Effect of probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei on tumor necrosis factor-alpha level in gingival crevicular fluid of patients undergoing impacted third molar removal.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei in patients undergoing removal of impacted mandibular third molars, focusing on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in gingival crevicular fluid, pain, swelling, trismus, and interincisal distance. METHODS: Thirty patients were divided into two groups: (1) wound irrigation with the probiotic, and (2) irrigation with 0.9% normal saline. The data were collected at the baseline, and at 24 h and 7 days after the operation. The TNF-α level in gingival crevicular fluid was determined using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the probiotic L. paracasei MSMC39 reduced the TNF-α level in gingival crevicular fluid to a significantly greater degree than in the control group (P < 0.05). Pain, swelling and trismus evaluated in terms of a visual analog scale (VAS) score were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, but not to a statistically significant degree (P > 0.05). The mean interincisal distance in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The probiotic L. paracasei is able to reduce the level of TNF-α in gingival crevicular fluid and can ameliorate postoperative complications after mandibular molar removal.

Demirjian and Cameriere methods for age estimation in a Spanish sample of 1386 living subjects.

Currently, human identification is a challenge. Migration due to war, economic crisis or other factors is frequent. The wisdom teeth are the last teeth to initiate and complete development therefore, are fundamental for determining the legal age of majority in different countries. The aim of the study is to determine the validity of two methods based on mineralisation of the third molar to predict the ages of majority of individuals in a Spanish population. Orthopantomographies of 636 men and 750 women (mean age, 16.5 years) were analysed. The Demirjian and Cameriere methods were used, and each tooth was assigned a value according to the degree of mineralisation and maturation. The level of significance used in the analyses was 5% (α = 0.05), with a power of 96.2%. The predictive ability of the Demirjian method to determine 18 years of age in the lower wisdom teeth 93%, respectively. The Cameriere method has a predictive capacity of 88%. There are no statistically significant differences between men and women. Stage H and a cut-off point of 0.08 were the guiding values for determining the age of majority of the study population. For other proposed age ranges (14 and 16 years), both methods were useful in determining the actual age of individuals, with the Demirjian method having a sensitivity of 97.5% with and Cameriere having a predictive capacity of 95%. Both methods can be used with high reliability to determine the age of individuals where reliable documentation is unavailable. Stage H with the Demirjian method and a cut-off point of 0.08 with the Cameriere method can determine the age of majority of the Spanish population. The combination of the two methods does not substantially increase predictive ability.

A Novel Strategy for Caries Management: Constructing an Antibiofouling and Mineralizing Dual-Bioactive Tooth Surface.

Existing single-functional agents against dental caries are inadequate in antibacterial performance or mineralization balance. This problem can be resolved through a novel strategy, namely, the construction of an antibiofouling and mineralizing dual-bioactive tooth surface by grafting a dentotropic moiety to an antimicrobial peptide. The constructed bioactive peptide can strongly adsorb onto the tooth surface and has beneficial functions in a myriad of ways. It inhibits cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans adhesion, kills planktonic S. mutans, and destroys the S. mutans biofilm on the tooth surface. It also protects teeth from demineralization in acidic environments, and induces self-healing regeneration in the remineralization environment. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the main adsorption mechanism that the positively charged amino acid residues in the bioactive peptide bind to phosphate groups on the tooth surface, and the main mineralization mechanism that the negative charges on the outermost layer of the bioactive peptide repel acetic acid ions and attract calcium ions as nucleation sites for remineralization. This study suggests that this in-house synthesized dual-bioactive peptide is a promising functional agent to prevent dental caries, and is effective in inducing in situ self-healing remineralization for the treatment of decayed teeth.

Investigating Neolithic caprine husbandry in the Central Pyrenees: Insights from a multi-proxy study at Els Trocs cave (Bisaurri, Spain).

Sheep remains constitute the main archaeozoological evidence for the presence of Early Neolithic human groups in the highlands of the Southern Pyrenees but understanding the role of herding activities in the Neolithisation process of this mountain ecosystem calls for the analysis of large and well-dated faunal assemblages. Cova de Els Trocs (Bisaurri, Huesca, Spain), a cave located at 1564 m a.s.l on the southern slopes of the Central Pyrenees, is an excellent case study since it was seasonally occupied throughout the Neolithic (ca. 5312-2913 cal. BC) and more than 4000 caprine remains were recovered inside. The multi-proxy analytical approach here presented has allowed us to offer new data elaborating on vertical mobility practices and herd management dynamics as has not been attempted up until now within Neolithic high-mountain sites in the Iberian Peninsula. For the first time, δ18O and δ13C stable isotope analyses offer direct evidence on both the regular practice of altitudinal movements of sheep flocks and the extended breeding season of sheep. Autumn births are recorded from the second half of the fifth millennium cal. BC onwards. Age-at-death distributions illustrate the progressive decline in caprine perinatal mortality together with the rising survival rate of individuals older than six months of age and the larger frequency of adults. This trend alongside the 'off-season' lambing signal at the implementation of husbandry techniques over time, probably aiming to increase the size of the flocks and their productivity. Palaeoparasitological analyses of sediment samples document also the growing reliance on herding activities of the human groups visiting the Els Trocs cave throughout the Neolithic sequence. In sum, our work provides substantial arguments to conclude that the advanced herding management skills of the Early Neolithic communities arriving in Iberia facilitated the anthropisation process of the subalpine areas of the Central Pyrenees.

Strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope variation in modern human dental enamel.

OBJECTIVES: Isotopic analyses using human dental enamel provide information on the mobility and diet of individuals in forensic and archeological studies. Thus far, no study has systematically examined intraindividual coupled strontium (Sr), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) isotope variation in human enamel or the effect that caries have on the isotopic integrity of the enamel. The inadequate quantification of isotopic variation affects interpretations and may constrain sample selection of elements affected by caries. This study aims to quantify the intraindividual isotopic variation and provides recommendations for enamel sampling methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study presents the first systematic results on intraindividual variation in Sr-O-C isotope composition and Sr concentration in modern human dental enamel of third molars (affected and unaffected by caries). A multiloci sampling approach (n = 6-20) was used to analyze surface and inner enamel, employing thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Third molars were analyzed from 47 individuals from the Netherlands, Iceland, the United States, the Caribbean, Colombia, Somalia, and South Africa. RESULTS: Intradental isotopic variation in modern Dutch dental elements was recorded for Sr, O, and C and exceeded the variation introduced by the analytical error. Single loci and bulk sampling approaches of third molars established that a single analysis is only representative of the bulk Sr isotope composition in 60% of the elements analyzed. Dental elements affected by caries showed twice the variation seen in unaffected dental elements. Caries did not consistently incorporate the isotopic composition of the geographical environment in which they developed. DISCUSSION: The isotopic variability recorded in unaffected inner enamel indicates that variations greater than 0.000200 for 87 Sr/86 Sr and larger than 2‰ for δ18 O and δ13 C are required to demonstrate changes in modern Dutch human diet or geographic location.

Evaluation of neodymium isotope analysis of human dental enamel as a provenance indicator using 1013â€¯Ω amplifiers (TIMS).

Human provenance studies employing isotopic analysis have become an essential tool in forensic and archaeological sciences, with multi-isotope approaches providing more specific location estimates compared to single isotope studies. This study reports on the human provenancing capability of neodymium isotopes (143Nd/144Nd), a relatively conservative tracer in the environment. Neodymium isotope ratios have only recently been determined on human remains due to low concentrations in human dental enamel (ppb range), requiring thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) using 1013â€¯Ω resistors. Dental elements (third molars) from 20 individuals born and raised in the Netherlands were analysed for Nd concentration (n = 12) and Nd isotope ratios (n = 15). The geological control on Nd isotope composition was examined using coupled Nd-Sr isotope analysis of the same third molar. Teeth from different geological environments were also analysed (Caribbean, Columbian, and Icelandic, n = 5). Neodymium elemental concentrations in dental elements ranged between 0.1 and 7.9 ppb (median 0.5 ppb). The Dutch 143Nd/144Nd ratios of the provinces of Limburg and Friesland were between 0.5118 and 0.5121, with Dutch 87Sr/86Sr ratios in agreement with the previously established local range (0.708-0.710). The current findings were compared to previously published results on Nd concentration and composition from Dutch individuals. The concentration of Nd and 143Nd/144Nd ratios were weakly correlated (R2 = 0.47, n = 17) in Dutch human dental enamel. The majority (n = 25, 83.3%) of individuals had Nd and Sr isotope values isotopically indistinguishable from the geological environment in which their third molars formed and mineralised. However, the Nd isotope ratios of the Icelandic individual and several Dutch individuals (n = 4) suggested that Nd in enamel is not solely influenced by geological environment. In order for neodymium isotopes to be quantitatively applied in forensic and archaeological settings further analyses of individuals from various geographical regions with well-defined dietary Nd isotope data are required.

Dental iron precipitates in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a frequent worldwide disease. There are currently more than 46 million people who suffer this disease in North America and the Caribbean. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between DM and the presence of iron precipitates (Fe2+) in dental structure. The third molar was extracted for reasons that merit extraction from 40 individuals with and without DM to analyze dentin tissue. Horizontal and longitudinal slices of tooth samples were made and later stained with 10% potassium cyanoferrate. The samples were observed by optical microscope to identify basophilic elements. A nonparametric Spearman correlation was performed to find an association between the quantitative (gender, group, and dentinal tissue) and qualitative variables (gender). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to find differences in the means of the nonparametric variables in two different groups in relation to the P value (<0.05). Iron elements were found in the predentin and circumpulpal dentin areas, and the results obtained showed a statistically significant difference between dentin tissue from patients with diabetes and those without. Individuals with Type 2 DM are prone to present iron precipitates in predentin and circumpulpal dentin tissue. Few iron elements were found in dental organs of individuals without DM.

Effect of Dentin Preparation Mode on the Bond Strength Between Human Dentin and Different Resin Cements.

The aim was to evaluate the influence of different dentin preparation mode in the smear layer characteristics (SL), hybrid layer (HL), and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin with two resin cements. The occlusal dentin of 120 third molars was exposed. The teeth were divided into 4 groups (n=30) according to the dentin preparation mode: 1- fine grain diamond bur; 2- coarse grain diamond bur; 3- multi laminate carbide steel bur; and, 4- ultrasonic CV Dentus diamond bur. Each treated dentin group was divided into 2 sub-groups (n=15) according to the resin cement: (1) RelyX U200 and (2) RelyX ARC. Resin composite blocks were cemented on dentin. After storage at 37o C for 24 h, beams with a cross section area of 1.0 mm2 were obtained, and tested in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Two additional teeth for each sub-group were prepared to analyze the SL and HL on a scanning electron microscopy. According to Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn tests, there was no significant difference in µTBS among the rotary instruments within each resin cement group. RelyX ARC obtained higher µTBS values compared to RelyX U200 (p<0.05). RelyX ARC formed evident HL, which was not observed for RelyX U200. The dentin mode preparation did not influence the µTBS of the resin cements. The SL was different for all instruments. The cementing agent is more determinant in the hybrid layer formation and bond strength to dentin than the instruments applied on dentin.

Effect of dentin preparation mode on the bond strength between human dentin and different resin cements

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the influence of different dentin preparation mode in the smear layer characteristics (SL), hybrid layer (HL), and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin with two resin cements. The occlusal dentin of 120 third molars was exposed. The teeth were divided into 4 groups (n=30) according to the dentin preparation mode: 1- fine grain diamond bur; 2- coarse grain diamond bur; 3- multi laminate carbide steel bur; and, 4- ultrasonic CV Dentus diamond bur. Each treated dentin group was divided into 2 sub-groups (n=15) according to the resin cement: (1) RelyX U200 and (2) RelyX ARC. Resin composite blocks were cemented on dentin. After storage at 37o C for 24 h, beams with a cross section area of 1.0 mm2 were obtained, and tested in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Two additional teeth for each sub-group were prepared to analyze the SL and HL on a scanning electron microscopy. According to Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn tests, there was no significant difference in µTBS among the rotary instruments within each resin cement group. RelyX ARC obtained higher µTBS values compared to RelyX U200 (p<0.05). RelyX ARC formed evident HL, which was not observed for RelyX U200. The dentin mode preparation did not influence the µTBS of the resin cements. The SL was different for all instruments. The cementing agent is more determinant in the hybrid layer formation and bond strength to dentin than the instruments applied on dentin.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes modos de preparação da dentina nas características da smear layer (SL), da camada híbrida (CH) e na resistência de união à microtração (RUµT) à dentina com dois cimentos resinosos. A dentina oclusal de 120 terceiros molares humanos foi exposta. Os dentes foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=30) de acordo com o modo de preparação da dentina: 1 - ponta diamantada de granulação fina; 2 - ponta diamantada de granulação grossa; 3 - ponta de carboneto de aço multilaminada; 4 - ponta diamantada ultrassônica. Cada grupo foi subdividido em dois subgrupos (n=15) de acordo com o cimento resinoso: (1) RelyX U200 e (2) RelyX ARC. Blocos de resina composta foram cimentados na dentina. Após armazenamento a 37 °C por 24 h, as amostras foram cortadas para obter palitos com área de 1,0 mm2, os quais foram testados em máquina de ensaio universal com velocidade de 0,5 mm/min. Dois dentes adicionais por subgrupo foram preparados para analisar as características da SL e da CH em microscópio eletrônico de varredura. De acordo com o teste de Kruskal-Wallis e o teste de Dunn, não houve diferença significativa na RUµT entre os instrumentos rotatórios para cada cimento resinoso. RelyX ARC obteve maiores valores de RUµT em comparação ao RelyX U200 (p<0,05). RelyX ARC formou uma CH evidente, o que não foi observado para o RelyX U200. O modo de preparação da dentina não influenciou na RUµT dos cimentos resinosos. A SL foi diferente para todos os instrumentos. O agente de cimentação foi mais determinante na formação da camada híbrida e na resistência de união do que os instrumentos utilizados para preparar a dentina.

Refining Stable Oxygen and Hydrogen Isoscapes for the Identification of Human Remains in Mississippi.

Isoscape refinement is an essential component for accurately predicting region-of-origin in forensic investigations involving isotope analysis of unidentified human remains. Stable oxygen (δ18 O) and hydrogen (δ2 H) isotopes were measured from 57 tap water samples collected across Mississippi to model refined isoscapes for the state. A tap water conversion equation, δ18 Otw =1.64 δ18 Op-31.35, was developed for the southeastern USA to test the prediction accuracy of the δ18 Otw isoscape using individuals with known residential histories. A local Mississippi resident (USAFA-134) was assigned with 90% probability to the correct region-of-origin reported by the participant. Assignments for Georgia residents (USAFA-118 and USAFA-205) had variable results, predicting USAFA-118 from Mississippi and USAFA-205 as a nonlocal resident. Stable isotope values often overlap geographically and a multi-isotope approach should be used when narrowing region(s)-of-origin(s). This study demonstrates the utility of refining isoscapes and the importance of tissue calibration in prediction assignments of human remains.

The effect of double-coating and times on the immediate and 6-month dentin bonding of universal adhesives.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of double-application coats and times on microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and adhesive-dentin interfaces created by dentin adhesive systems after 6 months of storage in water. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred sixteen extracted non-carious human third molars were selected for the study. Single-Bond Universal (SU) and All-Bond Universal (AU), Adper Easy One (Eo) Self-Etch adhesive and Adper Single-Bond 2 (Sb) etch-and-rinse adhesive were applied to a flat dentin surface using three methods (1): dentin adhesives were applied as recommended by the manufacturers; (2): two consecutive coats of dentin adhesives were applied before photo-polymerization; and (3): a single coat of adhesive was applied but with twice the manufacturers recommended application time. Microtensile bond strength was determined either immediately or after 6 months of water storage. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc tests. RESULTS: At 24 h, groups 1, 2, and 3 exhibited statistically similar results for all dentin adhesive systems. For AU-Er, group 3 showed significantly higher bond strength than all group of AU-Se after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Universal adhesives seemed more stable against water degradation than traditional two-step etch-and-rinse and all-in-one systems within the 6-month period.

Evaluation of macroscopic changes and the efficiency of DNA profiling from burnt teeth.

Identification of human remains subjected to incineration is extremely challenging. Our study evaluates the macroscopic changes and efficiency of DNA profiling in burnt teeth under controlled temperature and time conditions. 28 teeth were exposed to temperatures between 100 and 700°C for a duration of 1-15min. Two non-burnt teeth were used as control. Macroscopic changes were evaluated and recorded. DNA was extracted using a silica-based methodology. Efficiency of DNA profiling was assessed through Quantitative PCR for STRs. Burnt teeth reached chalky white appearance at 400°C 5min and fractures were observed from 300°C 10min. Amplification of STRs was very low from 300°C and 1 or 5min. In contrast, the housekeeping gene, GAPDH, was amplified in all combinations of temperatures and times. Although it is possible to amplify the housekeeping gene at high temperature, DNA profiling is difficult to obtain, probably due to small size of these regions making them more prone to degradation.

Aspartic acid racemization in dentin of the third molar for age estimation of the Chaoshan population in South China.

Aspartic acid racemization in teeth has been increasingly used to estimate chronological age with a considerably high accuracy in forensic practice. The Chaoshan population in South China is relatively isolated in geography, and has specific lifestyle and dietary inhibits. It is still unknown whether this method is suitable for this population. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between chronological age and the d/l aspartic acid ratio in dentin in the third molar tooth of the Chaoshan population. Fifty-eight non-carious third molar teeth (31 mandibles and 27 maxillae), from 58 living individuals of known age (24 males and 34 females), were retrieved. Dentin was extracted from these teeth. The d- and l-aspartic acids in dentins were separated and detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Linear regression was performed between the d/l aspartic acid ratio of dentins and chronological age. Results showed that the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.969, and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 2.19 years, its standard deviation (SD) was ±1.53 years, indicating excellent correlation. There was no significant difference in racemization rates of dentin between sexes (P=0.113, F=2.6), or between mandibles and maxillae (P=0.964, F=0.000). Results indicate that the ratio of the d and l forms of aspartic acid of dentins, in the third molar, is closely correlated with chronological age, special lifestyle do no obviously affect the accuracy of the age estimations by aspartic acid racemization of the dentin in the third molar and that aspartic acid racemization in the third molar dentin can be used as an accurate method to estimate chronological age in the Chaoshan population in South China.

Evaluation of the efficacy of spatiotemporal Pb isoscapes for provenancing of human remains.

Geospatially distributed isotopes (isoscapes) from biogeochemically fractionated processes have been applied in many forensic investigations, such as authentication of food and sourcing of drugs. Provenancing of human remains using isotopes has been hindered by a lack of appropriate isoscapes, by changes in these isoscapes over time, and by various homogenization processes. In this study we create spatiotemporal isoscapes for anthropogenic lead (Pb) for the contiguous United States and Europe using literature data from dated sediments, soils and biological tissues. We compare (206)Pb/(207)Pb isoscapes with isoscapes of δ(13)C, δ(18)O and (87)Sr/(86)Sr to determine their relative efficacy for the forensic identification of human remains. We do this comparison using third molar enamel data from 22 United States Air Force Academy cadets with known life trajectories born between 1983 and 1985. We use these spatiotemporal isoscapes with osteologic analyses, hospital records and isotopic analyses of tooth enamel carbonate from permanent teeth to help identify 32 individuals from unmarked graves found in a forgotten 19th century mental asylum cemetery.

Effect of propolis as a root canal irrigant on bond strength to dentin.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of propolis on bond strength to dentin of a self-etch adhesive when used as a final irrigant. METHODS: 126 human third molars were sectioned 3 mm below the occlusal level and then randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 18). The exposed dentin surfaces were treated with irrigation solutions as follows: Group 1: 5.25% NaOCl; Group 2: 5.25% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA; Group 3: 5.25% NaOCl followed by Tubulicid Plus (Temrex, Freeport, NY, USA); Group 4: 5.25% NaOCl followed by MTAD; Group 5: 5.25% NaOCl followed by 20% propolis; Group 6: 5.25% NaOCl followed by 2% CHX; Group 7: distilled water (control). Irrigated specimens were bonded using Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray, Osaka, Japan) with Tygon (Saint-Gobain, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, France), tubes for microshear bond strength testing. Data was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: Among the tested groups, although the lowest bond strength values were detected in Group 1 (11.25 ± 1.97), a significant statistical difference was detected only between this group and Group 4 (18.70 ± 1.82) and Group 5 (16.75 ± 3.70) (p = 0.0012). CONCLUSIONS: 20% propolis solution as a final irrigant was found to have a favorable effect on the dentin bond strength of the tested self-etch adhesive to coronal dentin when compared with other irrigation solutions.

UVA-activated riboflavin improves the strength of human dentin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of UVA-activated riboflavin (UVA-RF) on the mechanical properties of non-demineralized human dentin. Dentin specimens obtained from 20 teeth were randomly divided into the following four groups: group 1 (control): no treatment, group 2 (low UVA-RF): specimens were exposed to UVA-RF for 10 min, group 3 (medium UVA-RF): specimens were exposed to UVA-RF for 30 min, and group 4 (high UVA-RF): specimens were exposed to UVA-RF for 60 min. Three-point flexural test and Raman spectroscopic analyses were performed. The mean flexural strengths (MPa) were 129.96, 128.96, 144.21, and 147.54, and the mean elastic modulus (GPa) were 8.59, 8.38, 10.21, and 9.87 for groups 1 to 4, respectively. Raman spectra showed chemical modifications of dental collagen under medium and high UVA-RF treatment. We conclude that medium and high UVA-RF increases the strength of non-demineralized human dentin by collagen crosslinking.

Comparison of photopolymerization temperature increases in internal and external positions of composite and tooth cavities in real time: Incremental fillings of microhybrid composite vs. bulk filling of bulk fill composite.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated temperature increases in the composite and pulpal side of dentin from incremental and bulk fillings in composite restorations. METHODS: Class-1 cavities (5 mm × 4 mm × 3 mm) were prepared in ten extracted third molars, filled with composite, and restored with two separate horizontal layers of Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) in the incremental group or a single layer of SureFil SDR Flow (Dentsply) in the bulk-fill group (n=5). After placing the specimens in a 36.5°C water bath, temperatures were measured with eight thermocouples at the bottom center (BC), middle center (MC), top center (TC), bottom corner (BE), middle corner (ME), and top corner (TE) of the cavity, at the pulpal side of the dentin within the pulp chamber (PD), and in the curing light (CL) tip during light curing at 750 mW/cm(2) for 20s and then analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's HSD tests (α=0.01). RESULTS: Maximum temperatures ranged from 39.0°C (PD 1st increment) to 60.0°C (MC 1st increment) in the incremental group and from 42.0°C (PD) to 74.9°C (TC) in the bulk-fill group. In the incremental group, temperatures were similar between the 1st and 2nd increments, except at MC and BC. CONCLUSIONS: Bulk-fill group exhibited a greater increase in temperature during composite restoration. Regardless of the filling technique, more heat was generated at the center than at the corner and at the top than at the bottom of the composite. PD temperatures increased by 3.1°C and 5.5°C in the incremental group and bulk-fill group, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although bulk fillings save clinical chair time, clinicians should be aware of the greater heat that is generated with increasing amounts of composites during polymerization, which can jeopardize the pulpal health, especially when a large and deep cavity is being restored.

Radiotherapy effect on nano-mechanical properties and chemical composition of enamel and dentine.

OBJECTIVE: To understand radiotherapy-induced dental lesions characterized by enamel loss or delamination near the dentine-enamel junction (DEJ), this study evaluated enamel and dentine nano-mechanical properties and chemical composition before and after simulated oral cancer radiotherapy. DESIGN: Sections from seven non-carious third molars were exposed to 2 Gy fractions, 5 days/week for 7 weeks for a total of 70 Gy. Nanoindentation was used to evaluate Young's modulus, while Raman microspectroscopy was used to measure protein/mineral ratios, carbonate/phosphate ratios, and phosphate peak width. All measures were completed prior to and following radiation at the same four buccal and lingual sites 500 and 30 µm from the DEJ in enamel and dentine (E-500, E-30, D-30 and D-500). RESULTS: The elastic modulus of enamel and dentine was significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) following radiation. Based on Raman spectroscopic analysis, there was a significant decrease in the protein to mineral ratio (2931/430 cm(-1)) following radiation at all sites tested except at D-500, while the carbonate to phosphate ratio (1070/960 cm(-1)) increased at E-30 and decreased at D-500. Finally, phosphate peak width as measured by FWHM at 960 cm(-1) significantly decreased at both D-30 and D-500 following radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Simulated radiotherapy produced an increase in the stiffness of enamel and dentine near the DEJ. Increased stiffness is speculated to be the result of the radiation-induced decrease in the protein content, with the percent reduction much greater in the enamel sites. Such changes in mechanical properties and chemical composition could potentially contribute to DEJ biomechanical failure leading to enamel delamination that occurs post-radiotherapy. However, other analyses are required for a better understanding of radiotherapy-induced effects on tooth structure to improve preventive and restorative treatments for oral cancer patients.

The role of MDP in a bonding resin of a two-step self-etching adhesive system.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) contained in the bonding resin of a two-step self-etch adhesive system. An experimental adhesive (M0) containing MDP only in the primer, but not in the bonding resin was prepared. Clearfil SE Bond (MM) and M0 were compared in terms of microtensile bond strength to dentin, ultimate tensile strength of the bonding resin, and dentin-resin bonding interface morphology under SEM and TEM. The immediate µTBS values of MM significantly decreased after thermal cycles while M0 were stable even after 10,000 cycles. In the SEM observations, formation of erosion was observed beneath the acid-base resistant zone only in M0. The results suggested that MDP in the bonding resin of the two-step self-etching system; 1) improved the immediate bond strength, but caused reduction in long-term bond durability; 2) offered the advantages of acid-base resistance at the ABRZ forefront area.