Rie Nomoto

Shear punch strength and flexural strength of model composites with varying filler volume fraction, particle size and silanation.

OBJECTIVE The effect of filler volume fraction, particle size and silanation on shear punch strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus of model composites has been evaluated. METHODS Hybrid type glass filled (0-65.2 vol%), composites some without filler silanation (30.7-51.0 vol%) and microfilled type (0-13.0 vol%) resin matrix (UDMA and EGDMA) composites (Shofu Inc., Japan) were used in the study. For the shear punch test, 10 disc specimens, 0.5mm thick and 9 mm diameter, were prepared for each composite and tested with a 3.2mm dia punch at 1.0mm/min. Flexural strength (n=10) was measured by the method outlined in ISO 4049. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fishers multiple-range test. RESULTS Shear punch strength and flexural strength increased with increasing filler content up to 52.2% for hybrid composites and between 0 and 9.1% for microfilled composites. Shear punch strength and flexural strength decreased with increasing filler volume fraction for un-silanated composites. Flexural modulus for all materials increased with increasing filler volume fraction. Hybrid composites with silanated fillers have significantly higher values of flexural strength, flexural modulus and shear punch strength than equivalent materials with un-silanated fillers. SIGNIFICANCE The results showed that filler silanation is an important factor for determining material strength. Additions of small quantities of microfillers appeared to have a greater effect on shear strength than equivalent amounts of hybrid filler. The shear punch test may prove beneficial for routine testing of composites as specimen preparation was simple, specimen quality was easy to maintain and the results are meaningful.

Effect of mixing methods on the compressive strength of glass ionomer cements

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the mixing method on the compressive strength and porosity of dental glass ionomer cements. METHOD Five glass ionomer cements were chosen for use in the study. Two were hand mixed and three were encapsulated. The latter were mixed either by shaking or rotating. Following mixing by rotation some samples were centrifuged before use. The 24h compressive strength was determined for each cement/mixing regime combination and fracture surfaces were examined using SEM. RESULTS The mixing method had a significant effect on compressive strength (P<0.05). For the luting/lining cement, hand mixing produced a significantly greater compressive strength (P<0.05). For the restorative cement, there were only small differences between specimens mixed by different methods and hand mixing gave a significantly lower compressive strength than mixing by rotation followed by centrifuging (P<0.05). Porosity was incorporated in all samples and low values of compressive strength were associated with larger pores. SIGNIFICANCE The strength of glass ionomer cements is affected by incorporated porosity and this is dependent on the method of mixing. For some cements hand mixing is favoured in order to reduce porosity and increase strength but this is not generally applicable to all cements.

Suitability of a shear punch test for dental restorative materials.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability of a shear punch test for determining the mechanical properties of dental restorative materials. The method was evaluated by measuring and comparing the shear punch strength of seven different restorative materials, that is amalgam, composite resin, compomer, composite containing pre-reacted glass ionomer filler, resin modified glass ionomer, glass ionomer and polycarboxylate cement. METHOD The effects of specimen restraining conditions, specimen thickness and test speed on the shear punch strength were evaluated using polycarboxylate cement and two different equipment set-ups. Using the preferred testing regime as determined in the preliminary experiments, the shear punch strength of seven different materials were measured and compared. Twenty disc specimens, 0.5mm thick and 10mm diameter, were prepared for each material, restrained within the test equipment and tested at a speed of 1.0mm/min. RESULTS The shear punch strength increased as the torque used for restraining a specimen was increased. There was no difference in shear punch strength for specimens of different thickness. The greatest shear punch strength was obtained at the test speed of 1.0mm/min. The shear punch strength values decreased in the order composite>composite containing pre-reacted glass ionomer filler>amalgam>compomer>resin-modified glass ionomer>glass ionomer>polycarboxylate. A difference in the shear punch strength for seven different kinds of restorative materials clearly emerged. Specimen fracture occurred by circumferential cracking for the shear-punch test. However, for some glass ionomer and amalgam specimens radial cracking was also observed. SIGNIFICANCE This study suggests that the simple test described is suitable for standardization purposes.

A simple acid erosion test for dental water-based cements

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate a new erosion test for dental cements that has been developed as an alternative to the impinging jet erosion test used in current standards. The method was evaluated by measuring and comparing the extent of the erosion of three different types of dental cement. METHODS The erosion of three different types of cement; zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate and glass ionomer, were evaluated by measuring the depth loss of the cement placed in a cylindrical cavity in PMMA sheet after immersed in lactic acid solution (pH 2.74) or lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer solution (pH 2.74). The depth loss was measured by a dial gauge. Changes in the pH of the eroding solutions were monitored. Identical specimens were immersed in distilled water and the degree of hygroscopic expansion was also confirmed. RESULTS Depth loss and pH increased with increasing immersion period. The depth losses of all cements were considerably more in the buffer solution than in the acid solution. A difference in the eroded depth for three different kinds of cements clearly emerged. The depth loss for polycarboxylate was more than that for zinc phosphate, which was more than that for glass ionomer. Although hygroscopic expansion was observed for glass ionomer, the value after 24h immersion was negligible compared with the eroded depth. SIGNIFICANCE The results appear to correlate with those obtained using a jet erosion test and with published data on clinical performance. This suggests that the simpler test described here is suitable for standardization purposes.

Relative efficiency of radiation sources for photopolymerization

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of new-generation light-emitting diode (LED) units in comparison with the conventional tungsten-halogen, plasma arc, and first-generation LED units reported in our previous study. The irradiance of light from new-generation LED units, the temperature rise of the bovine enamel surface, and the depth of cure of composites exposed to each unit were investigated. The irradiances in the range 400–515 nm emitted from the new-generation LED units were greater than those from the first-generation LED units. The temperature increase was 15–25°C for new-generation LED units compared with a typical value of 5°C for the first-generation LED units at 10 s of irradiation. The relationship between the depth of cure and the logarithm of total exposure energy suggested that LED units can cure light-cured composite resins more efficiently than tungsten-halogen or plasma arc units.

Non-destructive three-dimensional evaluation of pores at different welded joints and their effects on joints strength

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to measure the porosity in different laser welded cast alloys non-destructively using X-ray micro-focus computerized tomography (micro-CT) and to evaluate the effect of porosity on the tensile strength of the welded joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS The welding procedure was conducted in rectangular cast metals, CoCr, Ti and platinum added gold alloy (AuPt). The metal plates were butted CoCr to CoCr (CoCr/CoCr) or Ti to Ti (Ti/Ti) for welding of similar metals and Ti to AuPt (Ti/AuPt) for welding of dissimilar metals. Specimens were welded under several laser-welding conditions; with groove (normal), without groove (no groove), spatter, crack, or no overlapped welding (no overlap) (n=5). Porosity in the welded area was evaluated using a micro-CT. Tensile strength of the welded specimens was measured at a crosshead speed of 1mm/min. Multiple comparisons of the group means were performed using ANOVA and Fishers multiple comparisons test (α=.05). The relationship between the porosity and the tensile strength was investigated with a regression analysis. RESULTS Three-dimensional images of Ti/AuPt could not be obtained due to metal artifacts and the tensile specimens of Ti/AuPt were debonded prior to the tensile test. All other welded specimens had porosity in the welded area and the porosities ranged from 0.01% to 0.17%. The fractures of most of the CoCr/CoCr and Ti/Ti specimens occurred in the parent metals. Joint strength had no relationship with the porosity in the welded area (R(2)=0.148 for CoCr/CoCr, R(2)=0.088 for Ti/Ti, respectively). SIGNIFICANCE The small amount of porosity caused by the laser-welding procedures did not affect the joint strength. The joint strength of Ti/AuPt was too weak to be used clinically.

Erosion of water-based cements evaluated by volumetric and gravimetric methods

OBJECTIVES To compare the erosion of glass ionomer, zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements using volumetric and gravimetric methods. METHODS For the volumetric method, the eroded depth of cement placed in a cylindrical cavity in PMMA was measured using a dial gauge after immersion in an eroding solution. For the gravimetric method, the weight of the residue of a solution in which a cylindrical specimen had been immersed was measured. 0.02 M lactic acid solution (0.02 M acid) and 0.1 M lactic acid/sodium lactate buffer solution (0.1 M buffer) were used as eroding solutions. The pH of both solutions was 2.74 and the test period was 24 h. RESULTS Ranking of eroded depth and weight of residue was polycarboxylate>zinc phosphate>glass ionomers. Differences in erosion were more clearly defined by differences in eroded depth than differences in weight of residue. In 0.02 M acid, the erosion of glass ionomer using the volumetric method was effected by the hygroscopic expansion. In 0.1 M buffer, the erosion for polycarboxylate and zinc phosphate using the volumetric method was much greater than that using the gravimetric method. This is explained by cryo-SEM images which show many holes in the surface of specimens after erosion. It appears that zinc oxide is dissolved leaving a spongy matrix which easily collapses under the force applied to the dial gauge during measurement. SIGNIFICANCE The volumetric method that employs eroded depth of cement using a 0.1 M buffer solution is able to quantify erosion and to make material comparisons.

Antibacterial, Hydrophilic Effect and Mechanical Properties of Orthodontic Resin Coated with UV-Responsive Photocatalyst

Photocatalysts have multiple applications in air purifiers, paints, and self-cleaning coatings for medical devices such as catheters, as well as in the elimination of xenobiotics. In this study, a coating of a UV-responsive photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO2), was applied to an orthodontic resin. The antibacterial activity on oral bacteria as well as hydrophilic properties and mechanical properties of the TiO2-coated resin were investigated. ultraviolet A (UVA) (352 nm) light was used as the light source. Antibacterial activity was examined with or without irradiation. Measurements of early colonizers and cariogenic bacterial count, i.e., colony forming units (CFU), were performed after irradiation for different time durations. Hydrophilic properties were evaluated by water contact angle measurements. While, for the assessment of mechanical properties, flexural strength was measured by the three-point bending test. In the coat(+)light(+) samples the CFU were markedly decreased compared to the control samples. Water contact angle of the coat(+)light(+) samples was decreased after irradiation. The flexural strength of the specimen irradiated for long time showed a higher value than the required standard value, indicating that the effect of irradiation was weak. We suggest that coating with the ultraviolet responsive photocatalyst TiO2 is useful for the development of orthodontic resin with antimicrobial properties.

Characteristics of low polymerization shrinkage flowable resin composites in newly-developed cavity base materials for bulk filling technique

The purpose of this study was to evaluate polymerization shrinkage and other physical properties of newly-developed cavity base materials for bulk filling technique, with the brand name BULK BASE (BBS). Polymerization shrinkage was measured according to ISO/FDIS 17304. BBS showed the significantly lowest polymerization shrinkage and significantly higher depth of cure than conventional flowable resin composites (p<0.05). The Knoop hardness, flexural strength and elastic modulus of that were significantly lower than conventional flowable resin composites (p<0.05). BBS had the significantly greatest filler content (p<0.05). SEM images of the surface showed failure of fillers. The lowest polymerization shrinkage was due to the incorporation of a new type of low shrinkage monomer, which has urethane moieties. There were no clear correlations between inorganic filler contents and polymerization shrinkage, flexural strength and elastic modulus. In conclusion, the low polymerization shrinkage of BBS will be useful for cavity treatment in dental clinics.