Pearson coefficient correlation indicated a strong relationship (0.76) among the two polarized light analyses. In summary, there is collagen maturation over 3, 7 and 14 days. We successfully evaluated the molecular organization, arrangement, degree of polymerization and maturation process of collagen fibers in bone turnover through color percentages and phase retardation.