In Vitro Evaluation of Candida albicans Adhesion on Heat-Cured Resin-Based Dental Composites

Microbial adhesion on dental restorative materials may jeopardize the restorative treatment long-term outcome. The goal of this in vitro study was to assess Candida albicans capability to adhere and form a biofilm on the surface of heat-cured dental composites having different formulations but subjected to identical surface treatments and polymerization protocols. Three commercially available composites were evaluated: GrandioSO (GR), Venus Diamond (VD) and Enamel Plus HRi Biofunction (BF). Cylindrical specimens were prepared for quantitative determination of C. albicans S5 planktonic CFU count, sessile cells CFU count and biomass optical density (OD570 nm). Qualitative Concanavalin-A assays (for extracellular polymeric substances of a biofilm matrix) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses (for the morphology of sessile colonies) were also performed. Focusing on planktonic CFU count, a slight but not significant reduction was observed with VD as compared to GR. Regarding sessile cells CFU count and biomass OD570 nm, a significant increase was observed for VD compared to GR and BF. Concanavalin-A assays and SEM analyses confirmed the quantitative results. Different formulations of commercially available resin composites may differently interact with C. albicans. The present results showed a relatively more pronounced antiadhesive effect for BF and GR, with a reduction in sessile cells CFU count and biomass quantification.

Effect of Additional Dry Heat Curing on Microflexural Strength in Three Types of Resin Composite: An In Vitro Study

Aim: Additional dry heat curing is a method that favorably influences the mechanical properties of an indirect resin composite restoration. Microflexural strength is a property currently applied for the evaluation of indirect resin composite restorations. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of additional dry heat curing on microflexural strength in three types of direct-use resin composites. Materials and Methods: This in vitro study consisted of 70 resin composites samples made with a 6 × 2 × 1 mm metal matrix and divided into seven experimental groups, which included Gr1a: Tetric N-Ceram without additional dry heat curing (n = 10); Gr1b: Tetric N-Ceram with additional dry heat curing (n = 10); Gr 2a: Filtek Z350 XT without additional dry heat curing (n = 10); Gr2b: Filtek Z350 XT with additional dry heat curing (n = 10); Gr3a: Filtek Z250 without additional dry heat curing (n = 10); Gr3b: Filtek Z250 with additional dry heat curing (n = 10); and Gr4: SR Nexco Paste (control) without additional dry heat curing (n = 10). The samples were stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h. A universal testing machine with a 2000 N load cell at a speed of 1 mm/min was used to assess flexural strength. The data were analyzed with a parametric ANOVA test with Tukey’s post hoc intergroup factor (for groups without heat treatment) and a nonparametric Kruskall Wallis test with Bonferroni’s post hoc (for groups with heat treatment). In addition, the comparison of independent groups in each resin composite type with and without heat treatment was performed with a Mann Whitney U test. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. Results: The Filtek Z250 resin composite with and without additional dry heat curing presented the highest microflexural strength values with 137.27 ± 24.43 MPa and 121.32 ± 9.74 MPa, respectively, while the SR Nexco Paste (control) resin composite presented the lowest microflexural strength values with 86.06 ± 14.34 MPa compared to all the resin composites with additional dry heat curing. The Filtek Z250 and Filtek Z350XT resin composites with and without additional dry heat curing presented significantly higher microflexural strength versus the SR Nexco (p < 0.05) and Tetric N-Ceram (p < 0.05) resin composites. In addition, the Filtek Z350XT and Tetric N-Ceram resin composites with additional dry heat curing showed significantly higher microflexural strength (p < 0.05) compared to those without additional dry heat curing. Conclusions: The Filtek Z250 and Z350XT resin composites had significantly higher microflexural strength values with and without additional dry heat curing. In addition, the Filtek Z350XT and Tetric N-Ceram resin composites subjected to additional dry heat curing showed significantly higher microflexural strength compared to when they did not receive the same procedure, a situation that did not occur with the Filtek Z250 resin composite.

Influence of irradiation distance on the mechanical performances of resin composites polymerized with high-irradiance light curing units

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of increased irradiation distance on the flexural strength (FS), dentin micro-shear bond strength (μSBS), and the degree of conversion (DC) of bulk-fill flowable, conventional flowable, and packable resin composites.

Methods

The resin composites tested were Surefil® SDR™ (SDR), Filtek Z350 XT Flowable Restorative A2 shade (Z3F), and Filtek Z350 XT Universal Restorative A2 shade (Z3P). Specimens were cured at four irradiation distances (0, 2, 4, and 8 mm) with an Elipar DeepCure-S LED curing light for 20 s. FS tests were performed (n = 15) using bar-shaped specimens (8 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm) of the resin composites. μSBS tests were performed on the occlusal surfaces of extracted third molars from humans that were ground to expose dentin (n = 15). DC was measured by using Raman spectroscopy on the top and bottom surfaces of disk specimens (2-mm thick) (n = 3). To further investigate whether extended irradiation times could compensate for reduced irradiance, additional Z3P specimens were prepared, which were light-cured at 8-mm distances for 40 and 60 s and subjected to FS tests, μSBS tests, and Raman spectroscopy. Both two-way and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Both FS and DC of Z3P specimens cured at an 8-mm distance were significantly lower than those cured at shorter distances (p < 0.05), whereas the FS and DC of the Z3F and SDR specimens were not significantly influenced by increasing distances. The μSBSs of the three types of resin composites reduced with increasing irradiation distances. The FS, μSBS, and DC of the Z3P specimen light-cured at 8 mm for 40 s were comparable to those of the Z3P specimen cured at 0 mm for 20 s.

Conclusions

Increasing the irradiation distance to 8 mm can have a deleterious influence on mechanical performances, including the FS, DC, and dentin μSBS, of the resin composites polymerized with high-irradiance light curing units.

Influence of different postcuring parameters on mechanical properties and biocompatibility of 3D printed crown and bridge resin for temporary restorations

This study analyzed the flexural properties, Vickers hardness, degree of conversion (DC), and cell viability of 3D printed crown and bridge resin postcured using various types of postcuring equipment (PCE). 3D printed specimens were postcured for various times using different types of 3D printing PCE [for 5, 15, and 30 min using LC 3D Print Box (LC), Form Cure (FC), Cure M (CM), and Veltz 3D (VE) devices] and the VALO handheld light-curing (VA) device for 20, 40, and 60 s. Neither the flexural strength (132.27-145.79 MPa) nor the flexural modulus (1.52-1.83 GPa) differed significantly when postcuring for 30 min using the LC, FC, CM, or VE device, or for 20, 40, or 60 s of postcuring using the VA device (p > 0.05). The Vickers hardness was highest after 30 min of postcuring for all groups, and varied significantly with the postcuring time in the LC (p < 0.001) and CM (p < 0.001) groups. DC was significantly higher for the 5-min CM group (84.97 ± 4.02%) than for the GS, 30-min FC, 5-min VE, and 20-s VA groups. Cell viability of the postcured resin specimens was 56.46-92.29%, and varied significantly in the CM and VE groups according to the postcuring time (p < 0.05). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations showed well-developed cell morphology and numerous cell-cell contacts in all groups except the GS group. This study found that the use of different types of PCE did not significantly affect the flexural properties of 3D printed crown and bridge resin, whereas there were significant variations in DC, Vickers hardness, and cell viability.

Antimicrobial agents in dental restorative materials: Effect on long-term drug release and material properties

The present study reports on the long-term drug release and mechanical properties of bioactive dental filling materials based on chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) or octinidine (di)hydrochloride (ODH) incorporated in a composite based on dimethacrylates or an ormocer. CHX or ODH were added to a nano-hybrid ormocer (O) and a nano-hybrid composite (C) with the amount of 2 wt% to achieve four matrix-drug combinations: O-CHX, O-ODH, C-CHX, and C-ODH. Drug extraction and release were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), while drug distribution was assessed by using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Drug release in water at 37°C was observed over 87 d. To determine the material properties, the water absorption, water solubility, flexural strength and hardness were measured and compared to the reference materials. Persistent drug release over 87 d was observed for both ODH-based systems and both ormocer-systems, with the longest duration of activity seen for the O-ODH combination. Persistent drug release was achieved via the loosening of the polymer network indicated via decreasing polymerization enthalpies, enhanced water absorption, and water solubility. As a consequence, the flexural strengths of the materials were reduced. However, surface hardness was hardly reduced. ODH seems to be more adequate than CHX for the design of bioactive dental filling materials based on nano-hybrid ormocer and composites.

Flexural test as an alternative to tensile test for bond strength of resin cement to zirconia

OBJECTIVE

There has been a great many technical difficulties in measuring the bond strengths between brittle dental substrates and materials, especially in preparing specimens. This study evaluated the validity of the relatively easy flexural bond strength (FBS) test in measuring bond strength of resin cement to zirconia as an alternative to the cumbersome tensile bond strength (TBS) and micro-tensile bond strength (MTBS) tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The FBS and TBS of resin cement to zirconia were measured experimentally after three surface treatments on a zirconia ceramic: air abrasion only (A), conditioning with Single Bond Universal (U) after air abrasion, and conditioning with Z-Prime Plus (Z) after air abrasion. The data were investigated using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Weibull statistics, and a theoretical simulation.

RESULTS

In both the FBS and TBS tests, the experimental data were consistent and quantitatively similar. First, according to ANOVA, the U group showed the highest bond strengths in both tests, followed by the Z group and the A group. In each surface treatment group, the FBS was always higher than the TBS. Second, the Weibull fitting showed the same order of strength in both tests (A < Z < U) and in all surface treatment groups (FBS > TBS). Third, the theoretical ratios calculated from the Weibull moduli agreed well with the experimental ratios of the FBS to the TBS.

CONCLUSION

The FBS test can be an alternative to the TBS and MTBS tests in measuring the bond strength of brittle resin cement to zirconia.

Effect of light-curing distance and curing time on composite microflexural strength

This study investigated the influence of curing distance on µ-flexural strength (µ-FS) of a nano-hybrid composite, cured using the manufacturer-recommended curing time (MCT), compared to a consistent radiant exposure (CRE) using three different light-curing units (LCUs). Beams (6×2×1 mm) were cured using the MCT or CRE with a quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH); a single-emission-peak light-emitting-diode (SLED), or a multiple-emission-peak light-emitting-diode (MLED) LCU. Specimens were cured at 0-, 2- or 8-mm distances (n=10) and the bottom irradiance and CRE were measured using a Managing Accurate Resin Curing-Resin Calibrator spectrometer. µ-FS testing was performed, and data analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests (α=0.05). Mean bottom irradiance was (25.4-99.7 mW/cm²) and CRE (0.31-1.11 J/cm²). µ-FS was 422.1-516.6 MPa (MCT) and 440.4-490.4 MPa (CRE). Comparing CRE to MCT showed that µ-FS significantly decreased using the CRE at 2-mm (QTH) or the MCT at 2- and 8-mm (SLED). µ-FS may be significantly impacted by the curing protocol.