Effects of thermocycling on the degree of cure of two lingual retainer composites

Polymerization Shrinkage, Hygroscopic Expansion, Elastic Modulus and Degree of Conversion of Different Composites for Dental Application

Objectives: To characterize the mechanical properties of different resin-composites for dental application. Methods: Thirteen universal dentin shade composites (n = 10) from different manufacturers were evaluated (4 Seasons, Grandio, Venus, Amelogen Plus, P90, Z350, Esthet-X, Amaris, Vita-l-escence, Natural-Look, Charisma, Z250 and Opallis). The polymerization shrinkage percentage was calculated using a video-image recording device (ACUVOL—Bisco Dental) and the hygroscopic expansion was measured after thermocycling aging in the same equipment. Equal volumes of material were used and, after 5 min of relaxation, baseline measurements were calculated with 18 J of energy delivered from the light-curing unit. Specimens were stored in a dry-dark environment for 24 h then thermocycled in distilled water (5–55 °C for 20,000 cycles) with volume measurement at each 5000 cycles. In addition, the pulse-excitatory method was applied to calculate the elastic modulus and Poisson ratio for each resin material and the degree of conversion was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results: The ANOVA showed that all composite volumes were influenced by the number of cycles (α = 0.05). Volumes at 5 min post-polymerization (12.47 ± 0.08 cm3) were significantly lower than those at baseline (12.80 ± 0.09 cm3). With regard to the impact of aging, all resin materials showed a statistically significant increase in volume after 5000 cycles (13.04 ± 0.22 cm3). There was no statistical difference between volumes measured at the other cycle steps. The elastic modulus ranged from 22.15 to 10.06 GPa and the Poisson ratio from 0.54 to 0.22 with a significant difference between the evaluated materials (α = 0.05). The degree of conversion was higher than 60% for all evaluated resin composites.

Bond strength of resin cement to zirconia treated in pre-sintered stage

PURPOSE

Aim of this study was to evaluate the tensile bond strength (TBS) between resin cement and zirconia surface treated in different sintering stages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty zirconia discs having final dimensions of 12 mm diameter and 3.2 mm thickness were milled then divided into three main groups according to the type of surface treatment performed (group 1: air abrasion using 50 µm Al₂O₃ particles, group 2: silica coating using Rocatec soft, and group 3: a control group receiving no surface treatment). Groups 1 and 2 were divided into two subgroups each according to the stage in which the surface treatment was performed (subgroup A; surface treatment performed in the pre-sintered stage and subgroup B; surface treatment performed in the post-sintered stage). Discs were later bonded to composite core materials using resin cement then tested for TBS either being subjected to 3 days of water storage or 150 days of water storage and 37,500 thermal cycles.

RESULTS

Long-term aging caused a significant decrease in TBS of all subgroups except the subgroup air-abraded in the post-sintered stage. After long-term aging, the group silica coated in the pre-sintered stage showed the significantly lowest TBS compared to all other groups. There was also no significant difference between the subgroups air-abraded and silica coated in the pre-sintered stage. All specimens in the control group debonded during long-term aging.

SIGNIFICANCE

Air-abrading zirconia with Al₂O₃ at a reduced pressure in the pre-sintered stage may result in durable bond strength to resin cement.

Color stability of lithium disilicate ceramics after aging and immersion in common beverages

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The color of an esthetic restoration and its color stability are important for long-term success. However, the impact of common beverages on lithium disilicate ceramic is not well known.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate color variations of lithium disilicate ceramics after thermocycling (TC) and immersion in commonly consumed beverages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 288 specimens (1×10×10 mm) were fabricated from IPS e-max computer-aided design (CAD) (n=72), IPS e-max CERAM ([CER] n=72), IPS e-max Press with glazing ([PG] n=72), and IPS e-max Press without glazing ([PNG] n=72) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (n=18): TC, coffee, black tea, and red wine. Thermocycling was performed at 21 900 cycles at 5°C, 37°C, 55°C, and 37°C (3 years' clinical simulation), whereas the specimens were soaked in the staining solutions for up to 54 hours (3 years' clinical simulation). Color parameters L*, a*, and b* were assessed with an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy recording spectrophotometer. Color difference (ΔE) was calculated using the equation [ΔΕ= [(ΔL*)² + (Δa*)² + (Δb*)²]½]. Intraexaminer reliability was assessed by using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Two-way analysis of variance was used for the analysis of ΔΕ, and the parameters L*, a*, and b* were analyzed with linear mixed models for repeated measurements and the Bonferroni pair-wise comparison test (α=.05).

RESULTS

Parameters ΔΕ, L*, a*, and b* were significantly affected by the interaction between material and treatment (P<.001). A ΔΕ >1 was recorded for PG with tea, wine, and coffee, PG after TC and CER after TC. For L*, greater reduction was observed for PNG with tea and CER after TC, whereas for a* significant changes were positive (to red shades), except for PNG with TC, where PNG with wine showed the greatest positive change. For b*, significant changes were negative (to blue shades) except for PNG with tea and coffee and CAD with tea.

CONCLUSIONS

All groups demonstrated color changes below the clinically perceptible level (ΔΕ<3.7), except PNG in tea which showed statistically significant color differences (ΔΕ>4). CAD presented higher color stability compared with the nonglazed Press specimens.

Intrapulpal Temperature Increase During Er:YAG Laser-Aided Debonding of Ceramic Brackets

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temperature changes in the pulp chamber while using a newly introduced application of Er:YAG laser to debond ceramic brackets in a study model with a pulpal circulation with and without thermocycled samples.

BACKGROUND DATA

An esthetic alternative to stainless steel brackets, ceramic brackets have been proposed. However, because of their low fracture resistance and high bond strengths, ceramic brackets can cause a problem when they are being removed using conventional techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental Groups A and B were established for samples with or without thermocycling. The same 20 maxillary central incisor and 20 premolar teeth were used in both groups. Pulpal blood microcirculation was simulated using an apparatus described in a previous study. Monocrystalline brackets were bonded by using Transbond XT. In Group A, brackets were debonded using the Er:YAG laser (600 mJ, 2 Hz, long pulse, and no air or water spray) after being stored in distilled water for 24 h. In Group B, brackets were debonded using the same laser system as that used in Group A after being stored in distilled water for 24 h and then thermocycled for a total of 5000 cycles between 5°C and 55°C. The laser irradiation duration and intrapulpal temperature changes were measured.

RESULTS

In Group B, the intrapulpal temperature increase of the central incisors was significantly higher than that of the premolar teeth. In the central incisor and premolar teeth groups, there were no statistically significant difference between Groups A and B (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between laser irradiation duration and temperature increase (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of Er:YAG laser is an effective method for debonding the monocrystalline ceramic brackets. This method can be used safely under the consideration of intrapulpal temperature changes.

Preparation, mechanical, and in vitro properties of glass fiber-reinforced polycarbonate composites for orthodontic application

Generally, orthodontic treatment uses metallic wires made from stainless steel, cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy, β-titanium alloy, and nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy. However, these wires are not esthetically pleasing and may induce allergic or toxic reactions. To correct these issues, in the present study we developed glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) orthodontic wires made from polycarbonate and E-glass fiber by using pultrusion. After fabricating these GFRP round wires with a diameter of 0.45 mm (0.018 inch), we examined their mechanical and in vitro properties. To investigate how the glass-fiber diameter affected their physical properties, we prepared GFRP wires of varying diameters (7 and 13 µm). Both the GFRP with 13-µm fibers (GFRP-13) and GFRP with 7 µm fibers (GFRP-7) were more transparent than the metallic orthodontic wires. Flexural strengths of GFRP-13 and GFRP-7 were 690.3 ± 99.2 and 938.1 ± 95.0 MPa, respectively; flexural moduli of GFRP-13 and GFRP-7 were 25.4 ± 4.9 and 34.7 ± 7.7 GPa, respectively. These flexural properties of the GFRP wires were nearly equivalent to those of available Ni-Ti wires. GFRP-7 had better flexural properties than GFRP-13, indicating that the flexural properties of GFRP increase with decreasing fiber diameter. Using thermocycling, we found no significant change in the flexural properties of the GFRPs after 600 or 1,200 cycles. Using a cytotoxicity detection kit, we found that the glass fiber and polycarbonate components comprising the GFRP were not cytotoxic within the limitations of this study. We expect this metal-free GFRP wire composed of polycarbonate and glass fiber to be useful as an esthetically pleasing alternative to current metallic orthodontic wire.