Enhancing mouthguard longevity: Impact of surface treatment against aging from brushing and disinfectant exposure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The study aimed to assess the surface characteristics of sports mouthguards under mechanical stresses during cleaning, either by brushing or immersion in disinfectant solutions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethylene-vinyl acetate samples, 4 mm thick, were randomly assigned to cleaning methods: control (C-no cleaning), brushing with water (B.W), brushing with neutral liquid soap (B.S), brushing with toothpaste (B.T), immersion in distilled water for 10 min (I.W), immersion in 2.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 min (I.SH), and immersion in sodium bicarbonate solution for 5 min (I.SB). All cleaning methods were applied for 28 days. Surface roughness average (Ra) and wettability were measured at baseline for the control group (n = 9), and after cleaning for all the other groups. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA with Tukey tests (5% significance) indicated significant differences among groups (p < .05). The I.SB group had higher surface roughness than B.S and B.T (p < .05). B.W showed the lowest wettability, significantly lower than B.T, I.W, and I.SB (p < .05). I.SB exhibited the highest wettability, significantly different from sodium hypochlorite, neutral liquid soap, brushing with water, and control groups (p < .05). The sodium bicarbonate immersion group (I.SB) demonstrated greater statistical variation, displaying higher susceptibility to aging compared to brushing with neutral liquid soap. CONCLUSION: Cleaning mouthguards with a toothbrush, water, and neutral liquid soap emerged as the most promising method, causing minimal surface changes in the material.

Endocrown restorations in premolars: influence of remaining axial walls of tooth structure and restorative materials on fatigue resistance.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the remaining tooth structure and different CAD/CAM materials on the fatigue performance and failure mode of endodontically treated premolars restored with endocrowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety maxillary premolars were endodontically treated and assigned into 6 groups (n = 15) according to the number of remaining axial walls (four, three, and two) and restorative materials (ultra-translucent zirconia 5Y-PSZ [KATANA UTML] and lithium disilicate [IPS e.max-CAD]). The specimens were subjected to cyclic fatigue loading test (initial load 200 N; 20 Hz). An incremental step load of 100 N per 10,000 cycles was applied until failure. The fatigue failure load (FFL) and number of failure cycles (CFFs) data were statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier test (α = 0.05). Failed specimens were examined under a stereomicroscope 25 × and failure modes were determined. RESULTS: FFL and CFF were significantly influenced by restorative material (p < 0.05). 5Y-PSZ endocrowns showed significantly higher FFL when compared with lithium disilicate. The number of remaining walls did not affect the fatigue behavior or failure mode of the specimens. Of the lithium disilicate restorations, 51% had repairable failures, while 95% 5Y-PSZ restorations had non-repairable failures. CONCLUSIONS: Zirconia endocrowns showed better FFL than lithium disilicate endocrowns, regardless of the number of remaining axis walls. Lithium disilicate and 5Y-PSZ endocrowns showed FFL higher than the normal masticatory loads. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Restoring endodontically treated premolars with endocrown could be a promising treatment, regardless of the remaining axial walls. However, precaution should be taken in material selection since it affects the fatigue resistance and failure mode.

In Vitro Comparison of Microleakage, Marginal Fit, and Cement Thickness of Conventional and Prepless Lithium Disilicate Veneers

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of two preparation techniques on the microleakage, marginal fit, and cement thickness of lithium disilicate veneers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 human maxillary central incisors were divided randomly into two groups according to preparation technique (n = 12): minimally invasive preparation with butt-joint design (0.3-mm depth) and a chamfer finish line (group MP); and no preparation (NP). All teeth were restored with lithium disilicate veneers cemented with photopolymerizable resin cement. Specimens were aged thermally (6,000 cycles of 5°C to 55°C) and mechanically (100,000 cycles at 100 N, 4 Hz). Specimens were immersed in fuchsin for 24 hours employing a standard dye penetration technique, then sectioned and evaluated under a stereomicroscope (x20). Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (P < .05). RESULTS: There was significant microleakage (P = .0163) at the cervical area compared to the proximal area. The marginal fit was similar, with no statistical difference (P = .212) between groups MP (153 ± 81 µm) and NP (111 ± 74 µm). Group MP showed a significantly (P = .006) reduced cement thickness at the cervical area (87 ± 27 µm) compared to group NP (210 ± 89 µm). CONCLUSION: Although the preparation technique was shown to influence the cement thickness, it did not show any influence on microleakage or marginal fit.

Restaurações endocrown em pré-molares: influência das paredes remanescentes da estrutura dentária e materiais restauradores na resistência à fadiga / Endocrown restorations in premolars: influence of remaining axial walls of tooth structure and restorative materials on fatigue resistance

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da estrutura dentária remanescente e dois materiais diferentes de restauração CAD/CAM no desempenho à fadiga e no modo de falha de pré-molares tratados endodonticamente restaurados por endocrowns. Um total de 90 pré-molares superiores foram tratados endodonticamente e divididos aleatoriamente de acordo com o número de paredes axiais remanescentes, e os materiais restauradores foram divididos em 6 grupos (n = 15); quatro paredes restantes restauradas com zircônia ultratranslúcida 5Y-PSZ (grupo Fo-Z) e dissilicato de lítio (grupo Fo-L), três paredes restantes restauradas com 5Y-PSZ (grupo Th-Z) e dissilicato de lítio (grupo Th-L) e duas paredes restantes restauradas com 5YPSZ (grupo Tw-Z) e dissilicato de lítio (Tw-L). As restaurações foram cimentadas adesivamente e os espécimes foram submetidos a cargas de fadiga gradual em seu longo eixo (carga inicial: 200 N, frequência: 20 Hz). Uma carga incremental de 100 N por 10.000 ciclos foi aplicada com um pistão metálico de Ø 6 mm até a falha. A carga de falha por fadiga (FFL) e o número de ciclos de falha (CFF) no momento da falha foram registrados e analisados estatisticamente por ANOVA 2 fatores e teste de Kaplan-Meier (α = 0,05). Os espécimes fraturados foram examinados em estereomicroscópio em 8× e 25× e os modos de falha foram determinados como reparáveis ou catastróficos. FFL e CFF foram significativamente influenciados pelo material restaurador (p < 0,05). As restaurações de 5Y-PSZ apresentaram FFL (Fo-Z = 1487 N, Tw-Z = 1427 N, Tw-Z = 1533 N) e probabilidade de sobrevivência significativamente maiores quando comparadas com dissilicato de lítio (Fo-L = 1060 N, Th-L = 940 N, TwL = 1000 N). O número de paredes remanescentes não afetou o comportamento de fadiga ou modo de falha dos corpos de prova. Das restaurações de dissilicato de lítio, 51% tiveram falhas reparáveis, enquanto 95% das restaurações de zircônia ultratranslúcida 5Y-ZP tiveram falhas catastróficas. Endocrowns de zircônia apresentaram melhor desempenho em fadiga do que endocrowns de dissilicato de lítio, independentemente do número de paredes remanescentes do eixo. Endocrowns de pré-molares de dissilicato de lítio e 5Y-PSZ apresentaram maior FFL do que as cargas mastigatórias normais (AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the remaining tooth structure and two different CAD/CAM restoration materials on the fatigue performance and failure mode of endodontically treated premolars restored with endocrowns. A total of 90 maxillary premolars were endodontically treated and divided randomly according to the number of remaining axial walls, and the restorative materials were divided into 6 groups (n = 15); four remaining walls restored with ultratranslucent zirconia 5Y-PSZ (group Fo-Z) and lithium disilicate (group Fo-L), three remaining walls restored with 5Y-PSZ (group Th-Z) and lithium disilicate (Group Th-L), and two remaining walls restored with 5Y-PSZ (group Tw-Z) and lithium disilicate (Tw-L). The restorations were cemented adhesively and the specimens were subjected to stepwise fatigue loading along the long axis (initial load: 200 N, frequency: 20 Hz). An incremental step load of 100 N per 10,000 cycles was applied with a Ø6-mm metallic piston until failure. The fatigue failure load (FFL) and number of failure cycles (CFF) at the time of failure were recorded and statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA and the Kaplan-Meier test (α = 0.05). Fractured specimens were examined under a stereomicroscope at 8× and 25× and failure modes determined as reparable or catastrophic. FFL and CFF were significantly influenced by restorative material (p < 0.05). 5Y-PSZ endocrowns showed significantly higher FFL (Fo-Z = 1487 N, Th-Z = 1427 N, Tw-Z = 1533 N) and survival probability when compared with lithium disilicate (Fo-L = 1060 N, Th-L = 940 N, Tw-L = 1000 N). The number of remaining walls did not affect the fatigue behavior or failure mode of the specimens. Of the lithium disilicate restorations, 51% had repairable failures, while 95% of ultratranslucent zirconia 5Y-ZP restorations had catastrophic failures. Zirconia endocrowns showed better fatigue performance than lithium disilicate endocrowns, regardless of the number of remaining axis walls. Lithium disilicate and 5Y-PSZ premolar endocrowns showed higher FFL than the normal masticatory loads (AU)