Miriam Lacalle Turbino

Influence of the distance of the curing light source and composite shade on hardness of two composites

This study evaluated the influence of curing tip distance, shade and filler particle size on Vickers microhardness (VHN) of composite resins. Two composites were tested: Filtek Z250 microhybrid (3M ESPE; shades A1 and A3.5) and Filtek Supreme nanofilled (3M ESPE; shades A1B and A3.5B). For each resin, 42 specimens (5 mm in diameter and 2 mm height) were prepared being 21 for each shade. The specimens were exposed using a 20-second exposure to a quartz-tungsten-halogen light source with an irradiance of approximately 560 mW/cm2, at the following distances: 0 mm (surface contact), 6 mm and 12 mm from composite surface. Effectiveness of cure of different resins, shades and curing distances was determined by measuring the top and bottom hardness (VHN) of specimens using a digital microhardness tester (load: 50 g; dwell time: 45 seconds) 24 hours following curing. The hardness ratio was calculated by dividing VHN of the bottom surface by VHN of top surface. Three-way ANOVA and Tukeys post-hoc test (p<0.05) revealed statistically significant differences for all analyzed factors. As for top hardness, as microhardness ratio (bottom/top), the factors shade, distance and composite filler particle size exerted influence on resin curing. Lighter shade composites (A1 and A1B) showed higher hardness values. At 6 and 12 mm curing tip distances, hardness was lower when compared to 0 mm. The microhybrid composite resin presented higheer hardness, being its microhardness ratio satisfactory only at 0 mm for both shades and at 6 mm for the lighter shade. The nanofilled composite resin did not present satisfactory microhardness at the bottom while the microhybrid composite resin had higher hardness than the nanofilled. Composites curing tip distance and shade can influence hardness.

Influence of aluminum oxide sandblasting associated with Nd:YAG or Er:YAG lasers on shear bond strength of a feldspathic ceramic to resin cements.

OBJECTIVE This in vitro study evaluated the influence of the surface pretreatment of a feldspathic ceramic on the shear bond strength of two different resin cements. BACKGROUND DATA Although several conventional surface treatments have been used on feldspathic ceramic, few studies have investigated the effects of an alternative surface treatment, the association of aluminum oxide sandblasting with Nd:YAG and Er: YAG lasers. METHODS Sixty samples made of a feldspathic ceramic were divided into three groups (n = 20) and treated with (1) controlled-air abrasion with Al(2)O(3) + 10% hydrofluoric acid (HF), (2) Al(2)O(3) + Er:YAG laser, and (3) Al(2)O(3) +Nd:YAG laser. Afterward, silane (Dentsply) was applied on each treated surface. Each of the three main groups was divided into two subgroups (n = 10), where a different resin cement was employed for each subgroup. It was built a cylinder with resin cement (RelyX Arc) in subgroup (A) and with self-adhesive cement (RelyX U100) in subgroup (B). After 24 h at 37 degrees C, the prepared specimens were submitted to shear bond strength test and stereoscopic evaluation to determine the type of failure. RESULTS Bond strength mean values were not statistically significant for the surface treatment methods or resin cements. CONCLUSION The null surface treatment proposed with aluminum oxide sandblasting associated with the Er:YAG or Nd:YAG laser and using cementation with self-adhesive cement can be an alternative bonding technique for feldspathic ceramic, since it was as effective as the conventional treatment with aluminum oxide sandblasting and hydrofluoric acid using the conventional resin cement.

Microdureza de resina composta: efeito de aparelhos e tempos de polimerização em diferentes profundidades

As propriedades das resinas compostas tem sido estudadas com frequencia, bem como os fatores que podem influenciar seu grau de polimerizacao. Diante da evolucao desses materiais e da necessidade de buscarmos melhora do seu comportamento na cavidade bucal, objetivamos, por meio deste estudo avaliar a eficacia de dois aparelhos fotopolimerizadores do tipo pistola (de alta intensidade de luz), comparando com a de um aparelho a cabo (de baixa intensidade de luz), com tempos de exposicao de 20 e de 40 segundos e em profundidades de 1 a 4 milimetros. Os testes avaliaram o grau de polimerizacao da resina por meio de testes de microdureza Knoop. Os resultados mostraram haver diferenca estatisticamente significante entre os tempos, sendo que com 40 segundos a dureza foi maior que com 20 segundos para as 4 diferentes profundidades. Para o fator aparelhos, os dois aparelhos tipo pistola se comportaram superiores ao do tipo cabo Fibralux (Dabi Atlante), e entre eles, o XL 1500 (3M) promoveu dureza maior que o Optilight II (Gnatus) no tempo de polimerizacao de 40 segundos. As profundidades de 1, 2, 3 e 4 milimetros mostraram estatisticamente diferenca entre si tendo sido encontrada maior dureza para as menores profundidades (p < 0,05).

Dentine bond strength of a composite resin polymerized with conventional light and argon laser

The use of argon laser (488 nm) has been suggested as a new alternative for polymerizing adhesive materials. This study aimed to evaluate the tensile bond strength of a microfilled composite (A110, 3M) inserted by incremental technique (3 increments of 1 mm) and by single increment (3 mm) polymerized by argon laser for 10, 20 and 30 seconds and halogen light for 40 seconds. Eighty (8 groups of 10 teeth) freshly extracted bovine teeth were stored in a freezer in distilled water for one week. The crowns were cross-sectioned from the roots. Pulpectomy was performed and the pulp chambers were sealed with wax. The buccal surfaces of the teeth were ground with wet sandpaper (grains: 120, 400, and 600) to expose the surface dentin, and the teeth were then included in acrylic resin. A metal device was used to fix each sample and a black propylene matrix25 (3 mm high with an internal millimetric delimitation) was used to insert the material according to the groups studied. The polymerization intervals were of 10, 20 and 30 seconds for the laser polymerization and 40 seconds for the conventional polymerization. Tensile tests were performed by a Universal Testing Machine 4442 (Instron) at a speed of 0.5 mm/min and 500 N load. According to the methodology used, the incremental technique increased bond strength values. There was no difference between the studied polymerization techniques when resin was filled in 3 increments.

Light output from six battery operated dental curing lights

Light Curing Units (LCUs) are used daily in almost every dental office to photocure resins, but because the light is so bright, the user is unable to tell visually if there are any differences between different LCUs. This study evaluated the light output from six dental LCUs: Elipar Deep Cure-S (3M ESPE), Bluephase G2 (Ivoclar Vivadent), Translux 2Wave (Heraeus Kulzer), Optilight Prime (Gnatus), Slim Blast (First Medica) and Led.B (Guilin Woodpecker) with a fully charged battery, after 50, and again after 100, 20second light exposures. For each situation, the radiant power was measured 10 times with a laboratory-grade power meter. Then, the emission spectrum was measured using a fiber-optic spectrometer followed by an analysis of the light beam profile. It was found there were significant differences in the LCU power and the irradiance values between the LCUs (p<0.01). The Optilight Prime and Slim Blast LCUs showed a significant reduction in light output after a 50 and 100 exposures, while Bluephase G2 exhibited a significant reduction only after 100 exposures (p<0.01). The Bluephase G2 and Translux 2Wave delivered an emission spectrum that had two distinct wavelength emission peaks. Only the Elipar Deep Cure-S and Bluephase G2 LCUs displayed homogeneous light beam profiles, the other LCUs exhibited highly non-homogeneous light beam profiles. It was concluded that contemporary LCUs could have very different light output characteristics. Both manufacturers and researchers should provide more information about the light output from LCUs.

Can previous acid etching increase the bond strength of a self-etching primer adhesive to enamel?

Because a greater research effort has been directed to analyzing the adhesive effectiveness of self etch primers to dentin, the aim of this study was to evaluate, by microtensile testing, the bond strength to enamel of a composite resin combined with a conventional adhesive system or with a self-etching primer adhesive, used according to its original prescription or used with previous acid etching. Thirty bovine teeth were divided into 3 groups with 10 teeth each (n = 10). In one of the groups, a self-etching primer (Clearfil SE Bond - Kuraray) was applied in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and, in the other, it was applied after previous acid etching. In the third group, a conventional adhesive system (Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus - 3M-ESPE) was applied in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The results obtained by analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the adhesive systems (F = 22.31). The self-etching primer (Clearfil SE Bond) presented lower enamel bond strength values than the conventional adhesive system (Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus) (m = 39.70 +/- 7.07 MPa) both when used according to the original prescription (m = 27.81 +/- 2.64 MPa) and with previous acid etching (m = 25.08 +/- 4.92 MPa).

Analysis of the microtensile bond strength to enamel of two adhesive systems polymerized by halogen light or LED

With the development of composite resin polymerization techniques, LEDs were introduced to the market place. Based on the studied literature, the aim of this study was to evaluate, through microtensile testing, the bond strength to enamel of a composite resin associated to a conventional (multi-bottle) adhesive system or to a self etching primer adhesive system, polymerized by halogen light or LED (light emitting diode). Bovine teeth were divided into 4 groups with 10 teeth each (n = 10). Then the adhesives Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus (3M-ESPE) and Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray) were applied following the manufacturers instructions. Both systems were polymerized for 10 s by halogen light (Degulux Soft Start-Degussa Hulls) set at 550 mW/cm(2) or by LED (Kerr Demetron) set at 600 mW/cm(2). The composite resin Filtek Z-250 was applied in four 1 mm increments with the aid of a square, condensation silicon, 5 mm x 5 mm matrix, and polymerized by either of light sources for 40 s. Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus polymerized by halogen light presented the highest bond strength values (39.69 +/- 7.07 MPa), and the other groups did not present statistically significant differences: Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus polymerized by LED (22.28 +/- 2.63 MPa), Clearfil SE Bond polymerized by halogen light (27.82 +/- 2.65 MPa) and by LED (22.89 +/- 5.09 MPa).

Deproteinized dentin: a favorable substrate to self-bonding resin cements?

The adhesive performance on deproteinized dentin of different self-adhesive resin cements was evaluated through microtensile bond strength (μTBS) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Occlusal dentin of human molars were distributed into different groups, according to the categories: adhesive cementation with two-step bonding systems-control Groups (Adper Single Bond 2 + RelyX ARC/3M ESPE; One Step Plus + Duolink/Bisco; Excite + Variolink I/Ivoclar Vivadent) and self-adhesive cementation-experimental groups (Rely X Unicem/3M ESPE; Biscem/Bisco; MultiLink Sprint/Ivoclar Vivadent). Each group was subdivided according to the dentin approach to: α, maintenance of collagen fibers and β, deproteinization. The mean values were obtained, and submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test. Statistical differences were obtained to the RelyX Unicem groups (α = 13.59 MPa; β = 30.19 MPa). All the BIS Group specimens failed before the mechanical tests. Dentinal deproteinization provided an improved bond performance for the self-adhesive cement Rely X Unicem, and had no negative effect on the other cementing systems studied.

Cohesive strength of dentin

The bond strength of dentin adhesives to dentin has increased after each generation. Although dentin substratum is part of the bonding process, little importance has been given to measure dentin cohesive strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cohesive strength of dentin in human canines. Seventeen non carious canines were selected. All of them had been extracted for more than one year. The teeth were ground until dentin square samples with approximately 2 X 2 mm were obtained. They were embedded in acrylic resin and subjected to shear stress, in a Wolpert Machine, at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The mean cohesive strength of dentin in shear mode was 33.95 (+-9.72) MPa. The fracture surfaces were observed under a X40 magnification. A finite element analysis was performed to observe the stress distribution as related to the shear test. The failure pattern was compatible with the shear test and also with the stress distribution in the finite element analysis

Ability of four dental radiometers to measure the light output from nine curing lights

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the accuracy of four dental radiometers when measuring the output from nine light curing units (LCUs). METHODS The light output from nine light-emitting diode LCUs was measured with a laboratory-grade power meter (PowerMax-Pro 150 HD) and four dental radiometers (Bluephase Meter II, SDI LED Radiometer, Kerr LED Radiometer, and LEDEX CM4000). Ten measurements were made of each LCU with each radiometer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey tests (α=0.05) were used to determine if there was a difference between the calculated irradiance values from the power meter and those from the radiometers. Where applicable, the LCUs were ranked according to their power and irradiance values. The emission spectra from the LCUs was measured using an integrating sphere attached to a fiber-optic spectrometer (N=10). The beam profile of the LCUs was measured with a beam profiler camera. RESULTS Of the dental radiometers, only the Bluephase Meter II could measure power. ANOVA showed no significant difference between power values measured with the laboratory-grade meter and the Bluephase Meter II (p=0.527). The difference between the mean irradiance reported by the various radiometers for the same LCU was up to 479mW/cm2. The ranking of the power values obtained using the laboratory-grade meter was the same for the Bluephase Meter II. CONCLUSION When compared to the calculated irradiance values from the laboratory-grade power meter, the Bluephase Meter II provided the most accurate data. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Considering the great variation between the irradiance values provided by radiometers and their overall inaccuracy when compared to a laboratory-grade meter, dentists should not place too much faith in the absolute irradiance value. However, hand-held radiometers can be used to monitor changes in the light output of LCUs over time.