Effect of Chemical Disinfection on Chitosan Coated PMMA and PETG Surfaces-An In Vitro Study

The Importance of Chitosan Coatings in Dentistry

A Chitosan is a copolymer of N-acetyl-D-glucose amine and D-glucose amine that can be easily produced. It is a polymer that is widely utilized to create nanoparticles (NPs) with specific properties for applications in a wide range of human activities. Chitosan is a substance with excellent prospects due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, haemostatic, analgesic, mucoadhesive, and osseointegrative qualities, as well as its superior film-forming capacity. Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) serve a variety of functions in the pharmaceutical and medical fields, including dentistry. According to recent research, chitosan and its derivatives can be embedded in materials for dental adhesives, barrier membranes, bone replacement, tissue regeneration, and antibacterial agents to improve the management of oral diseases. This narrative review aims to discuss the development of chitosan-containing materials for dental and implant engineering applications, as well as the challenges and future potential. For this purpose, the PubMed database (Medline) was utilised to search for publications published less than 10 years ago. The keywords used were "chitosan coating" and "dentistry". After carefully selecting according to these keywords, 23 articles were studied. The review concluded that chitosan is a biocompatible and bioactive material with many benefits in surgery, restorative dentistry, endodontics, prosthetics, orthodontics, and disinfection. Furthermore, despite the fact that it is a highly significant and promising coating, there is still a demand for various types of coatings. Chitosan is a semi-synthetic polysaccharide that has many medical applications because of its antimicrobial properties. This article aims to review the role of chitosan in dental implantology.

Coffee Staining and Simulated Brushing Induced Color Changes and Surface Roughness of 3D-Printed Orthodontic Retainer Material

This in vitro study evaluated the influence of combined coffee staining and simulated brushing-induced color changes and surface roughness on 3D-printed orthodontic retainers. Specimens measuring 10 × 10 × 0.75 mm³ were obtained either by conventional vacuum forming or 3D printing at four print angulations (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) (n = 10). The prepared specimens were immersed in a coffee beverage and then mechanically brushed using a simulating device. The specimen's color difference (ΔE) and surface roughness (Ra) were quantified using a spectrophotometer and a non-contact profilometer, respectively. The highest and lowest mean ΔE values were recorded for the 3D-printed-45° (4.68 ± 2.07) and conventional (2.18 ± 0.87) groups, respectively. The overall mean comparison of ΔE between the conventional and 3D-printed groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01). After simulated brushing, all groups showed a statistically significant increase in the Ra values (p < 0.01). The highest Ra was in the 3D-printed-45° (1.009 ± 0.13 µm) and conventional (0.743 ± 0.12 µm) groups, respectively. The overall ΔE of 3D-printed orthodontic retainers was not comparable to conventional VFRs. Among the different angulations used to print the retainers, 15° angulations were the most efficient in terms of color changes and surface roughness and were comparable to conventional VFRs.

The Influence of Decontamination Procedures on the Surface of Two Polymeric Liners Used in Prosthodontics

Polymeric liners are materials commonly used in prosthodontics to reshape denture surfaces contacting the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of different cleaning methods on two polymeric materials used in prosthodontics as non-adhesive permanent liners. The material for the research consisted of samples made from Mollosil Plus (Detax, Ettlingen, Germany)-direct polysiloxan liner; and Plastitanium (Pressing Dental, San Marino, Republic of San Marino)-an injection-molded liner. A total of 198 samples were made, 99 of each assessed material. They were exposed to different cleaning methods-a toothbrush, a toothbrush and soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste (BlendaMed, Procter&Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, USA), a toothpaste and denture cleaning paste (Protefix Hygiene Denture Paste, Queisser Pharma, Germany), denture cleansing tablets (Protefix Hygiene Cleaning Tablets, Queisse Pharma, Germany), and a disinfecting spray (Aftermat, Port Jefferson Station, New York City, NY, USA)-for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. The image acquisition was performed with scanning electron microscopy and samples were analyzed for the homogeneity of their surfaces-the presence of holes, grooves, precipitate, and small and large separating pieces of the material marking departures from this homogeneity. For each type of damage, one point was given. Continuous data from two groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U testing. Due to a small sample size and distribution of variables other than normal, to compare more than two groups, Kruskal-Wallis testing with post hoc analysis (Dunn test with Bonferroni correction) was used. Categorical data were compared with the chi-square test and the Fisher's exact test. The Mollosil Plus material should be decontaminated with the use of a toothbrush or toothbrush with soap, while Plastitanium material should be disinfected. Plastitanium samples are more susceptible to damage during the decontamination procedures than Mollosil Plus.

Surface Quality Evaluation of Removable Thermoplastic Dental Appliances Related to Staining Beverages and Cleaning Agents

(1) Background: Thermoplastic materials are not inert and subject to changes in the oral environment, which affect their surface quality. Color stability and topographic characteristics of clear thermoplastic appliances are critical considerations. The study aimed to evaluate the optical changes and surface topography of different thermoplastic materials related to staining beverages and cleaning agents. (2) Methods: Thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) material specimens were selected for the study: S (Duran, Scheu-Dental GmbH, Iserlohn, Germany), D (Biolon, Dreve Dentamid GmbH, Unna, Germany), and B (Crystal, Bio Art Dental Equipment, Sao Carlos, Brazil). Four different media were involved for immersion: coffee (C) and black tea (T) at 55 °C, Coca-Cola (K) at 5 °C, and distilled water (W) at 22 °C. As for cleaning, chemical options and mechanical brushing were selected (P-powder, T-tablets, and X-brushing). Color changes, and mean surface roughness were measured at 24 h, 48 h, and after 7 days. Statistical analysis was performed. After the testing period, atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses and SEM images were registered in order to characterize the surface topography. (3) Results: Quantitative color change evaluations revealed a slight change in color after 24 h and an extremely marked change after 48 h, respective 7 days. Mean roughness values are kept below the clinically acceptable limit of 0.20 µm for all samples. Related to mean nanoroughness values Sa, and 3D evaluations of the surface quality, Biolon samples have demonstrated the most constant behavior, while Crystal samples are visibly influenced by water immersion. Related to the cleaning method, the topography of Duran samples was influenced by mechanical brushing. (4) Conclusions: Nanoscale investigations provided high accuracy and more realistic surface quality examinations of the examined samples compared to profilometry. Both SEM and AFM should be used for a more detailed description of the surface topography.

Bioactive poly (methyl methacrylate) bone cement for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Rationale: Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is one of the most commonly used biomaterials for augmenting/stabilizing osteoporosis-induced vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP). However, its clinical applications are limited by its poor performance in high compressive modulus and weak bonding to bone. To address these issues, a bioactive composite bone cement was developed for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, in which mineralized collagen (MC) was incorporated into the PMMA bone cement (MC-PMMA). Methods: The in vitro properties of PMMA and MC-PMMA composite bone cement were determined, including setting time, compressive modulus, adherence, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells. The in vivo properties of both cements were evaluated in an animal study (36 osteoporotic New Zealand female rabbits divided equally between the two bone cement groups; PVP at L5) and a small-scale and short-term clinical study (12 patients in each of the two bone cement groups; follow-up: 2 years). Results: In terms of value for PMMA bone cement, the handling properties of MC-PMMA bone cement were not significantly different. However, both compressive strength and compressive modulus were found to be significantly lower. In the rabbit model study, at 8 and 12 weeks post-surgery, bone regeneration was more significant in MC-PMMA bone cement (cortical bone thickness, osteoblast area, new bone area, and bone ingrowth %; each significantly higher). In the clinical study, at a follow-up of 2 years, both the Visual Analogue Score and Oswestry Disability Index were significantly reduced when MC-PMMA cement was used. Conclusions: MC-PMMA bone cement demonstrated good adaptive mechanical properties and biocompatibility and may be a promising alternative to commercial PMMA bone cements for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in clinical settings. While the present results for MC-PMMA bone cement are encouraging, further study of this cement is needed to explore its viability as an ideal alternative for use in PVP and BKP.