Study of microleakage at class V cavities prepared by Er : YAG laser using rewetting surface treatment

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze microleakage in Class V cavity preparation, using rewetting (or not) just after burr or Er:YAG laser preparation of enamel and dentin walls in permanent teeth. Background Data: Several studies reported microleakage around composite restorations when cavity preparation was done or treated by Er:YAG laser. As the hybridized laser is removed when this laser is used to cut dental hard tissue, there is a need for new materials or techniques to minimize gaps and microleakage. Results: Primer solution showed significant effect in enamel and dentin, at the level of 5%, when Er:YAG laser was used as a cutting tool. Using primer solution after phosphoric acid in preparations with the laser, microleakage was similar in degree to when cavities were prepared with the burr. Conclusion: Re-wetting surface just after Er:YAG irradiation and chemical treatment with phosphoric acid using HEMA aqueous solution seems to improve the quality of bioattachment between the adhesive system and enamel/dentin, showing similarities between restoration behaviors independently of the cutting tool, whether burr or laser.

Polymerization shrinkage: effects of boundary conditions and filling technique of resin composite restorations

Objective: To evaluate the linear polymerization shrinkage (LPS) and the effect of polymerization shrinkage of a resin composite and resin-dentin bond strength under different boundary conditions and filling techniques.Methods: Two cavities (4 x 4 x 2 MM) were prepared in bovine incisors (n = 30). The teeth were divided into three groups, according to boundary conditions: In group TE, the total-etch technique was used. In group EE, only enamel was conditioned, and in group NE, none of the watts of the cavities were conditioned. A two-step adhesive system was applied to all cavities. The resin composite was inserted in one (B) or three increments (1), and tight-cured with 600 mW/cm(2) (80 s). The LPS (%) was measured in the top-bottom direction, by placing a probe in contact with resin composite during curing. Enamel and total mean gap widths were measured (400 x) in three slices obtained after sectioning the restorations. Then, the slices were sectioned again, either to obtain sticks from the adhesive interface from the bottom of the cavity or to obtain resin composite sticks (0.8 mm(2)) to be tested for tensile strength (Kratos machine, 0.5 mm/min). The data was subjected to a two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's test for comparison of the means (alpha = 0.05).Results: the highest percentage of LPS was found for the TE when bulk fitted, and the lowest percentage of LPS was found in the Hand NE when incrementally fitted. The resin dentin bond strength was higher and the total mean gap width was tower for TE group; no significant effect was detected for the main factor fitting techniques. No difference was detected for the tensile strength of resin composite among the experimental groups.Conclusions: the filling technique is not able to minimize effects of the polymerization shrinkage, and bonding to the cavity watts is necessary to assure reduced mean gap width and high bond strength values. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro evaluation of acidified toothpastes with low fluoride content

Fluoride toothpastes are a risk factor for the development of dental fluorosis. Products with low fluoride content offer a higher security, but their effectiveness must be proven. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare two acidified toothpastes with low fluoride concentration (412 and 550 mu g F/g) with neutral toothpastes. Bovine enamel blocks were selected by surface microhardness (SMH) and randomized to twelve groups of 13, according to the fluoride concentration in toothpaste (placebo, 275, 412, 550 or 1,100 jig F/g) and pH (7.0 or 5.5). Two commercially available toothpastes were also studied: a 1,100-mu g F/g, pH 7.0 paste (positive control) and a children's paste (500 mu g F/g, pH 7.0). The blocks were subjected to pH cycling for 7 days. The toothpaste treatment was done twice daily. Surface and cross-sectional microhardnesses were assessed to calculate the percentage change of SMH (%SMH) and the mineral loss (Delta Z). The amount of fluoride, calcium and phosphorus in the solutions after the pH cycling was also analyzed. Compared to neutral toothpastes, the acidified toothpastes reduced the %SMH in all F concentrations. Higher F and lower Ca and P concentrations were found in solutions for the acidified toothpastes. Regarding AZ, only the positive control, 1,100-mu g F/g (acidified and neutral) groups were not statistically different. The acidified toothpastes showed a dose-response relationship with all variables. For the low-fluoride toothpastes evaluated, only the 550-mu g F/g acidified paste had the same anticariogenic action as the 1,100-mu g F/g neutral paste.

Anatomoradiographic description of the teeth of pacas bred in captivity (Agouti paca, Linnaeus, 1766)

Two newborn males, two adult males 9 and 72 months old, one newborn female and two adult females of 30 and 54 months old pacas were used. Animals were radiographed on lateral recumbency, teeth were extracted and the vestibulolingual and mesiodistal lengths were achieved at the occlusal surface, besides the longitudinal length. The lower incisors presented greater length in relation to the other ones and sinuous shape; the upper incisors, relatively smaller, are practically straight. There is no canine tooth, and after a great diastema there is one premolar and three molars in each hemiarcade. In adult pacas, the enamel of incisors presents yellowish colour, mainly in the labial surface; in the premolars and molars, the enamel is present as internal sheets disposed nearly in a parallel way and in vestibulolingual direction, through practically all the dental length, which provides several joined teeth aspect.

Ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, clefting, anophthalmia microphthalmia, and genitourinary anomalies: nosology of goltz-gorlin syndrome versus eec syndrome

We report on two unrelated Brazilian girls born to normal and nonconsanguineous parents and presenting ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, clefting, tear duct anomalies, and micro/anophthalmia. The clinical picture presented by these patients suggests the diagnosis of Goltz-Gorlin (Focal dermal hypoplasia) syndrome and EEC syndrome.

Microleakage of hydrophilic adhesive systems in Class V composite restorations

Purpose: To investigate the microleakage of four hydrophilic adhesive systems: one multiple-bottles (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus); two one-bottle (Single Bond, Stae); and one self-etching (Etch & Prime 3.0). Materials and Methods: 120 bovine incisor teeth were divided into four groups (n = 30) and Class V cavities were prepared at the cemento-enamel junction. The cavities were restored with the adhesive systems and with Z100 composite. The teeth were thermocycled 1,000 times between 5 +/- 2 degreesC and 55 +/- 2 degreesC with a dwell time of 1 min, and then placed in a 2% methylene blue dye (pH 7.0) for 4 hrs, washed and sectioned vertically through the center of the restorations. The qualitative evaluation was made by three examiners who distributed pre-established scores (0-4) for each tooth using a stereomicroscope at x30 magnification. Results: In enamel margins little microleakage was observed and the Kruskal-Wallis analysis did not show differences. In dentin margins the KruskaI-Wallis and multiple comparison analyses were applied: microleakage was significantly greater with Stae (median 3) and Scotchbond MP Plus (median 4). Single Bond (median 1) and Etch & Prime 3.0 (median 2) showed the best results in dentin margins, and the statistical analysis did not demonstrate differences in microleakage among these groups.

Effect of the clinical application of the GaAlAs laser in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity

Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical use of the gallium-aluminum-arsenium (GaAlAs) laser at the maximum and minimum energies recommended by the manufacturer for the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity.Background Data: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a response to a stimulus that would not usually cause pain in a healthy tooth. It is characterized by sharp pain of short duration from the denuded dentin. Its etiology is unknown. The dentin only begins to show sensitivity when exposed to the buccal environment. This exposure can result after removal of the enamel and/or dental cement, or after root denudation. Different treatments are proposed for this disorder.Materials and Methods: In this study, 25 patients, with a total number of 106 cases of DH, were treated with GaAlAs low-level laser therapy (LLLT). 65% of the teeth were premolars; 14% were incisors and molars; 6.6% were canines. The teeth were irradiated with 3 and 5 J/cm(2) for up to six sessions, with an interval of 72 It between each application, and they were evaluated initially, after each application, and at 15 and 60 days follow-up post-treatment.Results: the treatment was effective in 86.53% and 88.88% of the irradiated teeth, respectively, with the minimum and maximum energy recommended by the manufacturer. There was a statistically significant difference between DH and after a follow-up of 60 days for both groups. The difference among the energy maximum and minimum was not significant.Conclusion: the GaAlAs low-level laser was effective in reducing initial DH. A significant difference was found between initial values of hypersensitivity and after 60 days follow-up post-treatment. No significant difference was found between minimum (3 J/cm(2)) and maximum (5 J/cm(2)) applied energy.

Dental abnormalities in children after chemotherapy treatment for acute lymphoid leukemia

The frequency of dental abnormalities, such as delayed dental development, microdontia, hypoplasia, agenesis, V-shaped root and shortened root was evaluated in 76 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) pediatric patients who had been off chemotherapy for 6 months. These children had been subjected to one of the three Brazilian Protocols or the BFM86 Protocol. The patients were divided into three groups: Group I (GI; high risk) treated with one of the three Brazilian Protocols who received high-dose chemotherapy, intensive maintenance and cranial radiotherapy; Group II (GII; low risk) who were also treated with one of the three Brazilian Protocols using low-intensive chemotherapy with no radiotherapy; and Group III (GIII) based on the BFM86 Protocol.Of 76 children, 13 showed no dental abnormalities (8 were at the age of tooth formation). The remaining 63 children (82.9%) showed at least one dental anomaly.The abnormalities were probably caused by the type, intensity, frequency of the treatment and age of the patients at ALL diagnosis and this might have important consequences for the children's dental development. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of cutting patterns produced in primary teeth by an air-abrasion system

Objective: the aim of this in vitro study was to assess the effect of tip diameter, nozzle distance, and application time of an air-abrasion system for cavity preparation on the enamel of primary teeth. Method and materials: Forty exfoliated primary teeth were air abraded with a microabrasion machine used with a handpiece with an 80-degree-angle nozzle, 50-mum abrasive particle size, and 80-psi air pressure. The effects of 0.38- or 0.48-mm inner tip diameter, 2- or 5-mm distance from tip to tooth surface, and 15 or 30 seconds of application time on cutting efficiency were evaluated. Cutting width and depth were analyzed and measured from scanning electron micrographs. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that the width of the cuts was significantly greater when the tip distance was increased. Significantly deeper cavities were produced by a tip with a 0.48-mm inner diameter. The application time did not influence the cuts. Conclusion: the cutting patterns found in this study suggest that precise removal of enamel in primary teeth is best accomplished when a tip with a 0.38-mm inner diameter is used at a 2-mm distance.

Penetration of 38% hydrogen peroxide into the pulp chamber in bovine and human teeth submitted to office bleach technique

This study evaluated the pulp chamber penetration of peroxide bleaching agent in human and bovine teeth after office bleach technique. All the teeth were sectioned 3 mm apical of the cement-enamel junction and were divided into 2 groups, A (70 third human molars) and B (70 bovine lateral incisors), that were subdivided into A1 and B1 restored by using composite resin, A2 and B2 by using glass ionomer cement, and A3 and B3 by using resin-modified glass ionomer cement; A4, A5, B4, and B5 were not restored. Acetate buffer was placed in the pulp chamber, and the bleaching agent was applied for 40 minutes as follows: A1-A4 and B1-B4, 38% hydrogen peroxide exposure and A5 and B5, immersion into distilled water. The buffer solution was transferred to a glass tube in which leuco crystal violet and horseradish peroxidase were added, producing a blue solution. The optical density of the blue solution was determined by spectrophotometer and converted into microgram equivalents of hydrogen peroxide. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and Dunnett, Kruskal-Wallis, and Tukey tests (5%). A higher level of hydrogen peroxide penetrated into the pulp chamber in resin-modified glass ionomer cements in bovine (0.79 +/- 0.61 mu g) and human (2.27 +/- 0.41 mu g) groups. The bleaching agent penetration into the pulp chamber was higher in human teeth for any experimental situation. The penetration of the hydrogen peroxide depends on restorative materials, and under the conditions of this study human teeth are more susceptible to penetration of bleaching agent into the pulp chamber than bovine teeth.

Microscopic characterization of teeth of pacas bred in captivity (Agouti paca, Linnaeus, 1766)

The microscopic description of the teeth of pacas (Agouti paca) bred in captivity was developed for providing biological data on one of the largest American wild rodents, as not many references exist in the literature about this species. Two newborn males, two adult males (9 and 72 months old), one newborn female and two adult females (30 and 54 months old) were used after death due to fights, neonatal cannibalism or unknown causes. Animals were radiographed, and their teeth were extracted and put on an acrylic resin block, cut on a diamond-like disc microtome and diaphanized. It was noted that enamel surrounds the coronary dentine and projects to the root region, besides being present as internal laminae, arranged in a parallel way and in the vestibulolingual direction. The dentine is located between the enamel laminae and surrounds the pulp horns. The cementum is located internal to the enamel laminae. From scanning electronic microscopy, we find that the enamel is the outer element on the vestibular surface, and it is in direct contact with the dentine. on the lingual surface, the cementum and dentine are the outer elements.

Analysis of camphorquinone in composite resins as a function of shade

Objective. To identify and quantify the camphorquinone (CQ) used in different brands of composite resins as a function of the shade analyzed.Materials and methods. Filtek Z250 A3 (FZA3), Filtek Z-250 Incisal (FZI), Pyramid Enamel A1 (PEA1), Pyramid Enamel Translucent (PET), Filtek Supreme A3E (FSA3) and Filtek Supreme GT (FSGT) were used. Five hundred milligrams of each resin were weighed and then dissolved in 1.0 ml of methanol. The samples were centrifuged to accelerate the sedimentation of the inorganic particles. 0.8 ml of the supernatant solution was collected with a pipette and assessed under gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results were compared to pure CQ solutions, used as a standard. Student's t-test, (p = 0.05) significant at the level of 5%, compared the results of each brand shade.Results. A smaller amount of camphorquinone was found in Filtek Z-250 (FZI) resin incisal shade when compared to (FZA3) A3 shade. on the other hand, Filtek Supreme resin featured a statistically larger camphorquinone amount in the incisal shade. in Pyramid Enamel resin camphorquinone was found only in shade Al, while the photoinitiator used in the Translucent shade was not identified.Significance. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to conclude that a single composite resin brand may feature differences in amount and type of photoinitiator used. (C) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vitro evaluation of the effectiveness of acidic fluoride dentifrices

This study evaluated the effectiveness of acidic low-fluoride dentifrices compared to conventional neutral dentifrices. Enamel blocks were submitted to pH cycling and treatment with slurries of dentifrices containing 0, 275, 412, 550 and 1,100 mu g F/g (pH 4.5 or 7.0), and also a commercial dentifrice (1,100 mu g F/g) and a commercial children's dentifrice (500 mu g F/ g). Variations in surface microhardness and in the mineral content in enamel after pH cycling were calculated. Enamel blocks treated with acidic dentifrices exhibited less mineral loss compared to neutral dentifrices (ANOVA; p < 0.05). The acidic dentifrices with 412 and 550 mu g F/g had the same effectiveness as the neutral 1,100-mu g F/g dentifrice and commercial 1,100-mu g F/g dentifrice. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

Effect of handpiece tip design on the cutting efficiency of an air abrasion system

Purpose : the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nozzle angle and tip diameter on the cutting efficiency of an air abrasion system. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six extracted human third molars were air-abraded with the PrepStar microabrasion machine using a handpiece with either 80degrees or 45degrees nozzle angles with 0.38 or 0.48 nun tip orifice diameters. The following parameters were held constant: abrasive particle size (27 mum), air pressure (80 psi), distance (2 mm.) and duration (15 seconds). The cutting efficiency was compared using enamel, dentin and cementum substrates. Width and depth of the cutting patterns were analyzed and measured using scanning electron micrographs. Results: Statistical analysis using three-way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range test revealed that the width of the cuts was significantly greater when the cavities were prepared using the 45degrees nozzle angle. Significantly deeper cavities were produced with the 80degrees nozzle angle. The tip orifice of the nozzle influenced the cutting efficiency in softer substrates, dentin and cementum. Precise removal of hard tissue is best accomplished using the 80degrees angle nozzle tips for all types of tooth surfaces, enamel, dentin and cementum.

Influence of the period after ovariectomy on femoral and mandibular bone density and on induced periodontal disease

Background: This study investigated the influence of the period after ovariectomy on femoral and mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) and on induced periodontal disease.Methods: One hundred and twenty-six female Holtzman rats were divided into nine groups: control, sham surgery (SHAM) with and without induction of periodontal disease for 51 and 150 days, and ovariectomy (OVX) with and without induction of periodontal disease for 51 and 150 days. Periodontal disease was induced by placing ligatures on the first lower molars during the last 30 days of each period. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Vertical bone loss was determined by measuring the distance from the alveolar bone crest to the cemento-enamel junction on the mesial side of the first lower molar.Results: Statistical analyses (Kruskal-Wallis test) revealed a significant difference between the OVX and SHAM groups' global and femoral proximal epiphysis BMD (P < 0.001) for 150 days and in the global evaluation for 51 days. For mandibular BMD, no difference was found between the groups of each period. Influence of the period on femoral BMD was found only for the SHAM groups, with lower BMD for the 51-day period compared to the 150-day period (P < 0.05). In the global evaluation of the mandible, a lower BMD was found after 51 days. The period was a contributing factor for the vertical bone loss, and it resulted in higher values for the 51-day period (P < 0.05).Conclusion: the period influenced the femoral BMD and the vertical bone loss in induced periodontal disease.