Effects of filler composition and surface treatment on the characteristics of opaque resin composites

Optical and colorimetric evaluation of a multi-color polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network material

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate color, translucency parameter and optical properties (scattering (S), absorption (K) and transmittance (T)) of a multi-color polymer-infiltrated ceramic-network (PICN) material.

METHODS

Samples of shades 1M1-HT, 1M2-HT, 2M2-HT, 3M2-HT, and 4M2-HT from VITA ENAMIC^® multiColor (E-MC) High Translucent were fabricated (n = 3). CAD-CAM blocks were cut and polished to 1.00 ± 0.01 mm of thickness. Diffuse reflectance and color coordinates were measured against white and black backgrounds, using a calibrated spectroradiometer, CIE D65 illuminant and the CIE 45°/0° geometry. Color and translucency differences were evaluated using 50:50% perceptibility (PT and TPT) and 50:50% acceptability (AT and TAT) thresholds. S and K coefficients and T were calculated using Kubelka-Munk's equations. Data was statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney tests, and VAF coefficient.

RESULT

Mean C* and b* values increased from incisal to cervical layers with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). In general, ΔE₀₀ between sequential layers were above PT for all shades. In addition, translucency parameter (TP) increased from cervical to incisal and ΔTP₀₀ values were greater than TPT₀₀ and lower than TAT₀₀ between all sequential layers. Layers from all shades showed similar spectral behavior for S (97.4% ≤ VAF), K (85.0% ≤ VAF) coefficients and T (95.3% ≤ VAF). However, these values presented significant differences (p < 0.05) from cervical to incisal layers.

SIGNIFICANCE

The gradient in color and translucency of this novel CAD-CAM multi-color PICN material can assist dental technicians and dentists to reach greater esthetics than the pre-existing CAD-CAM monolithicmaterials.

Foldable and Cytocompatible Sol-gel TiO2 Photonics

Integrated photonics provides a miniaturized and potentially implantable platform to manipulate and enhance the interactions between light and biological molecules or tissues in in-vitro and in-vivo settings, and is thus being increasingly adopted in a wide cross-section of biomedical applications ranging from disease diagnosis to optogenetic neuromodulation. However, the mechanical rigidity of substrates traditionally used for photonic integration is fundamentally incompatible with soft biological tissues. Cytotoxicity of materials and chemicals used in photonic device processing imposes another constraint towards these biophotonic applications. Here we present thin film TiO2 as a viable material for biocompatible and flexible integrated photonics. Amorphous TiO2 films were deposited using a low temperature (<250 °C) sol-gel process fully compatible with monolithic integration on plastic substrates. High-index-contrast flexible optical waveguides and resonators were fabricated using the sol-gel TiO2 material, and resonator quality factors up to 20,000 were measured. Following a multi-neutral-axis mechanical design, these devices exhibit remarkable mechanical flexibility, and can sustain repeated folding without compromising their optical performance. Finally, we validated the low cytotoxicity of the sol-gel TiO2 devices through in-vitro cell culture tests. These results demonstrate the potential of sol-gel TiO2 as a promising material platform for novel biophotonic devices.

Mechanical effect of static loading on endodontically treated teeth restored with fiber-reinforced posts

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical behavior of a dental system built up with fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) endodontic posts with different types of fibers and two cements (the first one used with a primer, the second one without it). Six FRC posts were used. Each system was characterized in terms of structural efficiency under external applied loads similar to masticatory forces. An oblique force was applied and stiffness and maximum load data were obtained. The same test was used for the dentine. The systems were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the surface of the post and inner surface of root canal after failure. The mechanical tests showed that load values in dental systems depend on the post material and used cement. The highest load (281 ± 59 N) was observed for the conical glass fiber posts in the cement without primer. There was a 50 and 85% increase in the maximum load for two of the conical posts with glass fibers and a 229% increase for the carbon fiber posts in the cement without primer as compared with the cement with primer. Moreover, almost all the studied systems showed fracture resistances higher than the typical masticatory loads. The microscopic analysis underlined the good adhesion of the second cement at the interfaces between dentine and post. The mechanical tests confirmed that the strength of the dental systems subjected to masticatory loads was strictly related to the bond at the interface post/cement and cement/dentine.

Polymer grafted hydroxyapatite whisker as a filler for dental composite resin with enhanced physical and mechanical properties

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of surface graft polymerization of hydroxyapatite whisker (HW) on physical and mechanical properties of dental composite resin. Poly bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (Poly(Bis-GMA)) was grafted onto silanized hydroxyapatite whisker (SHW) via solution polymerization and the amount of the Poly(Bis-GMA) on the surface was effectively controlled by polymerization time. The obtained poly(Bis-GMA) grafted hydroxyapatite whisker (PGHW) with different polymer contents was filled into a resin matrix respectively, meanwhile the composites with HW and with SHW served as controls. Monomer conversion was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and volume shrinkage of the composite resin was measured with a density tester. Mechanical properties were tested with a universal testing machine. The results indicated that the composite filled with PGHW-1h (graft ratio of poly(Bis-GMA): 8.5 wt.%) showed lower shrinkage and better mechanical properties, improving flexural strength by 6.5% and 11.9% compared with SHW filled composite and HW filled composite, respectively. However, PGHW with higher graft ratios aggregated seriously and formed defects in the composite, leading to deterioration of mechanical properties. It was revealed that the poly(Bis-GMA) on the surface of PGHW acted as a functional transition layer and enhanced interfacial compatibility and interaction between whisker and resin matrix, which facilitated the dispersion of PGHW in the composite and decreased the composite shrinkage. Thus, the graft polymerization of Bis-GMA on the surface of filler might be a promising modification method for the fabrication of dental materials.

Adhesive bonding of resin composite to various Ni-Cr alloy surfaces using different metal conditioners and a surface modification system

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effect of three metal conditioners [Metal Photo Primer (MPP), Cesead II Opaque Primer (OP), Targis Link (TL)], and one surface modification system [Siloc (S)] on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a prosthetic composite material to Ni-Cr alloy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rivet-shaped specimens were cast, and three surface treatments were evaluated: Polishing (P); sandblasting with either 50 microm (50SB) or 250 microm (250SB) Al(2)O(3). All products were applied to half of the specimens, while the other half remained without the materials. Veneering resin composite (8-mm diameter, 2-mm thick) was applied and light-exposed for 90 seconds in a laboratory light-curing unit. The specimens were stored in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, and half were subjected to 500 thermal cycles consisting of water baths at 4 degrees C and 60 degrees C. All specimens were submitted to SBS test (0.5 mm/min) until failure. Failure patterns were determined using optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test (preset alpha of 5%).

RESULTS

The SBS values of OP and TL groups were higher than those of MPP and S within the 50SB treatment (p < 0.05). No significant difference in SBS was noted between OP and TL as well as between MPP and S. On the other hand, no significant differences were found among conditioners within the 250SB group (p > 0.05). The SBS values of MPP, OP, and S from the 250SB group were higher than those from 50SB (p < 0.05). No significant difference in SBS was noted among most groups with conditioners after thermocycling. The only exception was observed for MPP, which showed an increase in SBS after thermocycling (p < 0.05). Differences in SBS were noted among the groups with conditioners (p < 0.05), and no significant difference in SBS was noted between TL and OP groups, which showed the highest values among all within the P group. No significant difference was noted between MPP and S. Debonded surfaces showed adhesive failures predominantly located between metal surface and opaque resin.

CONCLUSIONS

The OP and TL conditioners and surface sandblasting with 250 microm Al(2)O(3) promoted the highest SBS between resin and the Ni-Cr metal surface.

Structure and strength at the bonding interface of a titanium-segmented polyurethane composite through 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate for artificial organs

The objective of this study was to investigate the structure and strength at the bonding interface of a titanium (Ti)-segmented polyurethane (SPU) composite through (3-trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (gamma-MPS) for artificial organs. The effects of the thickness of the gamma-MPS layer on the shear bonding strength between Ti and SPU were investigated. Ti disks were immersed in various concentrations of gamma-MPS solutions for several immersion times. The depth profiles of elements and the thickness of the gamma-MPS layer were determined by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and ellipsometry, respectively. The bonding stress at the Ti/gamma-MPS/SPU interface was evaluated with a shear bonding test. Furthermore, the fractured surface of a Ti-SPU composite was observed by optical microscopy and characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Consequently, the thickness of the gamma-MPS layer was controlled by the concentration of the gamma-MPS solution and immersion time. The shear bonding stress at the interface increased with the increase of the thickness of the gamma-MPS layer. Therefore, the control of the thickness of the gamma-MPS layer is significant to increase the shear bonding stress at the Ti/gamma-MPS/SPU interface. These results are significant to create composites for artificial organs consisting of other metals and polymers.

FTIR Study on the Formation of TiO2 Nanostructures in Supercritical CO2

TiO(2) nanospherical and fibered structures were obtained via a one-step sol-gel method in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) involving polycondensation of the alkoxide monomers titanium isopropoxide (TIP) and titanium butoxide (TBO) with acetic acid (HAc). The resulting materials were characterized by means of electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transmission infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis. Depending on the experimental conditions, TiO(2) anatase nanospheres with a diameter of 20 nm or TiO(2) anatase/rutile nanofibers with a diameter of 10-100 nm were obtained. Fiber formation was enhanced by a higher HAc/Ti ratio and the use of the titanium isopropoxide (TIP) monomer. The mechanism of the microstructure formation was studied using in situ FTIR analysis in scCO(2). The FTIR results indicated that the formation of nanofibers was favored by a titanium hexamer that leads to one-dimensional condensation, while nanospheres were favored by a hexamer that permits three-dimensional condensation.