Satish B. Alapati

SEM Observations of Nickel-Titanium Rotary Endodontic Instruments that Fractured During Clinical Use

Numerous discarded ProFile GT, ProFile, and ProTaper nickel-titanium rotary instruments obtained from two graduate endodontic clinics were examined by scanning electron microscopy. These instruments had an unknown history of clinical use and had fractured or experienced considerable permanent torsional deformation without complete separation. The failure processes generally exhibited substantial ductile character, evidenced by a dimpled rupture fracture surface. Crack propagation at grain boundaries and cleavage surfaces indicative of transgranular fracture were observed for some specimens. It appeared that oxide particles from the manufacturing process served as nucleating sites for the microvoids, leading to dimpled rupture. A previously unreported fracture mode also was observed, in which crack propagation, approximately parallel to the local flute orientation, connected pitted regions on the surface. Combining present and previous scanning electron microscopy observations of clinically failed instruments, suggestions are offered for improving their fracture resistance.

Metallurgical Characterization of a New Nickel-Titanium Wire for Rotary Endodontic Instruments

INTRODUCTION A novel thermomechanical processing procedure has been developed that yields a superelastic (SE) nickel-titanium (NiTi) wire (M-Wire) that laboratory testing shows has improved mechanical properties compared with conventional SE austenitic NiTi wires used for manufacture of rotary instruments. The objective of this study was to determine the origin of the improved mechanical properties. METHOD Specimens from 2 batches of M-Wire prepared under different processing conditions and from 1 batch of standard-processed SE wire for rotary instruments were examined by scanning transmission electron microscopy, temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry, micro-x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometric analyses. RESULTS The processing for M-Wire yields a microstructure containing martensite, that the proportions of NiTi phases depend on processing conditions, and that the microstructure exhibits pronounced evidence of alloy strengthening. CONCLUSIONS The presence of Ti(2)Ni precipitates in both microstructures indicates that M-Wire and the conventional SE wire for rotary instruments are titanium-rich.

Scanning Electron Microscope Observations of New and Used Nickel-Titanium Rotary Files

The appearances of the tip sections of ProFile 0.04 taper and Lightspeed 25-mm long, ISO size 25, nickel-titanium rotary instruments were compared with a scanning electron microscope in the as-received condition and after one, three, and six simulated clinical uses to prepare mesial canals of extracted mandibular molars. For the used ProFile instruments, there was some flattening of the characteristic material rollover and minor apparent wear at the edges of the flutes, but there was little change in the tip regions of the used Lightspeed instruments. Deposits on the surfaces of the instruments were attributed to the manufacturing processes and the in vitro preparation of root canals in the extracted teeth. The simulated clinical use did not cause substantial changes in the regions of these two brands of rotary instruments that are involved in the clinical preparation of root canals.

Evaluation of the wear resistance of new nanocomposite resin restorative materials

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The use of composite resins for the restoration of posterior teeth is popular because of the improved performance and appearance of these materials. Wear resistance continues to be of particular importance when restoring large occlusal areas in posterior teeth. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative wear characteristics of 2 recently introduced nanofiller-based composite resins (Filtek Supreme, Premise) and compare them to the more traditional microhybrid (Point 4) and microfill (Heliomolar RO) materials that have been used for many years. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six specimens (2 mm thick and 15 mm in diameter) of each material were subjected to 3-body wear tests using the Oregon Health Sciences University Oral Wear Simulator to produce abrasive wear and attrition for all specimens using human enamel as the opposing cusp. Profilometric tracings of the worn surfaces were used to determine the relative abrasive wear, attrition wear, and roughness (Ra) of the composite resin substrate. The mean diameter of the antagonist enamel wear facets was determined under a measuring microscope. Qualitative SEM analysis was also used to assess the surface appearance of the resulting enamel and composite resin wear facets. The data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and Tukeys multiple range post hoc test (alpha=.05). RESULTS The results indicated that the composite resin type did not significantly affect the amount of measured attrition (P=.15) but did significantly affect abrasive wear (P=.02). The conventional microfill composite resin (Heliomolar RO) exhibited significantly less abrasive wear than the nanohybrid material (Premise). There was no significant difference in the average size of the opposing enamel wear facet generated by the different composite resin materials. Heliomolar RO resulted in a significantly rougher surface within the wear track than either nanohybrid composite resin (Premise) or microhybrid composite resin (Point 4) but was not significantly different than nanofilled composite resin (Filtek Supreme). CONCLUSIONS The incorporation of nanofillers in 2 of the composite resin materials tested did not significantly improve their wear resistance or the amount of opposing cusp wear when compared to the traditional materials tested.

Proposed role of embedded dentin chips for the clinical failure of nickel-titanium rotary instruments.

Discarded ProFile and ProTaper nickel-titanium rotary instruments, with unknown history of clinical use, were obtained from graduate endodontic clinics at Ohio State University and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch. These discarded instruments and as-received instruments of both types were examined with a scanning electron microscope to investigate effects of clinical use and causes of failure. For used ProTaper instruments, dentinal debris was wedged mostly in narrow, radial, land-type regions and less on convex flute surfaces. For used ProFile instruments, dentinal debris was wedged mostly in the metal rollover and on concave flute surfaces. Used instruments of both types exhibited widened machining grooves, and elongated and stretched roll-over. Dentin chips were wedged in surface micro-cracks that appeared to propagate from original machining flaws and widen during in vivo root canal preparation. From our observational study, wedged dentinal deposits seem to play a pivotal role for clinical failure of these instruments.

Micro-XRD and temperature-modulated DSC investigation of nickel–titanium rotary endodontic instruments

OBJECTIVES Employ Micro-X-ray diffraction and temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry to investigate microstructural phases, phase transformations, and effects of heat treatment for rotary nickel-titanium instruments. METHODS Representative as-received and clinically used ProFile GT and ProTaper instruments were principally studied. Micro-XRD analyses (Cu Kalpha X-rays) were performed at 25 degrees C on areas of approximately 50 microm diameter near the tip and up to 9 mm from the tip. TMDSC analyses were performed from -80 to 100 degrees C and back to -80 degrees C on segments cut from instruments, using a linear heating and cooling rate of 2 degrees C/min, sinusoidal oscillation of 0.318 degrees C, and period of 60s. Instruments were also heat treated 15 min in a nitrogen atmosphere at 400, 500, 600 and 850 degrees C, and analyzed. RESULTS At all Micro-XRD analysis regions the strongest peak occurred near 42 degrees , indicating that instruments were mostly austenite, with perhaps some R-phase and martensite. Tip and adjacent regions had smallest peak intensities, indicative of greater work hardening, and the intensity at other sites depended on the instrument. TMDSC heating and cooling curves had single peaks for transformations between martensite and austenite. Austenite-finish (A(f)) temperatures and enthalpy changes were similar for as-received and used instruments. Heat treatments at 400, 500 and 600 degrees C raised the A(f) temperature to 45-50 degrees C, and heat treatment at 850 degrees C caused drastic changes in transformation behavior. SIGNIFICANCE Micro-XRD provides novel information about NiTi phases at different positions on instruments. TMDSC indicates that heat treatment might yield instruments with substantial martensite and improved clinical performance.

Effect of coating on properties of esthetic orthodontic nickel-titanium wires

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of coating on the properties of two esthetic orthodontic nickel-titanium wires. MATERIALS AND METHODS Woowa (polymer coating; Dany Harvest) and BioForce High Aesthetic Archwire (metal coating; Dentsply GAC) with cross-section dimensions of 0.016 × 0.022 inches were selected. Noncoated posterior regions of the anterior-coated Woowa and uncoated Sentalloy were used for comparison. Nominal coating compositions were determined by x-ray fluorescence (JSX-3200, JOEL). Cross-sectioned and external surfaces were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM; SSX-550, Shimadzu) and an atomic force microscope (SPM-9500J2, Shimadzu). A three-point bending test (12-mm span) was carried out using a universal testing machine (EZ Test, Shimadzu). Hardness and elastic modulus of external and cross-sectioned surfaces were obtained by nanoindentation (ENT-1100a, Elionix; n  =  10). RESULTS Coatings on Woowa and BioForce High Aesthetic Archwire contained 41% silver and 14% gold, respectively. The coating thickness on Woowa was approximately 10 µm, and the coating thickness on BioForce High Aesthetic Archwire was much smaller. The surfaces of both coated wires were rougher than the noncoated wires. Woowa showed a higher mean unloading force than the noncoated Woowa, although BioForce High Aesthetic Archwire showed a lower mean unloading force than Sentalloy. While cross-sectional surfaces of all wires had similar hardness and elastic modulus, values for the external surface of Woowa were smaller than for the other wires. CONCLUSIONS The coating processes for Woowa and BioForce High Aesthetic Archwire influence bending behavior and surface morphology.

The Fracture Toughness of Denture Base Material Reinforced with Different Concentrations of POSS

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of methacrylated polyhedralsilsesquioxanes (POSS) on the fracture toughness of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) based denture‐based resins. POSS is a nanostructured material, that is, known to reinforce polymeric systems. Previous work has shown that POSS can improve the mechanical properties of dimethacrylate dental resin systems. Our work shows that there is no significant improvement and a significant drop in mechanical properties is accompanied by evidence of crystallization in the PMMA.

Shear bond strength of the amalgam-resin composite interface

OBJECTIVE This study compared the initial and one year shear bond strengths (SBS) of resin composite bonded to amalgam using Amalgambond-Plus. METHODS Resin composite cylinders (Point 4, Kerr Corporation) were bonded to either etched-enamel (A), 50% etched enamel-50% polished amalgam (B), airborne-particle abraded amalgam (C), carbide bur prepared amalgam (D) and airborne-particle abraded 50% amalgam-50% etched-enamel (E). Shear bond strengths were determined using a standardized testing device (Ultradent Products) in a universal testing machine (Instron model 4204). The failed interfaces were evaluated with SEM to obtain visual evidence of the failure mode. RESULTS ANOVA indicated significant differences among the groups (p < 0.0001). SBS in MPa (Mean/SD) were for A at year 0: (24.63/4.19), A at year 1: (16.84/7.25), B at year 0: (9.13/2.18), B at year 1: (15.54/6.41), C at year 0: (16.82/3.60), C at year 1: (15.26/3.90), D at year 0: (9.27/4.03), D at year 1: (7.97/7.17), E at year 0: (16.67/4.87) and E at year 1: (8.63/3.64). CONCLUSION In vitro testing demonstrated that resin composite masking has the strongest, most durable SBS on airborne-particle abraded amalgam and airborne-particle abraded enamel-amalgam surfaces and could be used as a method to improve the esthetics of amalgam restorations.

Impact energy absorption of three mouthguard materials in three environments

The objective of this study was to compare the impact energy absorption of three mouthguard materials in three environments. Thirty specimens with 12.7 cm x 12.7 cm x 4 mm dimensions were prepared for each material: ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, T&S Dental and Plastics), Pro-form (Dental Resources Inc), and PolyShok (Sportsguard Laboratories). Ten specimens of each material were conditioned for 1 h at 37 degrees C in three environments: dry (ambient) condition, deionized water and artificial saliva. Specimens were impacted at 20 mph by a 0.5-inch diameter indenter containing a force transducer (Dynatup Model 9250 HV, Instron Corp), based upon ASTM Standard D3763. Energy absorption was determined from the area under the force-time curve during impact (approximately 5 or 7 ms depending on the material). Groups were compared using anova and the Tukey test. Energy absorption values, normalized to specimen thickness (mean +/- SD in J mm(-1)), were: (i) Dry: EVA 4.73 +/- 0.27, Pro-form 3.55 +/- 0.25, PolyShok 6.32 +/- 0.24; (ii) DI water: EVA 4.82 +/- 0.40, Pro-form 3.78 +/- 0.33, PolyShok 5.87 +/- 0.38; (iii) Artificial saliva: EVA 5.63 +/- 0.49, Pro-form 4.01 +/- 0.54, PolyShok 6.37 +/- 0.55. PolyShok was the most energy-absorbent material in all three environments. EVA was significantly more impact resistant than Pro-form in all three environments. EVA and Pro-form performed significantly better after saliva conditioning than dry or water conditioned, but PolyShok did not show any difference in energy absorption when conditioned in any of the three environments. Characteristic deformation patterns from impact loading were observed with an SEM for each material. The superior energy absorption for PolyShok is attributed to the polyurethane additive.