Flexural Strength of Glass-Infiltrated Zirconia/Alumina-Based Ceramics and Feldspathic Veneering Porcelains

Purpose: To compare the flexural strength of two glass-infiltrated high-strength ceramics and two veneering glass-ceramics.Materials and Methods: Four ceramic materials were tested: two glass-infiltrated high-strength ceramics used as framework in metal-free restorations [In-Ceram Zirconia IZ (Gr1) and In-Ceram Alumina IA (Gr2)], and two glass-ceramics used as veneering material in metal-free restorations [Vita VM7 (Gr3) and Vitadur-alpha (Gr4)]. Bar specimens (25 x 5 x 2 mm(3)) made from core ceramics, alumina, and zirconia/alumina composites were prepared and applied to a silicone mold, which rested on a base from a gypsum die material. The IZ and IA specimens were partially sintered in an In-Ceram furnace according to the firing cycle of each material, and then were infiltrated with a low-viscosity glass to yield bar specimens of high density and strength. The Vita VM7 and Vitadur-alpha specimens were made from veneering materials, by vibration of slurry porcelain powder and condensation into a two-part brass Teflon matrix (25 x 5 x 2 mm(3)). Excess water was removed with absorbent paper. The veneering ceramic specimens were then removed from the matrix and were fired as recommended by the manufacturer. Another ceramic application and sintering were performed to compensate the contraction of the feldspar ceramic. The bar specimens were then tested in a three-point bending test.Results: The core materials (Gr1: 436.1 +/- 54.8; Gr2: 419.4 +/- 83.8) presented significantly higher flexural strength (MPa) than the veneer ceramics (Gr3: 63.5 +/- 9.9; Gr4: 57.8 +/- 12.7).Conclusion: In-Ceram Alumina and Zirconia were similar statistically and more resistant than VM7 and Vitadur-alpha.

Effect of Acid Neutralization and Mechanical Cycling on the Microtensile Bond Strength of Glass-ceramic Inlays

Objectives: To evaluate the hypothesis that a process of hydrofluoric acid precipitate neutralization and fatigue load cycling performed on human premolars restored with ceramic inlays had an influence on microtensile bond strength results (MTBS). Methods: MOD inlay preparations were performed in 40 premolars (with their roots embedded in acrylic resin). Forty ceramic restorations were prepared using glass-ceramic (IPS Empress). The inner surfaces of all the restorations were etched with 10% hydrofluoric acid for 60 seconds, rinsed with water and dried. The specimens were divided into two groups (N=20): 1-without neutralization; 2-with neutralization. All the restorations were silanized and adhesively cemented (self-curing and self-etching luting composite system, Multilink). Ten premolars from each group were submitted to mechanical cycling (1,400,000 cycles, 50N, 37 degrees C). After cycling, the samples were sectioned to produce non-trimmed beam specimens (vestibular dentin-restoration-lingual dentin set), which were submitted to microtensile testing. Results: Bond strength was significantly affected by the surface treatment (p<0.0001) (no neutralization > neutralization) and mechanical cycling (p<0.0001) (control > cycling) (2-way ANOVA and Tukey test, alpha=.05). Conclusion: Hydrofluoric acid precipitate neutralization appears to significantly damage the resin bond to glass-ceramic and should not be recommended. The clinical simulation of the specimens, by using mechanical cycling, is important when evaluating the ceramic-dentin bond.

Opaque Layer Firing Temperature and Aging Effect on the Flexural Strength of Ceramic Fused to Cobalt-Chromium Alloy

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the opaque layer firing temperature and mechanical and thermal cycling on the flexural strength of a ceramic fused to commercial cobalt-chromium alloy (Co-Cr). The hypotheses were that higher opaque layer temperatures increase the metal/ceramic bond strength and that aging reduces the bond strength.Materials and Methods: Metallic frameworks (25 x 3 x 0.5 mm(3); ISO 9693) (N = 60) were cast in Co-Cr and airborne-particle abraded (Al(2)O(3): 150 mu m) at the central area of the frameworks (8 x 3 mm(2)) and divided into three groups (N = 20), according to the opaque layer firing temperature: Gr1 (control)-900 degrees C; Gr2-950 degrees C; Gr3-1000 degrees C. The opaque ceramic (Opaque, Vita Zahnfabrick, Bad Sackingen, Germany) was applied, and the glass ceramic (Vita Omega 900, Vita Zahnfabrick) was fired onto it (thickness: 1 mm). While half the specimens from each group were randomly tested without aging (water storage: 37 degrees C/24 hours), the other half were mechanically loaded (20,000 cycles; 50 N load; distilled water at 37 degrees C) and thermocycled (3000 cycles; 5 degrees C to 55 degrees C, dwell time: 30 seconds). After the flexural strength test, failure types were noted. The data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05).Results: Gr2 (19.41 +/- 5.5 N) and Gr3 (20.6 +/- 5 N) presented higher values than Gr1 (13.3 +/- 1.6 N) (p = 0.001). Mechanical and thermal cycling did not significantly influence the mean flexural strength values (p > 0.05). Increasing the opaque layer firing temperature improved the flexural bond strength values (p < 0.05). The hypotheses were partially accepted.Conclusion: Increasing of the opaque layer firing temperature improved the flexural bond strength between ceramic fused to Co-Cr alloy.

Surface degradation of glass ceramics after exposure to acidulated phosphate fluoride

Objective: This study evaluated the surface degradation effect of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel exposure on the glassy matrix ceramics as a function of time. Material and methods: Disc-shaped ceramic specimens (N = 120, 10/per ceramic material) were prepared in stainless steel molds (inner diameter: 5 mm, height: 2 mm) using 6 dental ceramics: 3 indicated for ceramic-fused-to-metal (Vita Omega 900, Carmen and Vita Titankeramik), 2 for all-ceramic (Vitadur Alpha and Finesse (R) Low Fusing) and 1 for both types of restorations (IPS d. SIGN). The specimens were wet ground finished, ultrasonically cleaned and auto-glazed. All specimens were subjected to calculation of percentage of mass loss, surface roughness analysis and topographical description by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before (0 min) and after exposure to 1.23 % APF gel for 4 min and 60 min representing short-and long-term etching effect, respectively. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Tukey` s test (alpha=0.05). Results: Significant effect of the type of the ceramics (p=0.0000, p=0.0031) and exposure time (p=0.0000) was observed in both surface roughness and percentage of mass loss values, respectively. The interaction factor between both parameters was also significant for both parameters (p=0.0904, p=0.0258). Both 4 min (0.44 +/- 0.1-0.81 +/- 0.2 mu m) and 60 min (0.66 +/- 0.1 - 1.04 +/- 0.3 mu m) APF gel exposure created significantly more surface roughness for all groups when compared to the control groups (0.33 +/- 0.2-0.68 +/- 0.2 mu m) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in percentage of mass loss between the ceramics at 4 min (p>0.05) but at 60 min exposure, IPS d. SIGN showed the highest percentage of mass loss (0.1151 +/- 0.11). The mean surface roughness for Vita Titankeramik (0.84 +/- 0.2 mu m) and Finesse (R) Low Fusing (0.74.+/- 0.2 mu m) was significantly higher than those of the other ceramics (0.59 +/- 0.1 mu m - 0.49 +/- 0.1 mu m) and Vita Titankeramik (p<0.05) regardless of the exposure time. A positive correlation was found between surface roughness and percentage of mass loss for all ceramic materials [(r=0.518 (Vitadur Alpha), r=0.405 (Vita Omega 900), r=0.580 (Carmen), r=0.687 (IPS d. SIGN), r=0.442 (Finesse (R) Low Fusing), r=0.572 (Vita Titankeramik), Pearson's correlation coefficient)]. The qualitative SEM analysis showed evidence of corrosive attack on all of ceramics at varying degrees. Conclusions: The ceramics indicated for either metal-ceramic or all-ceramic restorations were all vulnerable to surface texture changes and mass loss after short-term and long-term APF gel exposure.

A retrospective look at esthetic resin composite and glass-ionomer Class III restorations: A 2-year clinical evaluation

Objective: A restorative material for Class III cavities must, besides being functional, be esthetically satisfactory, providing good working conditions and several shade and color options. A clinical evaluation was initiated to compare the suitability of resin composite and glass-ionomer cement materials for such restorations.Method and materials: Forty-two Class III conservative cavities, esthetically important because of facial extensions, were selected. Resin composite restorations were placed in 21 cavities, and the remaining 21 were restored with glass-ionomer cement. The following characteristics were studied: color or-esthetics, anatomic shape, surface texture, staining, marginal infiltration, dental plaque retention, and occurrence of fracture. After 24 months, the restorations were evaluated.Results: the only statistically significant difference between the resin composite and glass-ionomer cement restorations in the experimental period involved color or esthetics.Conclusion: Resin composites and glass-ionomer materials provide excellent functional and esthetic results in Class III cavities when properly indicated.

Effect of partial crystallization on the mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of bioactive glass from the 3CaO center dot P2O5-SiO2-MgO system

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Compositional and structural changes at the anodic surface of thermally poled soda-lime float glass

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Degradation of the surface of a metasilicate glass due to atmosphere moisture

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparation and evaluation of an experimental luting glass ionomer cement to be used in dentistry

The aim of this paper is to compare the fluoride-releasing and mechanical properties of an experimental luting glass ionomer cement, which has a modified composition and a commercial luting cement. The experimental powder was obtained by sol-gel process and then, it was used to prepare the experimental cements. The properties of cement pastes, such as setting time and working time, microhardness and diametral tensile strength were determined. Fluoride release from GICs was evaluated at time intervals of 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in deionized water. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses showed that the surface of the experimental cements is more homogeneous than commercial GICs. The mechanical properties and the measure of liberation of fluoride of the two cements were influenced by ratio powder:liquid and chemical composition of the precursor powders. Experimental cements released less fluoride than commercial cements. However, this liberation was more constant during the analyzed period. Thus, the results obtained in this study indicated that the composition of the experimental powder modified by the niobium can lead the formation of the polysalt matrix with good mechanical properties. In other words, we can say that experimental powder offered considerable promise for exploitation in dental field.

SnO2 nanoparticles functionalized in amorphous silica and glass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of variations in annealing temperature and metallic cations on nanostructured molybdate thin films

Crystalline molybdate thin films were prepared by the complex polymerization method. The AMoO(4) (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) films were deposited onto Si wafers by the spinning technique. The Mo-O bond in the AMoO(4) structure was confirmed by FTIR spectra. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of crystalline scheelite-type phase. The mass, size, and basicity of A(2+) cations was found to be dependent on the intrinsic characteristics of the materials. The grain size increased in the following order: CaMoO4 < SrMoO4 < BaMoO4. The emission band wavelength was detected at around 576 nm. Our findings suggest that the material's morphology and photoluminescence were both affected by the variations in cations (Ca, Sr, or Ba) and in the thermal treatment.

Pump excited state absorption in holmium-doped fluoride glass

The primary excited state absorption processes relating to the (5)I(6) -> (5)I(7) 3 mu m laser transition in singly Ho(3+)-doped fluoride glass have been investigated in detail using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Selective laser excitation of the (5)I(6) and (5)I(7) energy levels established the occurrence of two excited state absorption transitions from these energy levels that compete with previously described energy transfer upconversion processes. The (5)I(7) -> (5)I(4) excited state absorption transition has peak cross sections at 1216 nm (sigma(esa)=2.8x10(-21) cm(2)), 1174 nm (sigma(esa)=1x10(-21) cm(2)), and 1134 nm (sigma(esa)=7.4x10(-22) cm(2)) which have a strong overlap with the (5)I(8) -> (5)I(6) ground state absorption. on the other hand, it was established that the excited state absorption transition (5)I(6) -> (5)S(2) had a weak overlap with ground state absorption. Using numerical solution of the rate equations, we show that Ho(3+)-doped fluoride fiber lasers employing pumping at 1100 nm rely on excited state absorption from the lowest excited state of Ho(3+) to maintain a population inversion and that energy transfer upconversion processes compete detrimentally with the excited state absorption processes in concentrated Ho(3+)-doped fluoride glass. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Color tunability of intense upconversion emission from Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-Ta2O5 glass ceramic planar waveguides

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)