Two-dimensional photoelastic simulation of a castable ceramic fixed partial denture

Two-dimensional photoelastic models were used to determine the optimum design and loading conditions for a three-unit castable ceramic fixed partial denture. Findings relating to design and material variables can be summarized as follows. 1. Higher modulus cements impart more rigidity to the fixed partial denture design and result in lower stresses. 2. A short connector results in higher stress than a long connector; however, the length of the connector should not exceed one half the mesial-to-distal length of the pontic. 3. An intermediate thickness of cement results in the best stress distribution. 4. The male connector is best attached to the bulkier abutment. 5. Occlusal cement eccentricity is less desirable than cervical eccentricity. 6. The most undesirable loading site is directly above the connector.

Properties of a modified cross-linked silicone for maxillofacial prostheses

A dimethyl siloxane-triacetoxy terminated silane, Type A adhesive, can be modified with the base component of a medium grade polydimethyl siloxane with vinyl groups, MDX 4-4210, to produce more pliable maxillofacial prostheses. The mechanical properties of samples with various Type A adhesive/MDX 4-4210 ratios were determined. Addition of the MDX 4-4210 base decreased the hardness, modulus, and ultimate tensile strength, while the percentage elongation increased. The initial tear strength was relatively constant for the various ratios except for the 50/50 mix, where a 50% decrease was observed. The ability to obtain different mechanical properties by using various ratios of Type A adhesive and MDX 4-4210 could result in the production of maxillofacial prostheses which will more closely stimulate the properties of facial tissues.

Accuracy of addition silicones as a function of technique

Both addition and condensation silicones produced stone dies that were larger in diameter and shorter in height than the tooth preparation. For both materials, there was little change in the distance between stone die preparations compared with the standard. The most significant difference between types of silicone was that condensation silicones produced significantly shorter dies (-0.24% to -0.37%) than addition silicones (-0.08%). Among addition silicones, Cinch produced more than twice as much vertical change (-0.16%) than the other three products (-0.06%). Since castings made from a short die will not seat completely on the prepared tooth, these results support the use of three of the four addition silicones tested. The same accuracy of impressions was achieved for all techniques (that is, putty/wash, single mix, and double mix) when addition silicones were used, whereas the putty/wash technique produced the most accurate dies for the condensation silicones. The custom tray produced dies that were much more accurate in vertical dimensions (-0.03%) than the stock trays (-0.15% to -0.21%). Thus the custom tray is the impression tray of choice, even for addition silicones, which produce relatively little polymerization shrinkage and are dimensionally stable.

Accuracy and bond strength of combination agar/alginate hydrocolloid impression materials

The accuracy and bond strength of several combinations of agar and alginate hydrocolloid impression materials were assessed. In general, there was little difference in accuracy among agar hydrocolloids. Of the alginate hydrocolloids, products J and CA produced the most accurate casts in combination with any of the agar hydrocolloids. For all product combinations, however, distortion of the diameter of the improved stone die was evident. The buccal-lingual diameter was 0.32% larger, whereas the mesial-distal diameter was only 0.06% larger. Regarding bond strength, alginate hydrocolloids P, CA, and VA in combination with agar hydrocolloids DB and DG produced the best results of all combinations tested. Thus, considering both bond strength and accuracy, product CA in combination with either DB or DG produced the best overall results.

Accuracy of four types of rubber impression materials compared with time of pour and a repeat pour of models

The accuracy of four types of elastomeric impression materials was studied as a function of model location, time of pouring, and repetition of pouring. There was little change in dimension among abutment preparations for all materials, for all times of pour, and with a repeat pouring. It appears that measurements between posts are not sensitive to detecting differences between materials and that other dimensions should be examined to discern where differences might lie. The diameter of the stone post was larger than the standard for the AS and PS materials and was unchanged or smaller than the standard for the CS and the PE. The vertical dimensions of stone posts were, in general, shorter than the standard for all materials, with the AS demonstrating the smallest change. The AS and CS products demonstrated the best recovery from undercuts and the least change in dimensions between an initial and second pour of an impression. The AS and PE were the least affected with delays of 1, 4, and 24 hours in pouring the impression.

Quantitative evaluation of proximal tooth movement effected by wedging: a pilot study

The major purpose of this pilot study was to develop a method to accurately measure proximal tooth movement. A preliminary clinical evaluation of anterior and posterior tooth movement was performed with five patients. The patients were carefully chosen to eliminate as many variables as possible. The controlled patient criteria included periodontal health, proximal contacts, the age of the patients, and the teeth selected for anterior and posterior displacement. The small sample size dictates that additional experimentation must be performed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Evaluation of an automatic mixing system for an addition silicone impression material

The automatic mixing system of an addition silicone impression material yields mixes and set material that comply with ADA specification no. 19 when testing is started at 0.5 minute rather than the specified 1.5 minutes. This change is reasonable because there is zero mixing time rather than the usual 45-60 second needed for standard two-paste rubber impression materials. Uniform mixing of base and catalyst occurs with the automatic system, with a fourth to a fifth as many bubbles in the mix as for comparable mixes obtained by hand spatulation. The automatic feature of the system simplifies mixing and nearly eliminates the training of assistants in the mixing of rubber impression material. The automatic mixing system is economical as it wastes only a third as much material as a typical hand-dispensing and mixing system. The properties and accuracy of the system are excellent and typical of addition silicones, including excellent recovery from deformation, low dimensional change on setting, and low flow. A wash or two-phase impression technique may be used with equal clinical accuracy.

Cigarette staining and cleaning of a maxillofacial silicone

In this study, a maxillofacial silicone elastomer was stained with cigarette smoke. The stain was then removed by solvent extraction using 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The cigarette smoke produced large color changes in the elastomer as measured from spectrophotometric reflectance curves. The solvent was totally effective in removing the cigarette stain without changing the color of the silicone base.

Stress analysis of a tooth restored with a post and core

An idealized axisymmetric finite element model of a second premolar restored with a post and core was used to study the distribution and magnitude of stresses as a function of the following parameters: the diameter of the post, the length and the shape of the post, and finally the interface characteristics between post and cement. Emphasis was directed toward the cement layer interposed between the post and the tooth. Bonding between the post and the cement appeared to be the most important parameter to achieve optimal mechanical behavior of the tooth-prosthesis combination.

Stain removal from a pigmented silicone maxillofacial elastomer

The removal of environmental stains from a pigmented maxillofacial elastomer was carried out by solvent extraction under network swelling. Silastic 44210 was pigmented with 11 maxillofacial pigments prior to staining. Samples were stained with lipstick, methylene blue, and disclosing solution. These stains were then removed by solvent extraction with 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Color parameter measurements both before and after staining and after solvent extraction demonstrated the effectiveness of removing these stains by solvent extraction while causing little or no change in the color of the pigmented samples.

Resistance to extrinsic strains by hydrophobic composite resin systems

Measurement of color parameters demonstrated that hydrophobic composites had less staining capacity and greater ease of stain removal when compared with conventional composite materials. Accelerated aging of samples is important in staining tests.

Stain removal from a silicone maxillofacial elastomer

In this study, environmental stains were removed from maxillofacial elastomers by solvent extraction. Silastic 44210, an RTV silicone with proven color and physical property stability, was stained with lipstick, disclosing solution, and methylene blue. These stains were then removed by solvent extraction with each of four chemically dissimilar solvents, namely: toluene, benzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and n-hexane. An additional series of samples was prepared with 11 maxillofacial pigments, not for staining, but for evaluation of pigment stability. Results obtained from spectrophotometric measurements before and after solvent extraction demonstrated the effectiveness of solvent extraction in removing stains, while there was little or no change in the color of the pigments or the base elastomer.

Cytotoxic effects of dental cements on two cell culture systems

Four dental cements and one bis-GMA composite were tested in cultures of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. It was found that these cell types reacted to the cements with different intensities, and that there were differences in evaluation by phase contrast microscopy and succinic dehydrogenase histochemistry.

Tear energy of elastomers for maxillofacial applications

The energy necessary to generate a unit area of torn surfaces was measured for six elastomers with low moduli of elasticity. Four polyurethane materials and two commercial maxillofacial materials were included. The latter had tear energy values between 0.63 and 6.56 erg/cm2, while the polyurethanes ranged from 8.49 to 50.0 erg/cm2. Three of the materials demonstrated non-Hookian behaviour during testing, violating an assumption of the tear energy analysis. A method of compensating for this discrepancy is described.

Neutron activation analysis of microleakage around a hydrophobic composite restorative

Neutron activation analysis with dysprosium as a tracer was employed to determine quantitatively the microleakage around the restorations of an experimental hydrophobic composite, as well as a commercial composite. Only a negligible uptake of tracer was obtained for the experimental composite, whereas a five-fold uptake was recorded for the commercial composite. Capillary penetration of fluid around a restoration could be greatly reduced by using a hydrophobic composite.

Properties of addition-type silicone impression materials

Addition-type silicone impression materials have low dimensional change after setting, low creep, moderately short working time, and are fairly stiff with moderately high resistance to tears after setting.