Probing nano-scale adhesion force between AFM and acid demineralized intertubular dentin: Moist versus dry dentin

Ethanol-wet bonding may improve root dentine bonding performance of hydrophobic adhesive

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to assess ethanol-wet dentine surfaces by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and to evaluate the efficacy of ethanol-wet bonding on root dentine by determining the shear bond strength (SBS) and interfacial nanoleakage expression.

METHODS

Flat dentine slices from human premolar roots were randomly grouped into five. All specimens were acid-etched, rinsed, and left moist. They were then treated with 100% ethanol for 0s (control group), 20s (Group 1), 60s (Group 2), three 60s periods (Group 3), or stepwise ethanol application (Group 4). After treatment, each group was bonded either with Adper™ Scotchbond™ Multi-Purpose (Scotchbond) or experimental hydrophobic adhesive. Nano-scale adhesion forces (Fad) were probed by AFM and analysed using one-way ANOVA. The SBS results were analysed using two-way ANOVA. Tukey's test was employed for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Ethanol-wet protocols significantly decreased the value of Fad (p<0.001). When bonded with Scotchbond, ethanol treatment did not affect the bond strength (p>0.05), but decreased the interfacial nanoleakage. The SBS values of the groups bonded with hydrophobic adhesive varied with different ethanol-wet protocols (p<0.05). Decreased nanoleakage was manifested in all experimental groups, except Group 1. Compared with the classical water-wet bonding with Scotchbond in the control group, Group 4 bonded with hydrophobic adhesive exhibited a significantly higher bond strength (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol-wet bonding using a stepwise ethanol application protocol may have potential benefits in the root dentine bonding of hydrophobic adhesive.

Quantitative analysis of human internal limiting membrane extracted from patients with macular holes

We report the study of the morphology, topography, and adhesion properties of internal limiting membrane (ILM) from patients with macular holes. The quantitative analysis of human ILM could provide essential information toward the improvement of existing surgical instruments for more efficient and safer surgical removal of ILM. Imaging in air revealed the presence of globular structures in most of the samples analyzed which were coupled with fibrillar structures in some of the samples. Modification of silicon nitride AFM tips with oppositely charged functional groups showed changes in adhesion force at the membrane-tip interface. Defining the surface characteristics of the human ILM is an initial step in the development of improved surgical tools that may allow nontraumatic stripping of ILM during surgery.

Nanotechnology in Dental Sciences: Moving towards a Finer Way of Doing Dentistry

Nanotechnologies are predicted to revolutionize: (a) the control over materials properties at ultrafine scales; and (b) the sensitivity of tools and devices applied in various scientific and technological fields. In this short review, we argue that dentistry will be no exception to this trend. Here, we present a dynamic view of dental tissues, an adoption of which may lead to finer, more effective and minimally invasive reparation approaches. By doing so, we aim at providing insights into some of the breakthroughs relevant to understanding the genesis of dental tissues at the nanostructural level or generating dental materials with nanoscale critical boundaries. The lineage of the progress of dental science, including the projected path along the presumed nanotechnological direction of research and clinical application is mentioned too. We conclude by claiming that dentistry should follow the trend of probing matter at nanoscale that currently dominates both materials and biological sciences in order to improve on the research strategies and clinical techniques that have traditionally rested on mechanistic assumptions.