Michael L. Myers

Castability, opaque masking, and porcelain bonding of 17 porcelain-fused-to-metal alloys☆

Seventeen porcelain-fused-to-metal alloys, which represented a cross section of the various alloy types available, were evaluated for castability, opaque masking, and porcelain bond strength. The base metal alloys generally cast more completely than the noble alloys, with the presence of beryllium as an important factor for greater castability among the base metal alloys. Statistically significant differences were observed in the ability of an opaque porcelain to mask the different alloy substrates but no systematic effect of alloy type was observed. Porcelain bond testing revealed that nickel-chromium-beryllium alloys produced significantly better porcelain-metal bonds than nickel-chromium alloys without beryllium. In addition, it was found that palladium-copper alloys produced significantly better bonds with porcelain than palladium-cobalt alloys.

Comparison of traditional and low sensitivity whiteners.

This placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trial compared five 10% carbamide peroxide tooth whitening formulations. Three products contained varying concentrations of potassium nitrate as desensitizers. One contained no desensitizers and one was a placebo. During the two weeks of active bleaching, participants used a daily diary to record the number of days of sensitivity from hot, cold, gums, tongue and/or throat. The total number of days of sensitivity experienced by the participants in each group was compared. Participants using the agent with no desensitizers did not experience any more sensitivity than those using the agent containing 3% potassium nitrate. The products that included 0.5% potassium nitrate and 0.5% potassium nitrate and 0.25% sodium fluoride were not associated with any more sensitivity than the placebo group. In addition, the shade tab change from baseline to 11 weeks following cessation of bleaching was compared. Using an active bleaching agent, no difference in color change was noted among the four groups. All four groups were associated with significantly higher color change than the placebo. The addition of a small percentage of potassium nitrate to a 10% carbamide peroxide tooth whitener was shown to significantly reduce postoperative sensitivity without reducing efficacy.

The effect of laser irradiation on oral tissues.

Lasers have been proposed for numerous dental applications. Research on laser irradiation of enamel has demonstrated structural changes that resulted in a decrease in acid dissolution of the enamel. Dentin irradiation produced changes in surface morphology that improved bonding of restorative resins. This article reviews the studies of the effects of laser irradiation on oral tissues.

Predictors of non-carious loss of cervical tooth tissues

This Predictor Variables study is designed to determine which one of 11 factors evaluated may be correlated to Non-carious Loss of Cervical Tooth Tissues (NLCTT) using subjects with and without NLCTT. The ultimate objective is to successfully predict the path toward risky behaviors and reduce the incidence of NLCTT.