Luca Fontanive

Polymerization efficiency and flexural strength of low-stress restorative composites.

OBJECTIVES To assess depth of cure (DOC), degree of conversion (DC), and flexural strength (FS) of several resin composites with low-stress behavior. METHODS SonicFill (Kerr), SureFil(®) SDR™ (Dentsply), everX Posterior (GC), Kalore (GC), and Filtek Silorane (3M ESPE) were tested. DOC was measured with the Acetone Shake test. DC was assessed with Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy on top and at the bottom of 4mm-thick disk-shaped specimens. Bottom to top ratios of DC percentages were calculated. FS was evaluated with the Three-Point Bending test. DOC, DC, and FS data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS SureFil(®) SDR™ and everX Posterior achieved significantly greater DOC than Kalore and Filtek Silorane. Also, SonicFill had significantly greater DOC than Filtek Silorane. Mean top DCs ranged between 71.46% and 52.44%. Kalore and everX Posterior had significantly lower top DCs than the other materials. Mean DC values at 4mm ranged largely from 57.95% to 6.82%. Kalore and Filtek Silorane had the lowest values of bottom DC and the difference was statistically significant. EverX Posterior and SonicFill recorded significantly higher FSs than the other materials. SIGNIFICANCE SureFil(®) SDR™ and everX Posterior exhibited DOC over 4mm, the maximum thickness recommended for bulk placement, while SonicFill recorded DOC values very close to the 4mm threshold. SonicFill achieved the highest DC at the irradiated surface, as well as at 4mm depth. SureFil(®) SDR™ demonstrated similarly uniform curing through the bulk increment. All the tested composites complied with the requirements of FS established by ISO 4049/2009.

Degree of conversion of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives: In situ micro-Raman analysis.

OBJECTIVES DC of three commercial two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives across the dentine-adhesive interface was investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The hypothesis tested was that no difference in DC would exist among the adhesives tested. METHODS Adper Scotchbond 1XT (3M ESPE), Prime&Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey), and Ambar (FGM) were applied on human dentine disks (n=9). Composite increments of 2mm were then applied on the adhesive surface. Raman spectra were collected along the dentine-adhesive interface. The relative intensities of the peaks associated with the mineral (PO(4)(3-) at 960cm(-1)) and the adhesive (CC at 1640cm(-1); phenyl CC at 1610cm(-1)) were used to identify the adhesive within the hybrid layer and calculate its DC. RESULTS Adper Scotchbond 1XT and Ambar showed similar DC (79±7% and 77±7%, respectively), while a lower DC was found for Prime&Bond NT (70±7%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The hypothesis tested was rejected because differences were found among the adhesives tested. The difference in DC among the three adhesive systems can be attributed to different monomer compositions and solvents. Further studies are needed to correlate DC with other mechanical properties of these adhesives. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Insufficient polymerization of an adhesive can result in a weak hybrid layer, and the presence of unreacted monomers may result in degradation of the polymeric network, decreasing the strength and longevity of the bond. In the present study, Adper Scotchbond 1XT and Ambar performed significantly better than Prime&Bond NT.

Effect of carboidiimide on thermal denaturation temperature of dentin collagen

OBJECTIVES 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) has been shown to cross-link dentin type I collagen. Increased cross-linking usually elevates the glass transition temperature of polymers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-linking reaction promoted by EDC in different aqueous concentrations by measuring the thermal denaturation temperature (Td) of human dentin collagen. METHODS The Td of dehydrated collagen and of insoluble dentin matrix collagen immersed in 0.5M or 1M EDC aqueous solution for different treatment times was obtained using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). Specimens were also analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. RESULTS EDC-treated dentin collagen showed a significantly higher Td than the untreated specimens when immersed in either 0.5M EDC or 1M EDC for 10min or longer (p<0.05). EDC-treated dentin collagen showed an increase of sulfur and chloride, not detectable in EDC-untreated dentin specimens. Conversely, the relative amount of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen was not modified by treatments. SIGNIFICANCE EDC-treated dentin collagen showed a higher Td than the untreated control at all tested concentrations and immersion times. A higher Td can be considered an indirect indicator of a more resistant and highly cross-linked collagen network. More data are needed to confirm these results.

Effect of lithium disilicate veneers of different thickness on the degree of conversion and microhardness of a light-curing and a dual-curing cement

PURPOSE Various materials and systems for bonding lithium disilicate to the tooth substrate are available to clinicians, who can adapt the materials to each clinical situation to maximize the performance of indirect esthetic restorations. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) and the microhardness (MH) of a dual-curing and a light-curing cement under lithium disilicate discs of different thicknesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 48 lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent) samples were prepared and divided into three groups (n = 16) according to the thickness (group A was 0.6 mm; group B was 1.0 mm; group C was 1.5 mm). Each group was further divided into two subgroups (n = 8) according to the resin cement employed, NX3 (Kerr) or Choice 2 (Bisco). A standardized quantity of cement was placed on the sample, and DC was evaluated with an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectrophotometer (Nicolet IS10, Thermo Scientific). Twenty-four hours after DC was established, Vickers test was performed on the cement with a microindentometer (Leica Microsystems). Results were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance test and significance set at P < .05. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed cement type had a significant influence (P = .005) on DC. MH results were influenced by thicknesses only between 0.6 and 1.5 mm when light-cured cement was employed. CONCLUSION The light-curing and the dual-curing cements reached comparable DCs between 0.6 and 1.5 mm. However, the light-curing resin showed a higher DC and MH.

Myelography Iodinated Contrast Media. I. Unraveling the Atropisomerism Properties in Solution

The present work reports a thorough conformational analysis of iodinated contrast media: iomeprol, iopamidol (the worlds most utilized contrast agent), and iopromide. Its main aim is the understanding of the complex structural features of these atropisomeric molecules, characterized by the presence of many conformers with hindered rotations, and of the role of atropisomerism in the physicochemical properties of their aqueous solutions. The problem was tackled by using an extensive analysis of (13)C NMR data on the solutions of whole molecules and of simple precursors in addition to FT-IR investigation and molecular simulations. This analysis demonstrated that out of the many possible atropisomers, only a few are significantly populated, and their relative population is provided. The conformational analysis also indicated that the presence of a sterically hindered amidic bond, allowing a significant population of cis forms (E in iopromide and exo in iomeprol), may be the basis for an increased thermodynamic solubility of concentrated solutions of iomeprol.

Occlusal loading and cross-linking effects on dentin collagen degradation in physiological conditions

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the ability of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) to improve the stability of demineralized dentin collagen matrices when subjected to mechanical cycling by means of Chewing Simulation (CS). METHODS Demineralized dentin disks were randomly assigned to four groups (N=4): (1) immersion in artificial saliva at 37°C for 30 days; (2) pre-treatment with 0.5 M EDC for 60 s, then stored as in Group 1; (3) CS challenge (50 N occlusal load, 30 s occlusal time plus 30 s with no load, for 30 days); (4) pre-treatment with 0.5 M EDC as in Group 2 and CS challenge as in Group 3. Collagen degradation was evaluated by sampling storage media for ICTP and CTX telopeptides. RESULTS EDC treated specimens showed no significant telopeptides release, irrespective of the aging method. Cyclic stressing of EDC-untreated specimens caused significantly higher ICTP release at day 1, compared to static storage, while by days 3 and 4, the ICTP release in the cyclic group fell significantly below the static group, and then remained undetectable from 5 to 30 days. CTX release in the cyclic groups, on EDC-untreated control specimens was always lower than in the static group in days 1-4, and then fell to undetectable for 30 days. SIGNIFICANCE This study showed that chewing stresses applied to control untreated demineralized dentin increased degradation of collagen in terms of CTX release, while collagen crosslinking agents may prevent dentin collagen degradation, irrespective of simulated occlusal function.