Osteoconductivity of modified fluorcanasite glass-ceramics for bone tissue augmentation and repair

Modified fluorcanasite glasses were fabricated by either altering the molar ratios of Na(2)O and CaO or by adding P(2)O(5) to the parent stoichiometric glass compositions. Glasses were converted to glass-ceramics by a controlled two-stage heat treatment process. Rods (2 mm x 4 mm) were produced using the conventional lost-wax casting technique. Osteoconductive 45S5 bioglass was used as a reference material. Biocompatibility and osteoconductivity were investigated by implantation into healing defects (2 mm) in the midshaft of rabbit femora. Tissue response was investigated using conventional histology and scanning electron microscopy. Histological and histomorphometric evaluation of specimens after 12 weeks implantation showed significantly more bone contact with the surface of 45S5 bioglass implants when compared with other test materials. When the bone contact for each material was compared between experimental time points, the Glass-Ceramic 2 (CaO rich) group showed significant difference (p = 0.027) at 4 weeks, but no direct contact at 12 weeks. Histology and backscattered electron photomicrographs showed that modified fluorcanasite glass-ceramic implants had greater osteoconductivity than the parent stoichiometric composition. Of the new materials, fluorcanasite glass-ceramic implants modified by the addition of P(2)O(5) showed the greatest stimulation of new mineralized bone tissue formation adjacent to the implants after 4 and 12 weeks implantation. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 94A: 760-768, 2010

Influence of energy and pulse repetition rate of Er : YAG laser on enamel ablation ability and morphological analysis of the laser-irradiated surface

Objective: To assess the influence of energy and pulse repetition rate of Er:YAG laser on the enamel ablation ability and substrate morphology. Methods: Fifteen crowns of molars were sectioned in four fragments, providing 60 samples, which were ground to flatten the enamel surface. The initial mass was obtained by weighing the fragments. The specimens were hydrated for I h, fixed, and a 3-mm-diameter area was delimited. Twelve groups were randomly formed according to the combination of laser energies (200, 250, 300, or 350 mJ) and pulse repetition rates (2, 3, or 4 Hz). The final mass was obtained and mass loss was calculated by the difference between the initial and final mass. The specimens were prepared for SEM. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Scheffe test. Results: The 4 Hz frequency resulted in higher mass loss and was statistically different from 2 and 3 Hz (p < 0.05). The increase of frequency produced more melted areas, cracks, and unselective and deeper ablation. The 350 mJ energy promoted greater mass loss, similar to 300 mJ. Conclusions: The pulse repetition rate influenced more intensively the mass loss and morphological alteration. Among the tested parameters, 350 mJ/3 Hz improved the ability of enamel ablation with less surface morphological alterations. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res.

Effect of Two Restorative Materials on Root Dentine Erosion

This study sought to evaluate the microhardness of root dentine adjacent to glass-ionomer and composite resin restorations after erosive challenge. A crossover study was performed in two phases of 4 consecutive days each. One hundred twelve bovine root dentine slabs were obtained, and standardized box-shaped cavities were prepared at center of each specimen. The prepared cavities were randomly restored with glass-ionomer cement or composite resin. The slabs were randomly assigned among 14 volunteers, which wore intraoral palatal device containing four restored root dentin slabs. Starting on the second day, half of the palatal acrylic devices were immersed extraorally in a lemonade-like carbonated soft drink for 90 s, four times daily for 3 days. Alter 3-day wash-out, dentine slabs restored with the alternative material were placed into palatal appliance and the volunteers started the second phase of this study. After erosive challenges. microhardness measurements were performed. Regardless of the restorative material employed, eroded specimens demonstrated lower microhardness value (p < 0.0001). At eroded condition examined in this study, dentine restored with glass-ionomer cement showed higher microhardness values (p < 0.0001). It may be concluded that the glass-ionomer cement decreases the progression of root dentine erosion at restoration margin. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Biomed Mater Res Part B Appl Biomater 93B 304-305, 2010

Histological evaluation of chitosan-based biomaterials used for the correction of critical size defects in rat`s calvaria

Chitosan, a biopolymer obtained from chitin, and its derivates, such as chitosan hydrochloride, has been reported as wound healing accelerators and as possible bone substitutes for tissue engineering, and therefore these Substances could be relevant in dentistry and periodontology. The purpose of this investigation was to make a histological evaluation of chitosan and chitosan hydrochloride biomaterials (gels) used in the correction of critical size bone defects made in rat`s calvaria. Bone defects of 8 mm in diameter were surgically created in the calviria of 50 Holtzman (Rattus norvegicus) rats and filled with blood clot (control), low molecular weight chitosan, high molecular weight chitosan, low molecular weight chitosan hydrochloride, and high molecular weight chitosan hydrochloride, numbering 10 animals, divided into two experimental periods (15 and 60 days), for each biomaterial. The histological evaluation was made based on the morphology of the new-formed tissues in defect`s region, and the results indicated that there was no statistical difference between the groups when the new bone formation in the entire defect`s area were compared (p > 0.05) and, except in the control groups, assorted degrees of inflammation Could be Seen. In Conclusion, chitosan and chitosan hydrochloride biomaterials used in this study were not able to promote new bone formation in critical size defects made in rat`s calvaria. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 93A: 107-114, 2016