Effects of Different Light-Assisted Power Bleaching Techniques on the Penetration of Hydrogen Peroxide into the Pulp Chamber.

Background: In-office bleaching is one of the most commonly used procedures for discolored tooth treatment. Although the efficacy of tooth bleaching has been investigated, depending on the applied technique and the used materials, bleaching procedures might irritate the tooth pulp and induce surface changes in enamel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of four different bleaching techniques on the penetration of hydrogen peroxide (HP) into the pulp chamber. Materials and methods: Seventy-two single-rooted sound human teeth were used. The samples were prepared and evaluated in four groups. Group 1: 35% HP gel alone (HP Gel); group 2: Nd:YAG laser (0.25 W and 10 Hz with a fiber tip size of 200 µm) irradiation was added (HP Gel+laser); group 3: HP gel mixed with graphite particles (10th of millimeter in size) derived from crashed pencil lead in association with Nd:YAG laser (HP Gel+laser+graphite); and group 4: HP gel in association with light-emitting diode (LED) (litex 686, 50 Hz, 450-490 nm) (HP Gel+LED). The amount of HP penetrating into the pulp chamber was evaluated using acetate buffer and standard graphs. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA test, using SPSS 17. Post hoc Tukey test was used for between-group comparisons (α = 0.05). Results: Statistical analyses showed that the HP Gel+laser+graphite group had significantly higher level of HP penetration than other groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, pulp chamber penetration of HP in the HP Gel+laser group was greater than the LED and control groups (p < 0.001). The difference between control and LED groups was not significant (p = 0.99). Conclusions: Laser bleaching associated with HP Gel and graphite particles resulted in increased penetration of HP into the pulp chamber compared with the LED and control groups.

Frequency of Post-Operative Sensitivity in Class II Composite Restorations in Iranian Patients

Objective: To determine the frequency of sensitivity after treatment in composite resin restorations Class II of premolars in Iranian patients. Material and Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, questionnaires were used which included questions about the extent of post-operative sensitivity in posterior composite resin restorations among 178 patients referred to the restoration section. After restoration of the teeth, the patients were called to record sensitivity after the treatment. Post-operative sensitivity was measured 24 h and 1 month with cold stimulation using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) method. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software, through descriptive statistical methods (frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation). Group comparisons were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test and p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean frequency of sensitivity in terms of gender was 0.75 and 0.76 in males and females, respectively. The mean frequency of sensitivity in terms of type of jaw was 0.59 and 1.1, in the upper and lower jaw, respectively. It was also observed that the frequency of sensitivity is higher in adolescent age group, in comparison with other age groups. No significant association between gender as well as type of jaw and post-operative sensitivity frequency was observed (p>0.05). However, age group has a statistically significant association with the frequency of post-operative sensitivity (p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between extent of sensitivity after treatment in composite resin restorations Class II and the age group of patients.

The effect of temporary restorative materials on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.

This study was designed to investigate the fracture strength of endodontically treated teeth temporarily restored with some commonly used interim materials. Of 90 extracted maxillary premolars used in this study, 15 were left intact as the positive control. Endodontic treatment was performed on the remaining 75 teeth. The endodontically treated teeth were then randomly assigned to 5 groups (n = 15). One group was not restored and served as the negative control. In the remaining 4 experimental groups, the teeth were restored with a temporary cement: Zonalin, IRM, Coltosol, or Fuji II LC resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI). The fracture strengths of all teeth were measured with a universal testing machine. The fracture strength of teeth restored with RMGI was significantly greater than that of other groups (P < 0.001), including intact teeth (P = 0.025). The fracture strength of teeth restored with other temporary materials was significantly lower than that of intact teeth (P < 0.05) but not significantly different from that of the negative control. From a structural resistance standpoint, RMGI may be the best choice for short-term temporary restoration of endodontically treated teeth. Other types of temporary restorative material had no reinforcing effect on tooth structure.

Effect of Sodium Ascorbate and Delayed Bonding on the Bond Strength of Silorane and Two-step Self-etch Adhesive Systems in Bleached Enamel.

Background and aims. Studies have shown decreased bond strength of composite resin to human and bovine bleached enamel. This study evaluated the effect of sodium ascorbate and delayed bonding on the bond strength of two adhesive systems to bleached enamel. Materials and methods. The labial surfaces of 150 sound bovine incisor teeth were abraded with abrasive paper. The teeth were randomly divided into 8 groups: A: control; B: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide; C: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide + sodium ascorbate gel; and D: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide + delayed bonding. In groups A‒D, silorane adhesive system and Filtek silorane composite resin were used. In groups E‒H, the same preparation methods of groups A-D were used. Two-step self-etch Clearfil SE Bond adhesive systems and AP-X composite resin were administered. Shear bond strength of each group was measured. Two samples were prepared for each surface preparation for ultra-structural evaluation. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used for data analysis at P<0.05. Results. The interaction between the adhesive system type and surface preparation protocol was significant (P=0.014), withsignificant differences in shear bond strengths in terms of the adhesive systems (P<0.01). There were significant differences in shear bond strength in terms of surface preparation techniques irrespective of the adhesive system (P<0.01). Conclusion. The results showed that bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide decreased the shear bond strength values with both adhesive systems, and a one-week delay in bonding and 10% sodium ascorbate for10 minutes restored the bond strength in both adhesive systems.

Mixing with propylene glycol enhances the bond strength of mineral trioxide aggregate to dentin.

INTRODUCTION: Mixing mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with different proportions of propylene glycol (PG) improves its handling property. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PG on MTA-dentin push-out bond strength. METHODS: Seventy-five 2-mm-thick midroot sections were prepared from single-rooted human extracted teeth. The lumen of each slice was enlarged with Gates-Glidden burs. The slices were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 25). In each group, 0.3 mL of the liquid was mixed with 1 g MTA (Angelus, Londrina, Brazil). The liquid vehicles used in groups 1-3 were 100% distilled water (DW), 20% PG-80% DW, and 100% PG, respectively. After incubation, the push-out strength of the samples was measured using a universal testing machine. The samples were then cut in halves and examined under a stereomicroscope to determine the failure pattern. One-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey post hoc test was used to compare the push-out strength among groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between groups (P < .001). The push-out strength in group 1 (DW) was significantly lower than groups 2 and 3 (P < .001 and P = .022, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between groups 2 (DW-PG) and 3 (PG). CONCLUSIONS: Mixing MTA with PG increased its push-out bond strength to dentin. In the present study, the most suitable ratio was 80% DW-20% PG.

The effect of composite fiber insertion along with low-shrinking composite resin on cuspal deflection of root-filled maxillary premolars.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of three methods of composite fiber placement along with siloranebased composite resin on cuspal deflection and fracture strength of root-filled maxillary premolars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mesio-occluso-distal cavities were prepared in 60 extracted premolars subsequent to endodontic treatment. The remaining thickness of buccal and lingual walls at height of contour was 2.5 ± 0.2 mm and the gingival cavosurface margin was 1.5 mm coronal to cementoenamel junction. Subsequent to measurement of primary intercuspal distances, the teeth were randomly divided into four groups. In group 1, the cavities were only filled with Filtek Silorane composite resin. In the other three groups, preimpregnated glass fibers were placed at gingival, middle and occlusal thirds respectively, and the cavities were restored similar to the group 1. Cuspal deflection was recorded in micrometer using a stereomicroscope. Fracture strength of the samples was measured in Newton subsequent to thermocycling. Data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests at a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The highest cuspal deflection was recorded in the group 1, and the difference between group 1 and other groups was significant (p < 0.001). Fracture resistance in group 4 was significantly higher than that in other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In restoring root-filled premolars with siloranebased composite resins, cuspal deflection decreased with the use of preimpregnated glass fibers. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Using preimpregnated glass fibers along with silorane-based composite resin may lead to better results in cuspal deflection and fracture resistance of endodonticallytreated maxillary premolars.