Effect of preliminary irradiation on the bond strength between a veneering composite and alloy

Depth of cure, water absorption, and solubility of indirect composites polymerized by light-emitting diode laboratory units

This study investigated the usefulness of a dental laboratory polymerization unit with light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source. The depth of cure (n=15), water absorption and solubility (n=9) of two indirect composite materials (Cesead N and Solidex Hardura) were evaluated by five dental laboratory polymerization units (LED Cure Master, Twinkle LED, α-Light V, α-Light II, and Hyper LII). Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test or non-parametric tests. Comparison of light sources for curing depth showed that metal halide had the highest value, followed by the LED group with similar values, and halogen lamps with the lowest value. The water absorption and solubility of the composite specimens polymerized with the three LED laboratory polymerization units were within the ISO recommended limit.

Effect of thione primers on adhesive bonding between an indirect composite material and Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy

The current study evaluated the effect of primers on the shear bond strength of an indirect composite material joined to a silverpalladium-copper-gold (Ag-Pd-Cu-Au) alloy (Castwell). Disk specimens were cast from the alloy and were air-abraded with alumina. Eight metal primers were applied to the alloy surface. A light-polymerized indirect composite material (Solidex) was bonded to the alloy. Shear bond strength was determined both before and after the application of thermocycling. Two groups primed with Metaltite (thione) and M. L. Primer (sulfide) showed the greatest post-thermocycling bond strength (8.8 and 6.5 MPa). The results of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis suggested that the thione monomer (MTU-6) in the Metaltite primer was strongly adsorbed onto the Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy surface even after repeated cleaning with acetone. The application of either the thione (MTU-6) or sulfide primer is effective for enhancing the bonding between a composite material and Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy.

Depth of cure and hardness of indirect composite materials polymerized with two metal halide laboratory curing units

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the depth of cure and Knoop hardness of indirect composite materials polymerized with different laboratory curing units. Five composite materials designed for fixed restoration veneer (Artglass, Ceramage, Epricord, Prossimo, and Solidex) were filled into a cylindrical mold and then light-exposed by using the respective proprietary laboratory curing unit or two metal halide curing units (Hyper LII and Twinkle X). Depth of cure was determined by a scraping technique, as described in ISO 4049. Composites also underwent Knoop hardness testing after immersion in water. The results (n = 5) were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparison test. For three materials (Prossimo, Artglass, and Epricord), depth of cure after polymerization with the Twinkle X unit was greater than that after polymerization with the respective proprietary units. For the Ceramage and Artglass materials, the Twinkle X unit resulted in the highest Knoop hardness number (KHN), whereas, for the Prossimo material, the Hyper LII unit resulted in the highest KHN. The metal halide units were effective in enhancing the post-polymerization properties of specific composite materials while reducing exposure time.

Influence of laboratory light sources on the wear characteristics of indirect composites

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the influence of light sources on the mechanical properties and wear characteristics of indirect composite materials. The two composite materials used were Estenia C&B and Epricord. The three laboratory polymerization units used, of which the wavelength range was 400-500 nm, were Hyper LII (two metal halide lamps of 4.82 mW/cm(2)), α-Light II (one halogen lamp and two fluorescent tubes of 3.60 mW/cm(2)), and Labolight LV-II (three fluorescent tubes of 0.63 mW/cm(2)). Three-body wear test was performed using indirect composite plate specimens, a gold alloy antagonist, and a polymer slurry. Wear depths of Estenia C&B polymerized with Hyper LII, α-Light II, and Labolight LV-II were 5.7, 18.5, and 64.2 µm respectively, whereas those of Epricord were 12.9, 18.7, and 48.5 µm respectively. Results showed that, after 100,000 cycles of localized loading, high-intensity light sources were effective in enhancing the wear resistance of both composite materials.