Mário Alexandre Coelho Sinhoreti

Effect of the increase of energy density on knoop hardness of dental composites light-cured by conventional QTH, LED and xenon plasma arc

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the increase of energy density on Knoop hardness of Z250 and Esthet-X composite resins. Cylindrical cavities (3 mm in diameter X 3 mm in depth) were prepared on the buccal surface of 144 bovine incisors. The composite resins were bulk-inserted and polymerized using different light-curing units and times: conventional QTH (quartz-tungsten-halogen; 700 mW/cm(2); 20 s, 30 s and 40 s); LED (light-emitting diode; 440 mW/cm(2); 20 s, 30 s and 40 s); PAC (xenon plasma arc; 1700 mW/cm(2); 3 s, 4.5 s and 6 s). The specimens were stored at 37 degrees C for 24 h prior to sectioning for Knoop hardness assessment. Three measurements were obtained for each depth: top surface, 1 mm and 2 mm. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukeys test (p<0.05). Regardless of the light source or energy density, Knoop hardness of Z250 was statistically significant higher than that of Esthet-X (p<0.05). Specimens cured with PAC had lower hardness than those cured with QTH and LED (p<0.05). Higher Knoop hardness was obtained when the energy density was increased for LED and PAC (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found for QTH. Knoop hardness values decreased with the increase of depth. The increase of energy density produced composites with higher Knoop hardness means using LED and PAC.

Radiodensity and hardness of enamel and dentin of human and bovine teeth, varying bovine teeth age

Studies have evaluated dental hard tissues characteristics from animal species in order to be used as a substitute for human teeth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiodensity and hardness of human and bovine enamel and dentin, varying bovine teeth age. Five specimens (1mm thick) were obtained from animals aged 20 (B20), 30 (B30), 38 (B38) and 48 (B48)months and from 20 to 30-years-old human third molars (H). The radiographic images were taken with a phosphor plaque digital system (Digora Optime). The radiodensity was obtained and Knoop hardness (KHN) was recorded (100g for 15s--5 indentations per specimen). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA following Tukeys HSD test and Dunnets two-sided t-test. Radiodensity was similar within enamel groups, but bovine dentin presented higher radiodensity than human one regardless of age groups. Enamel-KHN showed differences between B20-B30 and B38-B48-H, and dentin-KHN was similar within all groups. Enamel was always more radiodense than dentin and also presented higher KHN (p=0.001). The use of bovine enamel or dentin should take into consideration the teeth age, but as a general rule it should be recommended to select older bovine teeth due to better chances to find greater similarity with human teeth.

Comparative study of the dental substrate used in shear bond strength tests

The purpose of this study was to compare shear bond strength values obtained in human enamel and dentin with the values obtained in bovine teeth using two adhesive systems with different actions. Forty human tooth half-crowns and forty bovine tooth crowns were flattened to a minimum plain area of 5 mm in diameter. The samples were divided in four groups of 20 specimens each: 1) human enamel; 2) bovine enamel; 3) human dentin; 4) bovine dentin. The samples of each group were divided in 2 subgroups of 10 samples each, according to the adhesive system used: 1) Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP); and 2) Clearfil Liner Bond 2V (CLB2V) applied according to the manufacturers recommendations. Afterwards, restorations of Z100 composite with cylindrical shape (4 mm diameter x 5 mm height) were made using a metallic mold to submit the samples to shear bond testing on an Instron universal testing machine, at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukeys test (5%). In enamel, there was no statistical difference between bovine and human teeth for SBMP (7.36 MPa, human; 8.24 MPa, bovine), nor for CLB2V (10.01 MPa, human; 7.95, bovine). In dentin, SBMP showed a statistically lower mean on human dentin (7.01 MPa) than on bovine dentin (11.74 MPa). For CLB2V, there was no statistical difference between human (7.43 MPa) and bovine (9.27 MPa) substrates.

The influence of 30-day-old Streptococcus mutans biofilm on the surface of esthetic restorative materials : An in vitro study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of Streptococcus mutans biofilm/restorative materials interaction on surface roughness, hardness and morphology of materials tested. METHODS Empress 2 (E2), Filtek Supreme (FS), Vitremer (V) and Ketac Molar Easymix (KM) were tested. Twenty-five disks of each material were made and divided into three storage groups: (1) 100% relative humidity (n=5); (2) growth medium (BHI and 1% sucrose) (n=5); (3) S. mutans biofilm-growth medium (n=15). Before storage, hardness measurements were immediately obtained from group 1 specimens. After 30 days of storage, the specimens were cleaned in order to obtain the surface roughness and hardness values, besides morphology analysis by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The surface roughness and hardness values obtained from E2 and FS specimens did not present statistically significant differences among the groups 1, 2 and 3 and between immediate and 30-day-old specimens of each material. However, group 3 specimens of V and KM showed statistically significant higher surface roughness means than other groups. Group 1 specimens of V and KM also showed higher hardness values than the immediate values. Group 3 specimens of V presented decreased hardness values compared with other groups. The scanning electron micrographs showed an increase in surface degradation from group 1 to group 3 for FS, V and KM. CONCLUSIONS Thirty-day-old biofilm promotes a negative effect on the surface morphology of FS, V and KM, on the surface roughness of V and KM and on the hardness of V.

In Vitro evaluation of microleakage of different materials used as pit-and-fissure sealants

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the marginal microleakage of different materials used as pit-and-fissure sealants (Delton, Filtek Flow, Dyract Flow and Vitremer). Fifty-six extracted sound human third molars were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=14). After sealant placement, the teeth were thermocycled (500 cycles; 5 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 55 degrees C), isolated, immersed in 2% buffered methylene blue dye for 4 h, included in acrylic resin and sectioned longitudinally in a buccolingual direction. The sections were analyzed for leakage using an stereomicroscope. A 4-criteria ranked scale was used to score dye penetration. All materials exhibited dye penetration to some extension and no statistically significant difference was observed among the groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that a flowable composite resin, a flowable compomer and resin-modified glass ionomer placed on occlusal pits and fissures had similar marginal sealing as the unfilled self-cured resin-based sealant.

Comparative study of tubular diameter and quantity for human and bovine dentin at different depths

This study compared the tubular dimensions and distribution of human and bovine dentin. Ten human molars and 10 bovine incisors were ground with a high-speed handpiece to obtain 3 sections at different dentin depths (superficial, middle and deep). The specimens were sputter-coated with gold to be examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three SEM micrographs were recorded randomly for each dentin depth. The number of tubules was counted and the diameter of 5 tubules selected at random was measured in each SEM micrograph. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukeys test (alpha=0.05). In bovine teeth, superficial dentin (4.21 microm) and middle dentin (3.98 microm) had a significantly greater (p<0.05) diameter than deep dentin (3.14 microm) tubules. In human teeth, superficial dentin tubule diameter (2.42 microm) was significantly smaller (p<0.05) than deep dentin (2.99 microm) and middle dentin (2.94 microm) tubule diameters, which did not differ significantly from each other (p>0.05). The number of tubules per square millimeter, regardless of the region, was significantly greater in human dentin (22,329) than in bovine dentin (15,964). There was a clear difference in tubule structure and morphology between human and bovine dentin.

Comparison of silorane and methacrylate-based composite resins on the curing light transmission

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different composite resins - Filtek P90 (silorane-based composite) and Heliomolar (methacrylate-based composite) - on light transmission and decrease in Knoop hardness between the bottom and top of cured specimens. The irradiance of a light-curing unit (LCU) was measured with a power meter (Ophir Optronics; 900 mw/cm2) and spectral distributions were obtained using a spectrometer (USB 2000). Twenty standardized cylindrical specimens (2 mm thick x 7 mm diameter) of each composite resin were obtained by curing using the LCU for 40 s. Light energy transmission through the composite was calculated (n=10). The Knoop hardness number for each surface was recorded as the mean of 3 indentations. The difference in Knoop hardness between the top and bottom (DKH) of the same specimen was calculated (n=10). The irradiance of light that passed through Filtek P90 (272 mW/cm2) was not significantly greater than that the passed through Heliomolar (271 mW/cm2). The DKH of Filtek P90 (25%) was significantly higher than that of Heliomolar (12%). There was a greater degree of subsurface polymerization of the methacrylate-based composite compared to the silorane-based composite.

Can the Hydrophilicity of Functional Monomers Affect Chemical Interaction

The number of carbon atoms and/or ester/polyether groups in spacer chains may influence the interaction of functional monomers with calcium and dentin. The present study assessed the chemical interaction and bond strength of 5 standard-synthesized phosphoric-acid ester functional monomers with different spacer chain characteristics, by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), ATR-FTIR, thin-film x-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microtensile bond strength (μTBS). The tested functional monomers were 2-MEP (two-carbon spacer chain), 10-MDP (10-carbon), 12-MDDP (12-carbon), MTEP (more hydrophilic polyether spacer chain), and CAP-P (intermediate hydrophilicity ester spacer). The intensity of monomer-calcium salt formation measured by AAS differed in the order of 12-MDDP=10-MDP>CAP-P>MTEP>2-MEP. FTIR and SEM analyses of monomer-treated dentin surfaces showed resistance to rinsing for all monomer-dentin bonds, except with 2-MEP. TF-XRD confirmed the weaker interaction of 2-MEP. Highest µTBS was observed for 12-MDDP and 10-MDP. A shorter spacer chain (2-MEP) of phosphate functional monomers induced formation of unstable monomer-calcium salts, and lower chemical interaction and dentin bond strength. The presence of ester or ether groups within longer spacer carbon chains (CAP-P and MTEP) may affect the hydrophilicity, μTBS, and also the formation of monomer-calcium salts.

Evaluation of depth of cure and knoop hardness in a dental composite photo-activated using different methods

The aim of this study was to evaluate the depth of cure and Knoop hardness in the P60 composite resin photo-activated using different methods. A bipartite brass matrix (3 mm in diameter X 11 mm in height) was filled with the composite and photo-activation was performed using continuous light, exponential light, intermittent light, plasma arc curing (PAC) or light-emitting diodes (LED). After opening the matrix, the uncured material was removed with a steel spatula and the polymerized composite was measured using a pachymeter. The specimens were then included in self-curing acrylic resin and worn longitudinally and the hardness was measured on the surface and at depths of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukeys test (5%). The results showed that the depth of cure was higher with the intermittent light, followed by continuous light, exponential light, PAC and LED methods. Up to a depth of 2 mm, all methods revealed similar hardness values, but there were differences between them at other depths, at which LED demonstrated the lowest values followed by PAC.

Influence of loading types on the shear strength of the dentin–resin interface bonding

Small differences in the shear bond test can make critical differences in the bonding strength values. The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of the orthodontic-looped wire, stainless steel tape and chisel systems used in shear bonding tests to verify the resistance in the dentin-resin interface. Forty-eight human teeth were used and divided in three groups. The teeth were ground until a flat smooth surface was achieved, that was delimited with an adhesive tape containing a hole of 4 mm diameter. After, the dentine surface was treated with Scotchbond Multi Purpose and the composite Z-100 was applied in layers, through a stainless steel mold. The samples were stored at 37 °C and 100% of relative humidity for 24 h and, then, submitted to 500 thermal cycles. After, they were taken to an universal test machine (Otto Wolpert) with crosshead speed of 6 mm/min. The results were statistically analyzed using a Tukeys test (p<0.05). The orthodontic-looped wire determined the highest values of shear bond (13.33 MPa), following by chisel (7.81 MPa) and stainless steel tape (4.87 MPa). The debonding values depend on a complex stress combination produced during the loading of the samples. Small variations in test methodologies give statistically different values for shear bond strength. Different shear strength methods in vitro make the comparative clinical performance of the resin filling materials difficult.