Qualitative evaluation of scanning electron microscopy methods in a study of the resin cement/dentine adhesive interface

Adjunctive therapies for in vitro carious lesions: Antimicrobial activity, activation of dentin metalloproteinases and effects on dental pulp cells

BACKGROUND

Adjunctive therapies used before dental restorative procedures may encourage carious tissue removal. Beyond promising antimicrobial properties, treatments could positively modulate the dentin-pulp complex while not interfering with restoration survival. Herein, we evaluated a set of substances and their effects on carious lesions and the underlying dentin or pulp cells.

METHODS

Artificial caries lesions were developed in bovine teeth cavities immersed in Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei co-cultures. The cavities were treated according to the following groups: Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS), Chlorhexidine (CHX), Papacárie® (Papain gel), Ozone (O₃), and antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT). After treatments, samples were cultivated to count isolated microbial colonies. The zymography assay evaluated the activity of dentin metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Cell viability was indirectly assessed on human dental pulp cells after 24, 72, or 120 h, whereas the odontodifferentiation potential was evaluated after ten days of cell culture.

RESULTS

CHX and aPDT led to around 1 log bacterial load reduction. PBS, CHX, and aPDT showed the eventual expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Cell viability was reduced (< 30%) after 120 h for all groups compared to the control. CHX, O3, and aPDT induced greater odontodifferentiation (≈ 20% higher) than PBS and papain gel.

CONCLUSION

Adjunctive therapies presented little or no biological significance in reducing bacterial load in artificial carious lesions. Although the activation of endogenous metalloproteinases may represent a possible concern for adhesive restorations, some of these treatments may have a positive role in dental pulp tissue repair.

Microleakage and characteristics of resin-tooth tissues interface of a self-etch and an etch-and-rinse adhesive systems

Objectives

This study was conducted to compare the microleakage and characteristics of the resin-tooth tissue interface between self-etch and etch-and-rinse adhesive systems after 48 hours and 3 months.

Materials and Methods

40 extracted premolar teeth were randomly divided into 2 groups: 1-step self-etch adhesive system – Optibond™ All-In-One, and 2-step etch-and-rinse adhesive system - Adper™ Single Bond 2. Both groups were subjected to 500 thermocycles (5°C–55°C) before scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis or microleakage trial at 48-hour and 3-month time periods.

Results

SEM images showed the hybrid layer thickness, diameter, and length of resin tags of the self-etch adhesive (0.42 ± 0.14 µm; 1.49 ± 0.45 µm; 16.35 ± 14.26 µm) were smaller than those of the etch-and-rinse adhesive (4.39 ± 1.52 µm; 3.49 ± 1 µm; 52.81 ± 35.81 µm). In dentin, the microleakage scores of the 2 adhesives were not different in both time periods (48 hours/3 months). However, the microleakage score of etch-and-rinse adhesive increased significantly after 3 months (0.8 ± 0.63 and 1.9 ± 0.88, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The self-etch adhesive exhibited better long-term sealing ability in dentin when compared to that of the etch-and-rinse adhesive. The greater hybrid layer thickness and dimensions of resin tags did not guarantee reliable, long-lasting sealing in the bonding area.

Micromorphology of the Adhesive Interface of Self-Adhesive Resin Cements to Enamel and Dentin

Interfaces between dentin, enamel and luting agents were characterized using low vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). After smear layer creation, one of three luting agents (RelyX Unicem 2, Clearfil SA Cement and Panavia F 2.0/ED Primer II) was applied on 60 enamel-dentin specimens and dual-cured or self-cured. Specimens were polished (Experiment 1) and subsequently demineralized and deproteinized (Experiment 2). Adhesive interfaces were analyzed (low vacuum SEM, ×3000). Presence of an interdiffusion zone, tag-like structures (dentin) and marginal gaps (enamel) were assessed. Non-parametrical tests (χ2-test, α = 0.05) were performed. The first null-hypothesis was that the adhesive interface micromorphology between enamel and dentin and self-adhesive resin cements (SARCs) is similar with conventional resin cement used with a self-etch adhesive (CRC+SE). The second null-hypothesis was that the micromorphology is not influenced by curing modes. Interdiffusion zones and tag-like structures (dentin) were observed more frequently for CRC+SE compared to SARCs. For each luting agent, there was a non-significant (p > 0.05) tendency for interdiffusion zone and tag-like structures detectable in more specimens after self-curing compared to dual-curing. Marginal gaps (enamel) were found only for SARCs. The first null-hypothesis was not rejected fully: Tag-like structures and interdiffusion zones in dentin were found for CRC+SE and SARCs. The second null-hypothesis was not rejected.

Scanning electron microscopy comparison of the resin-dentin interface using different specimen preparation methods

Microscopy has been widely used to complement the data of studies related to dentin bonding; however, different specimen preparation methods may influence the analysis. Aiming to contribute to the reported scenario, this study evaluated the effect of two specimen-sectioning methods (cleavage and diamond disk cut) on the quality of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Four crowns of human molars were selected and had an area of approximately 6 mm² of dentin exposed. They were then divided into two groups according to the universal adhesive application: total and self-etching modes. Then, composite blocks were built up and the specimens were stored in deionized water to allow the postcuring. The specimens were further divided according to the sectioning method: cleavage or diamond disk cut. Four specimens were obtained from each tooth. They were desiccated, placed on aluminum stubs, sputter-coated with gold, and observed in a scanning electron microscope, with ×2000 of magnification. The quality of the SEM images were evaluated by two calibrated examiners and classified into four scores (1-4). Mann-Whitney test (p < .05) showed that the diamond disk provided significantly higher scores than cleavage, whereas no significant difference was observed when comparing the total-etching and self-etching modes of application. The diamond disk cut method is preferable to the cleavage method to ensure the quality of the SEM analysis in studies involving the resin-dentin interface.

Metallization and Ar-O plasma effects on dental enamel roughness evaluated with SEM and MeX™ for 3D reconstruction

The MeX™ software is a useful tool for tridimensional data collection for surface evaluation and could be relevant to evaluate the same specimen in different phases of the study, assuming repeated measures of dental enamel roughness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sample metallization for dental enamel roughness analysis with 3D images reconstructed using MeX™ software from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The influence of 74.98% (%mol/mol) argon-oxygen plasma for carbon layer removal on surface roughness of the metallized specimen was also evaluated. Dental enamel specimens were prepared for SEM analysis with and without carbon metallization using conventional or environmental modes. Argon-oxygen plasma for carbon layer removal was used and surface roughness was re-evaluated. Roughness obtained by SEM and MeX™ reconstructed images, with or without metallization, did not differ. No significant alteration on surface roughness after carbon layer removal using plasma was found. SEM baseline evaluation using conventional mode without sample preparation and in environmental mode were not comparable. Roughness of enamel 3D images reconstructed with MeX™ software from SEM images, with or without metallization was similar. The 74.98% (%mol/mol) argon-oxygen plasma removed the carbon layer with no effect on enamel roughness.

Ultramorphology of pre-treated adhesive interfaces between self-adhesive resin cement and tooth structures

Abstract Introduction Convencional resin cements can be used in combination with a total-etch system in a conventional mode or as self-adhesive resin cements. The latter are less technique sensitive and able to bond to dental tissues without previous treatment or adhesive layer and requires only a single step to be applied to dental structures. Objective To compare qualitatively the adhesive interfaces of two self-adhesive resin cements and one conventional resin cement after different tooth surface treatments under scanning electron microscopy. Material and method 42 crowns of bovine incisors were sectioned and flattened exposing enamel (E) or dentine (D) substrate. Subgroups were defined according to conditioning type and time: E1—no treatment, E2—37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, E3—37% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds; D1—no treatment, D2—37% phosphoric acid for 5 seconds; D3—11.5% polyacrylic acid for 15 seconds. A resin block was bonded to each substrate using the self-adhesive resin cements RelyX U100 (3M ESPE) and RelyX U200 (3M ESPE). As a reference hybrid layer, six resin blocks were luted with RelyX ARC and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose adhesive system (3M ESPE) (enamel—EA; dentine—DA). After aging for 7 days in a moist environment at 37±1°C, samples were prepared for microscopy analysis. Result and Discussion In the ARC specimens, there was hybrid layer formation in both EA and DA. U100 E1 showed gaps at the adhesive interface, while E2 and E3 showed interaction for both self-adhesive cements. There was superficial interaction with bothU100 and U200 in D1, while in D2 and D3, resin tags were only observed in the case of U100. Conclusion It was concluded that substrate conditioning may enhance the interaction between self-adhesive resin cements and dental tissues, although this is not the case for RelyX U200 and dentine.

Bond strength of fiber posts to the root canal: Effects of anatomic root levels and resin cements

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Decementation is one of the most frequent causes of failure in the post-cement system. The bond strength in different parts of the canal may be influenced by technical and anatomic factors.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the effects of anatomic root levels to reach the canal and different resin cements on the bond strength of fiberglass posts along the canal.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred thirty-five roots of bovine teeth were endodontically treated, prepared with 15-mm-long post spaces and divided according to the anatomic root level: coronal (with 15-mm post space), middle (with 10-mm post space), and apical (with 5-mm post space). Fiberglass posts were luted with the cements (n=15): conventional resin cement with 3-step etch-and-rinse adhesive system (RelyX ARC/SBMP); self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX U200) and autopolymerizing resin cement with etch-and-rinse adhesive system (C&B/All-Bond 2). After 24 hours, specimens were sectioned and subjected to the push-out test. The maximum extrusion load was recorded (0.5 mm/minute, 200 N). Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test (α=.05). Failure mode was analyzed by using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were no significant effects of resin cements (P>.05). The bond strength at apical third was higher when the canal was reached at the apical level than at the coronal level (P=.022). When each root level was directly reached, the coronal bond strength was lower than apical (P=.001) and middle (P=.021) for all cements.

CONCLUSIONS

When the canal was reached at the coronal, medium, and apical levels, the bond strength of conventional, self-adhesive and autopolymerizing resin cements was lower in the coronal root third.

Correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy

Correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy (CFEM) is a multimodal technique that combines dynamic and localization information from fluorescence methods with ultrastructural data from electron microscopy, to give new information about how cellular components change relative to the spatiotemporal dynamics within their environment. In this review, we will discuss some of the basic techniques and tools of the trade for utilizing this attractive research method, which is becoming a very powerful tool for biology labs. The information obtained from correlative methods has proven to be invaluable in creating consensus between the two types of microscopy, extending the capability of each, and cutting the time and expense associated with using each method separately for comparative analysis. The realization of the advantages of these methods in cell biology has led to rapid improvement in the protocols and has ushered in a new generation of instruments to reach the next level of correlation--integration.