Jin-Ho Phark

Odontogenic infections: an 8-year epidemiologic analysis in a dental emergency outpatient care unit.

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze epidemiological patterns, clinical features and the management of odontogenic infections in patients undergoing treatment in a dental emergency outpatient care unit. Study design. A retrospective analysis of 58 161 case records of patients presenting to an emergency outpatient unit in Hamburg, Germany between 2000–2007 was performed. From this pool, patients with odontogenic infections were identified using an ICD-10 code, analyzing age, gender, medical co-morbidities, duration of pain, ratio of infiltrates/abscesses, affected teeth, management of infection and administered antibiotics. Results. Of the 58 161 patients, 5357 (9.2%) were identified as having odontogenic infections, with 2689 (50.2%) inflammatory infiltrates and 2668 (49.8%) abscesses. Mean age was 34.8 ± 16.8 years. As the primary site of odontogenic infection, the most significantly affected teeth were the maxillary and mandibular first molars. Patients in age-group 20–29 years (25.1%) utilized the emergency care unit more frequently than other age groups. Clindamycin was the most frequently administered antibiotic. Conclusions. Early recognition, diagnosis and management of odontogenic infections are requisite for avoiding or minimizing the development of potential complications. Strategies and evidence-based protocols should be developed within the dental ambulatory care sector, advancing interdisciplinary cooperation between general dentists and oral or maxillofacial surgeons.

Permeation of intrinsic water into ethanol- and water-saturated, monomer-infiltrated dentin bond interfaces

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the formation of dentin bonding interfaces using the water-wet and the ethanol-wet techniques under simulated pulpal pressure, and to assess the effect of adhesive solvent and thermomechanical loading. METHODS Flat dentin surfaces were restored under 20mm-simulated pulpal pressure following two bonding approaches (water-wet and ethanol-wet bonding) in combination with dental adhesives containing ethanol (Single Bond Plus and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose) or acetone (One-Step Plus and All-Bond 2) as solvent. Half of the restorations of each subgroup were subjected to thermocycling followed by cyclic loading (three teeth per group). Bond strength was measured using the microtensile bond strength test and fitted to a Weibull distribution (α=0.05). Ultrastructural analyses of the interface and leakage/nanoleakage evaluation were performed using confocal scanning microscopy (CLSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS Water permeation through dentin tubules during adhesive application prevented adequate penetration of adhesive monomers into the demineralized collagen matrix in both bonding techniques, but more severely for water-wet bonding. Acetone-solvated adhesives showed worse bonding performance and hybridization than ethanol-based systems when applied in the ethanol-wet mode, both before and after thermomechanical challenge. SIGNIFICANCE The ethanol-wet bonding technique helps to compensate for water permeation from dentin tubules during the bonding procedures to form more stable dentin bonds, especially when used in conjunction to ethanol-solvated systems.

Roughness and morphology of composites: influence of type of material, fluoride solution, and time.

This study evaluated the effect of fluoride solutions on surface roughness and morphology of composites in the short and long term. Specimens were randomly assigned to experimental groups (n=5) according to type of composite (nanofilled, microhybrid, microfilled) and immersion media (artificial saliva, 0.05% sodium fluoride solution, Fluordent Reach, Oral-B, and Fluorgard). Roughness was evaluated at time intervals: T 0 after 24 h in artificial saliva (baseline); T 60 after being in assigned immersion media for 1 min daily over 60 days; and T final after artificial aging (20,000 thermal cycles, 1,200,000 mechanical loading cycles, and continuous immersion for 1,825 min). Surface morphology was qualitatively analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at T 60 and T final. Roughness data were submitted to analysis of variance for mixed repeated measures, Sidak, and Tukey tests at α=0.05. Micro-filled resin showed the highest roughness values. Fluoride solutions had no influence on roughness. Higher roughness values were observed after artificial aging. In SEM observations after the artificial aging, the specimens showed surface degradation, irrespective of immersion medium or type of composite. Nano-filled resin showed higher loss of resin matrix and protrusion of filler particles. Roughness was not influenced by fluoride solutions; however, it is material dependent and increases over time.

Biomechanical analysis of engineered bone with anti-BMP2 antibody immobilized on different scaffolds

Recently we have demonstrated the ability of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 immobilized on different scaffolds to mediate bone formation, a process referred to as Antibody Mediated Osseous Regeneration (AMOR). One of the key properties of regenerated bone is its biomechanical strength, in particular in load-bearing areas. This study sought to test the hypothesis that the biomechanical strength of regenerated bone depends of the mode of regeneration, as well as the scaffold used. Four different scaffolds, namely titanium granules (Ti), alginate hydrogel, anorganic bovine bone mineral (ABBM), and absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) were functionalized with anti-BMP-2 or isotype control mAb and implanted into rat critical-size calvarial defects. The morphology, density and strength of the regenerated bone were evaluated after 8 weeks. Results demonstrated that scaffolds functionalized with anti-BMP-2 mAb exhibited varying degrees of bone volume and density. Ti and ABBM achieved the highest bone volume, density, and strength of bone. When anti-BMP-2 mAb was immobilized on Ti or ABBM, the strength of the regenerated bone were 80% and 77% of native bone respectively, compared with 60% of native bone in sites implanted with rh-BMP-2. Control interventions with isotype mAb did not promote considerable bone regeneration and exhibited significantly lower mechanical properties. SEM analysis showed specimens immobilized with anti-BMP-2 mAb formed new bone with organized structure bridging the crack areas. Altogether, the present data demonstrated that the morphological and mechanical properties of bone bioengineered through AMOR could approximate that of native bone, when appropriate scaffolds are used.

Force-to-failure of a simulated implant-supported complete fixed dental prosthesis reinforced with glass fiber

Statement of problem. The joint adjacent to the cantilevered section of an implant‐supported complete fixed dental prosthesis (ICFDP) undergoes the most stress because of force magnification in this area, making it more prone to mechanical failure. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the ultimate force‐to‐failure distal to the terminal implant of a simulated ICFDP reinforced with glass fiber compared with that of a conventionally fabricated prosthesis. Material and methods. Thirty ICFDPs with bilateral distal cantilevers were fabricated and divided into 3 groups: the not‐reinforced (NR) group was processed without reinforcement, the glass‐fiber‐reinforced (GR) group was reinforced with glass fiber, and the titanium‐reinforced (TR) group was fabricated with a titanium bar. The specimens were screw‐retained onto a standardized mandibular model with 4‐implant analogs embedded in acrylic resin. All groups were processed using heat‐polymerized acrylic resin. After 24 hours, the cantilevers were loaded to fracture (in N) 10 mm away from the center of the most distal analog under compression at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Statistical analysis of data was performed using a 1‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) model by using Tukey B post hoc comparison procedures (&agr;=.05). Results. Data revealed the mean fracture load of the NR group was 1073 ±108 N, 1400.75 ±123.53 N for the GR group, and 1652.78 ±274.14 N for the TR group. Statistically significant differences (P<.05) were found among all 3 groups. Comparison between the left and right side of the tested prostheses did not show any significant differences (P=.595). Conclusions. A fiber‐reinforced ICFDP provides better biomechanical properties than an unreinforced one, which may allow its longer‐term use as an interim ICFDP. However, the titanium bar ICFDP still provided the best resistance to fracture.

Evaluation of Fracture Resistance of Varying Thicknesses of Zirconia Around Implant Abutment Cylinders

Zirconia is becoming increasingly used as a restorative material for implant-supported restorations; however, information is lacking with respect to the minimum thickness of zirconia surrounding the implant components. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the resistance to fracture of different thicknesses of zirconia luted to implant components. Thirty cylinders of zirconia (Prettau, Zirkonzahn) with 13-mm height, designed with indented occlusal surface for loading, and varying wall thicknesses (0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm; n = 10/group) were milled using a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing system (Modellier, Zirkonzahn), after which they were sintered. Titanium temporary cylinders (ITCS41, Biomet3i) were attached to 30 implant analogs (ILA20, Biomet3i) that were embedded into polymethylmethacrylate blocks (Palapress Vario, Heraeus Kulzer) with dimensions of 4.5 × 1.8 × 2 cm. Zirconia specimens were cemented to the titanium cylinders using a self-adhesive, dual-cure resin cement (Panavia SA, Kuraray). Load to failure test was performed under compression until fracture using a universal testing machine (Instron5965, Instron) at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min and measured in N (Newton). Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey B test at α = .05 (SPSS19, IBM). Mean load to failure was 1059.94 N, 2019.46 N, and 4074.79 N for groups 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 1.5 mm, respectively. Values were significantly different between the groups (P < .05). Study limitations are that it is in vitro, specimens do not replicate tooth dimensions, and forces are static and directed toward the occlusal portion of each specimen. Within these limitations and considering the average human bite force, a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1 mm of this particular type of zirconia around this type of implant component can avoid fracture with these dimensions.

The influence of intrinsic water permeation on different dentin bonded interfaces formation

OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of intrinsic wetness on the formation of dentin bonding interfaces of four resin cement systems bonded to dentin under different pulpal pressures. METHODS Thirty-six freshly extracted third molars were selected and processed for dentin μTBS. The teeth were randomly assigned into 12 experimental groups, according to the adhesive luting system [Adper Single Bond Plus (3M ESPE) combined with two luting agents RelyX ARC (3M ESPE) and heated Filtek Z250 Universal Restorative (3M ESPE), Clearfil CD Bond (Kuraray) combined with Clearfil Esthetic Cement (Kuraray), and RelyX Unicem 2 Automix (3M ESPE)] and pulpal pressure (0, 5, and 20 cm of simulated pulpal pressure). Leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic slabs (IPS Empress CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent) of 3mm thickness were bonded to dentin. The samples were stored in distilled water for 24h and then sectioned in X/Y directions across the adhesive interface to obtain specimens with a cross section of 0.8 ± 0.2mm(2). All sticks were fractured by tension at a crosshead speed of 1.0mm/min and the data were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney Tests (α=0.05). Ultrastructural analysis of the interfaces was performed using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). RESULTS The statistical analyses showed that pulpal pressure decreased μTBS for all groups. Significantly higher μTBS values were obtained in heated Z250 group restored without any pulpal pressure. CLSM showed that the uptake of water through the dentin tubuli and their anastomosis of lateral branches during the adhesive luting procedures prevented adequate formation of the dentin bonding interfaces. SEM showed that the luting film created is material- dependent and all adhesive failure occurred at the resin-dentin interface. CONCLUSION The constant intrinsic wetness replenishment prevents adequate formation of the hybrid layer. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Intrinsic moisture during adhesive luting procedures significantly affects the interaction between luting materials and dentin subtract and decreases the quality and bonding strength of the resin-dentin bond.

Removal torque and force to failure of non-axially tightened implant abutment screws

Statement of problem. Components have been introduced that allow the screw channel of an implant crown to be angled lingually and the screws to be tightened in a non‐axial direction to the implant. Information is lacking as to how the removal torque value (RTV) and force to failure (FTF) of these components compare with those of conventional screws. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the RTV and FTF values of cyclically loaded implant‐supported restorations. Specifically, values for conventional axially tightened gold screws were compared with those for non‐axially tightened screws aligned at 3 different angulations. Material and methods. A total of 28 external hexagon implants were embedded in acrylic resin and divided into 4 groups. Simulated restorations were fabricated on abutments capable of different screw channel angulations. Dynamic abutments (DA) were waxed at different angulations and then cast. Simulated restorations were placed on the implants and tightened: group 0GS: 0‐degree angulation gold screw tightened to 35 Ncm (control group); group 0DAS, 0‐degree angulation with dynamic abutment (DAS) screw; group 20DAS: 20‐degree angulation with DA screw; group 28DAS: 28‐degree angulation with DAS screw. In groups 0DAS, 20DAS, and 28DAS, the DAS screw was used and tightened to 25 Ncm. Screw removal torque values were recorded by using a digital torque gauge at baseline and, after reaching cyclic fatigue, by using a dual‐axis mastication simulator for 1 200 000 cycles. The fracture strength (FS) of the implant restorations was tested under compression until failure by using a universal testing machine. Differences between baseline and removal torque (&Dgr;RT) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed by using 1‐way ANOVA for &Dgr;RT and FS separately (&agr;=.05). Results. &Dgr;RT and FS values were not significantly different among the groups (P>.05). The screw fractured in 5 of 28 specimens (17.8%); the remaining specimens failed with fracture of the implant. Conclusions. The removal torque and FS values of the angulated abutment screw were comparable to those of the gold screw. Angulation of the abutment had no significant influence on the screw removal torque values.