Regina Tamaki

Reattachment of rehydrated dental fragment using two techniques

UNLABELLED The reattachment of dental fragments is a conservative treatment and should be considered in the restoration of anterior tooth fractures. This study compared the fracture strength of dehydrated and rehydrated tooth fragments submitted to two different bonding techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty human central and lateral mandibular incisors were divided into six groups and sectioned 3 mm from the incisal edge, using a diamond disk. Two reattachment techniques were applied: (a) bonding, using the Single Bond adhesive system and FiltekZ250 composite resin, followed by placement of a chamfer on the fracture line that was filled with composite resin (Groups 1, 3 and 5); and (b) use of the same bonding technique after dentin removal from the tooth fragment (Groups 2, 4 and 6). The following hydration treatments were applied to the fragments before bonding: (a) 48-h hydration (Groups 1 and 2); (b) 48-h dehydration (Groups 3 and 4); (c) 48-h dehydration followed by rehydration 30 min before bonding (Groups 5 and 6). The reattached teeth were mounted in acrylic resin cylinders and stored in distilled water for 24 h. The specimens were fractured at a speed of 1 mm min(-1) in a universal testing machine. RESULTS The following mean fracture strengths (kgf) were recorded: (G1) 12.9 +/- 0.6; (G2) 18.8 +/- 4.8; (G3) 7.3 +/- 1.5; (G4) 15.2 +/- 2.4; (G5) 13.4 +/- 2.2; and (G6) 17.1 +/- 3.2. Analyses using two-way anova and the Tukey test (P < 0.01) revealed significant differences between the restorative techniques and the hydration treatments. CONCLUSIONS The bonding technique that incorporated dentin removal from the fragment before bonding showed greater fracture strength across all groups. Fragment dehydration for 48 h caused a reduction in fracture strength, which was recovered by a 30-min rehydration.

Use of Silver Nanoparticles Reduces Internal Contamination of External Hexagon Implants by Candida albicans

Since the dental implant/abutment interface cannot totally seal the passage of microorganisms, the interior of implant becomes a reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms that produce and maintain chronic inflammation in the tissues around implants. Silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) are potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of the nano-Ag to prevent the contamination of the implant internal surface by Candida albicans, caused by the implant/abutment microgap infiltration. Thirty-six implants were used in this experiment. Three study groups were performed: experimental group (implants receiving an application of nano-Ag in their inner cavity before installation of the abutment); positive-control group (implants receiving sterile phosphate buffer saline application instead of nano-Ag) and negative-control group (implants receiving the application of nano-Ag in the inner cavity and immersed in a sterile medium). In the positive-control and experimental groups, the implants were immersed in a Candida albicans suspension. The abutments of all three groups were screwed with a 10 N torque. After 72 h of immersion inC. albicans suspension or sterile medium, the abutments were removed and the inner surface of the implants was sampled with absorbent paper cone for fungal detection. No C. albicans contamination was observed in the negative-control group. The positive-control group showed statistically higher values of colony forming units (CFUs) of C. albicans compared with the experimental group. In conclusion, silver nanoparticles reduced C. albicans colonization inside the implants, even with low torque screw abutment.

Study of the surface hardness and modulus of elasticity of conventional and microwave-cured acrylic resins

The aim of this study was to evaluate the following acrylic resins: Clássico, QC-20 and Lucitone, recommended specifically for thermal polymerization, and Acron MC and VIPI-WAVE, made for polymerization by microwave energy. The resins were evaluated regarding their surface nanohardness and modulus of elasticity, while varying the polymerization time recommended by the manufacturer. They were also compared as to the presence of water absorbed by the samples. The technique used was nanoindentation, using the Nano Indenter XP, MTS. According to an intra-group analysis, when using the polymerization time recommended by the manufacturer, a variation of 0.14 to 0.23 GPa for nanohardness and 2.61 to 3.73 GPa for modulus of elasticity was observed for the thermally polymerized resins. The variation for the resins made for polymerization by microwave energy was 0.15 to 0.22 GPa for nanohardness and 2.94 to 3.73 GPa for modulus of elasticity. The conclusion was that the Classico resin presented higher nanohardness and higher modulus of elasticity values when compared to those of the same group, while Acron MC presented the highest values for the same characteristics when compared to those of the same group. The water absorption evaluation showed that all the thermal polymerization resins, except for Lucitone, presented significant nanohardness differences when submitted to dehydration or rehydration, while only Acron MC presented no significant differences when submitted to a double polymerization time. Regarding the modulus of elasticity, it was observed that all the tested materials and products, except for Lucitone, showed a significant increase in modulus of elasticity when submitted to a lack of hydration.

New image analysis of large food particles can discriminate experimentally suppressed mastication

Objective parameters that could provide a basis for food texture selection for elderly or dysphagic patients have not been established. We, therefore, aimed to develop a precise method of measuring large particles (>2 mm in diameter) in a bolus and an analytical method to provide a scientific rationale for food selection under masticatory dysfunction conditions. We developed a new illumination system to evaluate the ability of twenty female participants (mean age, 23·4 ± 4·3 years) to masticate carrots, peanuts and beef with full, half and one quarter of the number of masticatory strokes. We also evaluated mastication under suppressed force, regulated by 20% electromyographic of the masseter muscle. The intercept and inclination of the regression line for the distribution of large particles were adopted as coefficients for the discrimination of masticatory efficiency. Single set of coefficient thresholds of 0·10 for the intercept and 1·62 for the inclination showed excellent discrimination of masticatory conditions for all three test foods with high specificity and sensitivity. These results suggested that our method of analysing the distribution of particles >2 mm in diameter might provide the basis for the appropriate selection of food texture for masticatory dysfunction patients from the standpoint of comminution.

Masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers with reduced dental arches – a randomised cross-over study

One obstacle to placing artificial posterior teeth in manufacturing complete dentures is a reduction of the space between the maxilla and the mandible. Occasionally, second molar placement is not performed, as it does not affect aesthetics, phonetics or comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the masticatory efficiency between patients wearing maxillary and mandibular complete dentures with reduced dental arches (without second molars) (WSM) and with full dental arches (FDA). Twenty subjects were divided into two groups and randomly received new complete dentures. Patients in Group 1 were given dentures WSM, and those in Group 2 were given dentures with FDA. After the post-placement visits, an initial masticatory efficiency test was performed with Optocal, an artificial test food. Fifteen days later, second molars were placed in Group 1 and removed from Group 2, and a new test was performed. Comminuted material was treated and sieved under vibration. The mean and standard deviation of masticatory efficiency with FDA were 10.4 and 8.1, respectively. In the tests WSM, the mean and standard deviation were 8.4 and 3.3, respectively. After removing the second molars in Group 2 and adding them in Group 1, the mean and standard deviation were 15.7 and 14.7 for Group 1 and 12.5 and 10.4 for Group 2, respectively. Within the limitations of this study, placing artificial teeth up to the first molars can be performed when needed without compromising masticatory efficiency.

Development of an experimental optoelectronic device to study the amplitude of mandibular movements

This study aimed to present a wireless mandibular motion tracking device and optoelectronic data acquisition system developed to analyze the real-time spatial motion of the entire mandible during mouth opening and closing with no restriction of any movement. The procedures were divided into three phases: confection of a kinematic arch, dynamic digital video image acquisition, and image processing and analysis by using graphic computation. Four sequences of jaw opening/closing movements were recorded in lateral view: two from the maximum intercuspation (MIC) and the other two from a forced mandibular retruded position. Jaw motion was recorded by a digital video camera and processed as spatial coordinates corresponding to the position variation of the markers in the kinematic arch. The results showed that the method was capable of recording and processing the dynamics of the mandibular movements during jaw opening/closing using pixel-magnitude points. The mandible showed points with less displacement located near the temporomandibular joint during the opening/closing movements from the mandibular retruded position. When the jaw movements were recorded from MIC, these points were located near the mandibular foramen.

A 5-week Non-Surgical Approach towards Denture Induced Hyperplasia

Background Despite the standard approach towards denture-induced hyperplasia being surgery, as elderly population increases the systemic problems are carried along. Thus, surgery might be risky for patients with medical conditions. Objective In this report, a patient with severe inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, medical problems and dental fear was treated with a 5-week nonsurgical protocol. Method Once in a week, the upper denture was relined with a zinc enolic paste, for four weeks. In the fifth week, the denture was relined with fast set polymethyl methacrylate resin instead of zinc enolic paste so that the material would last longer than only a week until the new pair of dentures was manufactured. Results and Conclusion The generated pressure combined with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the paste led to the elimination of the inflammatory papillary hyperplasia completely, satisfying the patient and allowing the manufacturing of a new set of complete dentures.

Different Occlusal Schemes in a Persistent Protruding Complete Denture Wearer

Different types of artificial teeth and occlusal designs can be used in complete dentures. Bilateral balanced occlusion, lingualized occlusion, canine guidance, and monoplane are the main occlusal designs; however there is no agreement on which tooth arrangement is ideal for achieving success in complete dentures. This report presents an alternative for persistent involuntary protruding complete denture wearers through the use of artificial teeth with higher cusps. Due to an old and worn pair of complete dentures, the patient had the habit of protruding. New dentures were made with Biotone artificial teeth and in the trial session, the patient would still protrude. A new set was made with Premium artificial teeth, which present higher cusps. With these dentures, the involuntary protrusion did not occur. From the delivery to the follow-up sessions, the patient stopped protruding.