ICP-MS measurements of elemental release from two palladium alloys into a corrosion testing medium for different solution volumes and agitation conditions.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The in vivo release of Pd from palladium alloys into the oral environment and sensitivity reactions by patients has been of concern. However, little information is available about the variation in elemental release from different palladium alloys. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the elemental release into a corrosion-testing medium from a high-palladium alloy (Freedom Plus, 78Pd-8Cu-5Ga-6In-2Au) and a Pd-Ag alloy (Super Star, 60Pd-28Ag-6In-5Sn) under different conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Alloys were cast into Ø12×1-mm-thick disks, subjected to simulated porcelain-firing heat treatment, polished, and ultrasonically cleaned in ethanol. Three specimens of each alloy were immersed for 700 hours in a solution for in vitro corrosion testing (ISO Standard 10271) that was maintained at 37 °C. Two solution volumes (125 mL and 250 mL) were used, and the solutions were subjected to either no agitation or agitation. Elemental compositions of the solutions were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Concentrations of released elements from each alloy for the 2 solution volumes and agitation conditions were compared by using the restricted maximum likelihood estimation method with a 4-way repeated-measures ANOVA, the Satterwhite degrees of freedom method, a lognormal response distribution, and the covariance structure of compound symmetry. RESULTS: For the 4 combinations of solution volume and agitation conditions, the mean amount of palladium released was 3 orders of magnitude less for the Pd-Ag alloy (0.009 to 0.017 µg/cm2 of alloy surface) compared with the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy (17.9 to 28.7 µg/cm2). Larger mean amounts of Sn, Ga, Ag, and In (0.29 to 0.39, 0.57 to 0.83, 0.71 to 1.08, and 0.91 to 1.25 µg/cm2, respectively) compared with Pd were released from the Pd-Ag alloy. Smaller amounts of Cu, Ga, and In (4.8 to 9.9, 5.9 to 12.8, and 4.2 to 9.5 µg/cm2, respectively) compared with Pd were released from the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy. The Ru released was much lower for the Pd-Ag alloy (0.002 µg/cm2) than the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy (0.032 to 0.053 µg/cm2). Statistically significant differences (P<.001) in elemental release were found for the factors of alloy and element and the alloy×element interaction. Significant differences were found for the solution volume (P=.022), solution volume×element interaction (P=.022), and alloy×solution volume×element interaction (P=.004). No significant effect was found for agitation condition. CONCLUSIONS: The relative amounts of released elements from each alloy were not proportional to the relative amounts in the composition. The amounts of Pd and Ga released from the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy were consistent with the breakdown of a Pd2Ga microstructural phase and perhaps some dissolution of the palladium solid solution matrix. Precipitates, rather than the palladium solid solution matrix, appeared to undergo greater dissolution in the Pd-Ag alloy. The Pd-Ag alloy should have lower risk of adverse biological reactions than the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy.

Effect of disinfecting solutions on the mechanical properties of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect extended exposure to disinfectant solutions has on the tensile load at failure and glass transition temperature (T(g)) of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Elastomeric ligatures from three manufacturers: Rocky Mountain Orthodontics (RMO, Denver, Colo), American Orthodontics (AO, Sheboygan, Wis), and 3M Unitek (3M, Monrovia, Calif) were exposed to two disinfectant solutions, Vital Defense-D and Cidexplus, for up to 28 days. Unexposed ligatures were also tested. Tensile load at failure was determined by stretching the ligatures using a universal testing machine until they fractured. Glass transition temperature was determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). RESULTS: For tensile load at failure and glass transition temperature of the ligatures, significant differences were observed among the different manufacturers and exposure times. Type of disinfectant solution was a significant factor with T(g), but not with failure load. The 3M ligatures had the highest tensile load at failure and most positive T(g) followed by AO and RMO, respectively. Compared to unexposed ligatures, strength significantly decreased after one hour of disinfectant exposure. Glass transition temperature was also significantly affected with extended disinfectant exposure, but the different disinfectants changed T(g) in opposite directions. CONCLUSION: Exposure of elastomeric ligatures to disinfectant solution for one hour or more decreases their strength.

An in vitro study simulating effects of daily diet and patient elastic band change compliance on orthodontic latex elastics.

This project investigated the effects of food exposure and patient compliance with elastic-band change on the degradation of forces in 3/16-inch, medium-wall, latex elastic bands during a simulated day of clinical wear. Six levels of daily diet/patient compliance were chosen as representative of orthodontic patients and a quasicontrol group. The groups differed with respect to how much exposure to artificial saliva and foodstuffs they experienced. After exposure in mild tension to daily diets and based on compliance with instructions about changing orthodontic elastics, the elastics were tested in tensile mode by stretching to 25 mm, where the load was recorded in newtons. The bands of three manufacturers, Rocky Mountain Orthodontics (RMO), 3M Unitek (UNO), and American Orthodontics (AMO), were examined, with 10 bands per group, per manufacturer, forming a cohort. Two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference tests were used to identify statistical significance (P > .05). With respect to bands from a single manufacturer, no differences were found between daily diet/patient compliance levels. However, differences (P < .0001) were found between manufacturers' bands. RMO > UNO > AMO in all environments. Over a 24-hour period, latex elastics maintain their applied load in the simulated oral environments.

Variation in color between intended matched shade and fabricated shade of dental porcelain.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The total quantifiable color difference between shade matching and shade duplication has not been investigated formally. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the color difference of the total color replication process and the direction of the individual color parameters for 3 dental porcelain shade-matching systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The shade of 11 porcelain master disks was determined visually and instrumentally using 3 porcelain shade-matching systems: (1) Vita Lumin/Vita VMK 68, (2) Vitapan 3D-Master/Vita Omega 900, and (3) Shofu ShadeEye-EX/Vintage Halo. Corresponding porcelain disks made of 4.5 mm opaque and 1 mm dentin porcelain were fabricated with each of the porcelain systems. The colors of the master disks and fabricated disks (CIE L* a* b* coordinates) were measured with a spectroradiometer with a 45 degrees /0 degrees configuration. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate within-group differences among the porcelain systems for the total color difference (Delta E) and direction of the color parameters (Delta L, Delta a, and Delta b). The Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch multiple range test was used for post-hoc analysis (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The largest mean Delta E was recorded for the Vitapan 3D-Master system, which was significantly different from the other systems (P=.0024). A significant difference was found between the interaction of the different systems and the direction of color (P=.0024). The amount of change within each color parameter was dependent on the porcelain system, as well as the amount of change among the color parameters. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that reliable delivery of a properly matched restoration to existing porcelain restorations cannot be ensured regardless of the shade assessment method used (visual or computer-generated).

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy measurements of elemental release from 2 high-palladium dental casting alloys into a corrosion testing medium.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The biocompatibility of high-palladium alloy restorations has been of some concern due to the release of palladium into the oral environment and sensitivity reactions in patients. PURPOSE: This study measured the in vitro elemental release from a Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and a Pd-Ga alloy into a corrosion testing medium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Both alloys were cast into 12-mm-diameter x 1-mm-thick disks, subjected to heat treatment that simulated porcelain firing cycles, polished to a 0.05-mm surface finish, and ultrasonically cleaned in ethanol. Two specimens of each alloy were immersed 3 times (at 7, 70, and 700 hours) in an aqueous lactic acid/NaCl solution used for in vitro corrosion testing and maintained at 37 degrees C. The specimens were removed after each immersion time, and the elemental compositions of the solutions were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Elemental concentrations for the 2 alloys at each immersion time were compared with Student t test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: No significant differences in palladium release were found for the 7- and 70-hour solutions, but significant differences were found for the 700-hour solutions. Mean concentrations of palladium and gallium in the 700-hour solutions, expressed as mass per unit area of alloy surface, were 97 (Pd) and 46 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and 5 (Pd) and 18 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Ga alloy. CONCLUSION: Relative proportions of the elements in the solutions were consistent with the release of palladium and breakdown of microstructural phases found in the alloys. The results suggest that there may be a lower risk of adverse biological reactions with the Pd-Ga alloy than with the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy tested.

Potentiodynamic polarization study of the in vitro corrosion behavior of 3 high-palladium alloys and a gold-palladium alloy in 5 media.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Corrosion of cast alloy restorations may lead to their failure or adversely affect their biocompatibility. Although some documentation of the corrosion behavior of the high-palladium dental alloys exists, questions remain about their corrosion resistance and mechanisms. PURPOSE: This study compared the in vitro corrosion characteristics of 3 high-palladium alloys and 1 gold-palladium alloy in simulated body fluid and oral environments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two Pd-Cu-Ga alloys and 1 Pd-Ga alloy were selected; an Au-Pd alloy served as the control. The corrosion behavior for the as-cast and simulated porcelain-firing (heat-treated) conditions of each alloy (N = 5) was evaluated in 0.9% NaCl, 0.09% NaCl, and Fusayama solutions. Heat-treated specimens of each alloy (N = 5) were also tested in N(2)-deaerated 0.09% NaCl and Fusayama solutions (pH 4). After immersion in the electrolyte for 24 hours, the open-circuit potential (OCP) was measured, and linear polarization was performed from -20 mV to +20 mV (vs. OCP) at a scanning rate of 0.125 mV/s. Cyclic polarization was performed from -300 mV to +1000 mV and back to -300 mV (vs. OCP) at a scanning rate of 1 mV/s. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance and the Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch multiple-range test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The OCP of each alloy varied with the condition (as-cast or heat-treated) and electrolyte used. Corrosion resistance was similar for the 4 alloys tested. For cyclic polarization, all alloys showed active-passive or spontaneous passive behavior in nearly all electrolytes. During some reverse scans, the 3 high-palladium alloys displayed 3 or 5 anodic peaks. No positive hysteresis was observed for any of the alloy/electrolyte combinations evaluated. CONCLUSION: The corrosion resistances of the 3 high-palladium alloys in simulated body fluid and oral environments were comparable to that of the gold-palladium alloy. The similar corrosion resistance for the 3 high-palladium alloys was attributed to their high noble metal content and theorized stable structure at the submicron level. Selective corrosion of different phases and elements, surface enrichment of palladium, and adsorption of species are possible corrosion mechanisms. The cyclic polarization results suggest that none of the 4 alloys would be prone to pitting or crevice corrosion under in vivo conditions, but crevice conditions should nonetheless be avoided for these alloys in the oral environment.