The influence of cervical finish line, internal relief, and cement type on the cervical adaptation of metal crowns

Objective: the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cervical adaptation of metal crowns under several conditions, namely (1) variations in the cervical finish line of the preparation, (2) application of internal relief inside the crowns, and (3) cementation using different luting materials. Method and Materials: One hundred eighty stainless-steel master dies were prepared simulating full crown preparations: 60 in chamfer (CH), 60 in 135-degree shoulder (OB), and 60 in rounded shoulder (OR). The finish lines were machined at approximate dimensions of a molar tooth preparation (height: 5.5 mm; cervical diameter: 8 mm; occlusal diameter: 6.4 mm; taper degree: 6; and cervical finish line width: 0.8 mm). One hundred eighty corresponding copings with the same finish lines were fabricated. A 30-mu m internal relief was machined 0.5 mm above the cervical finish line in 90 of these copings. The fit of the die and the coping was measured from all specimens (L0) prior to cementation using an optical microscope. After manipulation of the 3 types of cements (zinc phosphate, glass-ionomer, and resin cement), the coping was luted on the corresponding standard master die under 5-kgf loading for 4 minutes. Vertical discrepancy was again measured (L1), and the difference between L1 and L0 indicated the cervical adaptation. Results: Significant influence of the finish line, cement type, and internal relief was observed on the cervical adaptation (P < .001). The CH type of cervical finish line resulted in the best cervical adaptation of the metal crowns regardless of the cement type either with or without internal relief (36.6 +/- 3 to 100.8 +/- 4 mu m) (3-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test, alpha = .05). The use of glass-ionomer cement resulted in the least cervical discrepancy (36.6 +/- 3 to 115 +/- 4 mu m) than those of other cements (45.2 +/- 4 to 130.3 +/- 2 mu m) in all conditions. Conclusion: the best cervical adaptation was achieved with the chamfer type of finish line. The internal relief improved the marginal adaptation significantly, and the glass-ionomer cement led to the best cervical adaptation, followed by zinc phosphate and resin cement.

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.

Development of metal oxide nanoparticles by soft chemical method

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

Effect of surface treatment on fatigue behavior of metal/carbon fiber laminates

The tension-tension fatigue behavior of metal/fiber laminates (MFLs) has been investigated. These MFLs were produced with carbon fiber and by treating the aluminum foil to promote adhesion bonding by two methods: sulfuric-boric-oxalic acid anodization (SBOA) and chromic acid anodization (CAA). The surface treatments were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and roughness measurements. It was observed that MFL specimens produced with SBOA treatments presents comparable mechanical results when compared with MFLs produced with CAA treatment. Microstructural observations of the fracture surfaces by SEM show hackle formation is the predominant damage mechanism.

Experimental Study on the Impact Behaviour of Metal-fiber Laminates

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

Effect of juvenility on cutting propagation of red pitaya

Introduction. Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) is an exotic fruit species little known in Brazil and which needs basic studies about plant nutrition, propagation and physiology. Emphasizing the co-existence of juvenile and adult stages in the pitaya canopy, the plant is generally propagated by cuttings. Materials and methods. A completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications was adopted. Each treatment was represented by the part of the canopy from which the cutting was taken ( upper, middle and lower cutting and cuttings from young plants). The following variables were registered: % cuttings with roots, % of live cuttings, root density, root diameter, root area, root length and root dry mass. Results were submitted to variance analyses, Tukey's test at 0.01 probability error and simple correlation analysis. Results and discussion. The results indicated that the position from which the cutting is taken had a quantitative effect on rooting formation of pitaya cuttings. Juvenile cuttings presented 35% more cuttings with roots than adult cuttings. Root density, root area, root length and root dry mass depended on juvenility, the highest results being registered for juvenile cuttings, independently of the variable. Conclusion. Juvenile and adult stages co-exist in the pitaya canopy. Juvenility is an important rooting factor for red pitaya cuttings.

Estudo comaprativo da resistência da união esmalt/resina/metal. Efeito de resinas de fixação, artifícios retentivos e ligas metálicas.

The purpose of this study was to compare the enamel/resin/metal bond tensile strength by using human canines, in which castings were bonded. These castings were obtained by Co-Cr or Ni-Cr alloys and showed four types of mechanisms of retention: 50 micrograms aluminum oxide abrasive, electrochemical etch, acrylic beads metal mesh. The castings were bonded utilizing Comspan Opaque and Panavia Ex. The specimens were subjected to tensile forces after 24 hours in an Instron machine. The castings subjected to 50 micrograms aluminum oxide abrasive and bonded utilizing Panavia EX showed the biggest bond tensile strength.

A generalized theory of electrical characteristics of schottky barriers for amorphous materials

In the present paper, we discuss a generalized theory of electrical characteristics for amorphous semiconductor (or insulator) Schottky barriers, considering: (i) surface states, (ii) doping impurity states at a single energy level and (iii) energetically distributed bulk impurity states. We also consider a thin oxide layer (≈10 Å) between metal and semiconductor. We develop current versus applied potential characteristics considering the variation of the Fermi level very close to contact inside the semiconductor and decrease in barrier height due to the image force effect as well as potential fall on the oxide layer. Finally, we discuss the importance of each parameter, i.e. surface states, distributed impurity states, doping impurity states, thickness of oxide layer etc. on the log I versus applied potential characteristics. The present theory is also applicable for intimate contact, i.e. metal-semiconductor contact, crystalline material structures or for Schottky barriers in insulators or polymers.

Aesthetic posts and cores for metal-free restoration of endodontically treated teeth.

Utilization of contemporary post and core systems has facilitated the aesthetic restoration of endodontically treated teeth. Light transmission and biocompatibility have been enhanced by the introduction of metal-free post systems. The periodontal and endodontic status, root length, and histological structure of the devitalized teeth must be considered in order to achieve successful restoration following endodontic treatment. This article presents various restorative criteria for the aesthetic placement and buildup of post and core materials, as well as the preservation of maximum coronal and root structure.

Full-color phosphors from amine-functionalized crosslinked hybrids lacking metal activator ions

Sol-gel derived hybrids that contain OCH2CH2 (polyethylene glycol, PEG) repeat units grafted onto a siliceous backbone by urea, -NHC(=O)NH-, or urethane, -NHC(=O)O-, bridges have been prepared. It is demonstrated that the white light PL of these materials results from an unusual convolution of a longer lived emission that originates in the NH groups of the urea/urethane bridges with shorter lived electron-hole recombinations occurring in the nanometer-sized siliceous domains. The PL efficiencies reported here (maximum quantum yields at room temperature of ≈ 0.20 ± 0.02 at a 400 nm excitation wavelength) are in the same range as those for tetramethoxysilane-formic acid, and APTES-acetic acid, sol-gel derived phosphors. The high quantum yields combined with the possibility of tuning the emission to colors across the chromaticity diagram present a wide range of potential applications for these hybrid materials.

One-dimensional analytical model for oxide thin film growth on Ti metal layers during laser heating in air

This paper presents the theoretical and experimental results for oxide thin film growth on titanium films previously deposited over glass substrate. Ti films of thickness 0.1 μm were heated by Nd:YAG laser pulses in air. The oxide tracks were created by moving the samples with a constant speed of 2 mm/s, under the laser action. The micro-topographic analysis of the tracks was performed by a microprofiler. The results taken along a straight line perpendicular to the track axis revealed a Gaussian profile that closely matches the laser's spatial mode profile, indicating the effectiveness of the surface temperature gradient on the film's growth process. The sample's micro-Raman spectra showed two strong bands at 447 and 612 cm -1 associated with the TiO 2 structure. This is a strong indication that thermo-oxidation reactions took place at the Ti film surface that reached an estimated temperature of 1160 K just due to the action of the first pulse. The results obtained from the numerical integration of the analytical equation which describes the oxidation rate (Wagner equation) are in agreement with the experimental data for film thickness in the high laser intensity region. This shows the partial accuracy of the one-dimensional model adopted for describing the film growth rate. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

Ceramic Crucible Corrosion by Heavy Metal Oxide Glasses, Part I: Phenomenological Study

Heavy metal oxide (HMO) glasses have received special attention due to their optical, electrical and magnetic properties. The problem with these glasses is their corrosive nature. In this work, three ceramic crucibles (Al 2O 3, SnO 2 and ZrO 2) were tested in the melting of the system 40 PbO-35 BiO 1.5-25 GaO 1.5 (cation-%). After glass melting, crucibles were transversally cut and analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), coupled to microanalysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results indicated that zirconia crucibles presented the highest corrosion, probably due to its smallest grain size. Tin oxide crucibles presented a low corrosion with small penetration of the glass into the crucible. This way, these crucibles are an interesting alternative to melt corrosive glasses in instead of gold or platinum crucibles. It is important to emphasize the lower cost of tin oxide crucibles, compared to gold or platinum ones.

Ceramic Crucible Corrosion by Heavy Metal Oxide Glasses, Part II: Diffusion Study

Due to their low cost and high resistance to corrosion, ceramic crucibles can be used for the melting of PBG glasses (PbO-BiO 1.5GaO 1.5). These glasses present good window transmission from ultra-violet to infrared, making their use as optical fibres promising. However, their disadvantage is the high reactivity, leading to the corrosion of different crucibles, including gold and platinum ones. In this work, the corrosion of Al 2O 3, SnO 2 and ZrO 2 crucibles after melting at temperatures varying from 850 to 1000°C, was evaluated by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with microanalysis by EDS. The lead diffusion profile in the crucible material was obtained. Diffusion coefficients were calculated according to the Fick and Fisher theories. Results indicated that the different crucibles presented similar behaviour: in the region near the interface, diffusion occurs in the volumetric way and in regions away from the interface, diffusion occurs through grain boundary.

Heavy metal nutrients in tomato plants cultivated in soil amended with biosolid composts

The use of biosolids in horticulture could contribute to recycle residues produced by men. This study analyzed concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn in the compost during fermentation, in the soil amended with the composts and in the tomato plant materials. Five composts were produced using sugar-cane bagasse, biosolid and cattle manure in the proportions: 75-0-25; 75-12.5-12.5; 75-25-0; 50-50- 0 and 0-100-0 (composts with 0; 12.5; 25; 50 and 100% biosolid), respectively. These composts were used in an experiment with 6 treatments (the 5 composts and a control with mineral fertilization) in a design of randomized blocks with a split plot design. The control and the treatment of 0% biosolid received inorganic nitrogen. All the treatments received the same amount of N, P and K. Two tomato plants were cultivated in each 24 L pot, in a greenhouse at the Technology Department of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias of the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Jaboticabal County, São Paulo State, Brazil. The concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn were evaluated in the compost 7, 27, 57, 97 and 127 days after composting began, in the soil 0 and 164 days after the compost applied, and in the plants. Compost, soil and plant samples were subjected to digestion with HNO3, H 2O2 and HCl and the metals were determined by AAS. There were positive and significant correlations between Mn in the compost and Mn uptake by the plant (0.46 p>0.05), and between Zn in the compost and Zn concentration in the plant (0.78 p>0.05). Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations increased during composting. The biosolid in the compost supplied Cu and Zn to tomato plants, and the cattle manure supplied Mn to the plants.

Evaluation of procera/porcelain interface in metal-free prosthesis

Prosthetic substructures for dental application are veneered by porcelain comprising a structure with different elastic modulus and thermal expansion coefficients layers. This structure may present residual stresses in different layers leading to crack propagation and delamination. Although veneering porcelain remains basically on same strength than standard feldspathic porcelains, new ceramic cores have been developed with higher mechanical properties overcoming metal substructures, improving esthetics and biocompatibility. The interface between the Procera dense sintered alumina core and the manufacturer recommended veneering porcelain (AllCeram-Degussa) were evaluated using SEM in coping shaped specimen simulating the standard dental preparation. There were neither crack presences at the interface nor porcelain delamination.