HYDROFLUORIC ACID ETCHING PATTERNS AND SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF THREE SILICA-BASED CERAMIC MATERIALS

Purpose: This study investigates the hydrofluoric acid etching patterns and the surface morphology of three types of glass-ceramic materials. Materials and methods: Hydrofluoric acid etching patterns and surface morphology changes of three silica-based ceramics - EX-3, E.max press, and Heraceram press were studied. Fourteen rectangular experimental bodies with a cross-section of 2x2mm and a length of 5-7 mm were divided into two groups(n=7): polished (control group) and etched (5% hydrofluoric acid). Etching time was 120s in EX-3 (EXHF) and Heraceram press (HHF) groups and 20s in E.max press group (EHF). Surface morphology was observed under a scanning electron microscope at magnifications ranging from x50 to x2700. Results: The presence of numerous pores and channels as a result of the etching procedure was observed in all ceramic materials. In the EXHF group, irregularly shaped structures and canals with a width of 10-20µm characterize the ceramic surface. At higher magnifications, microwells with a size of 1-2 µm and channels with a length of 5-10 µm were observed. In the EHF group, lithium disilicate crystals with different orientations and the glassy phase dissolved between them can be seen. Channels with a wavy course and a length of about 5 µm are also observed. In the HHF group, 5-20µm cavernous-like formations surrounded by partially dissolved channels can be seen. Conclusions: Each ceramic material showed different etching patterns due to the material's composition and the distribution of the crystalline and vitreous phases.

Effects of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) in Dentistry: A Review

Dental medicine is one of the fields of medicine where the most common pathologies are of bacterial and fungal origins. This review is mainly focused on the antimicrobial effects of cinnamon essential oil (EO), cinnamon extracts, and pure compounds against different oral pathogens and the oral biofilm and the possible effects on soft mouth tissue. Basic information is provided about cinnamon, as is a review of its antimicrobial properties against the most common microorganisms causing dental caries, endodontic and periodontal lesions, and candidiasis. Cinnamon EO, cinnamon extracts, and pure compounds show significant antimicrobial activities against oral pathogens and could be beneficial in caries and periodontal disease prevention, endodontics, and candidiasis treatment.