Influence of age on the behavior of dental pulp of dog teeth after capping with an adhesive system or calcium hydroxide

This study evaluated histomorphologically the influence of chronological age of the dog on the dental pulp-healing process after capping with the All Bond 2 system or with calcium hydroxide paste. The animals were divided according to age into young and adult groups. Class 5-type cavities were prepared, and the pulp was submitted to an exposure of a diameter of 0.5 mm. The pulp of the teeth was then protected with the adhesive system or with a calcium hydroxide paste. Sixty days after treatment, the results obtained with the adhesive system in the young group were significantly better than those in the adult group. With calcium hydroxide, the results were similar for both groups. The pulp treated with calcium hydroxide exhibited a complete hard tissue bridge and a pulp without inflammatory reaction, a fact not observed when the adhesive system was used. In conclusion, the chronological age of the pulp influenced the comparative results only for the adhesive system (P = 0.1), and the total results were better with calcium hydroxide than with the All Bond 2 system (P = 0.01).

Effect of different irrigation solutions and calcium hydroxide on bacterial LPS

Aim To evaluate the effect of biomechanical preparation with different irrigating solutions and calcium hydroxide dressing in dog root canals containing bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides; LPS).Methodology One hundred and forty premolar roots from seven dogs were filled with Escherichia coli LPS for 10 days (three roots were lost during histological processing). The following irrigating solutions were used for biomechanical preparation: 1% (group I, n = 20), 2.5% (group II, n = 19) and 5% sodium hypochlorite (group III, n = 19), 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (group IV, n = 20) and physiological saline solution (group V, n = 19). In group VI (n = 20), the LPS solution was maintained in the root canal during the entire experiment and in group VII (n = 20), after biomechanical preparation with saline solution, the root canals were filled with a calcium hydroxide dressing (Calen; control). After 60 days, the animals were sacrificed and the following parameters of periapical disease were evaluated: (a) inflammatory infiltrate, (b) periodontal ligament thickness, (c) cementum resorption and (d) bone resorption. Scores were given and data were analysed statistically with the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (P < 0.05).Results Histopathological evaluation showed that groups I-VI had more inflammatory infiltrate, greater periodontal ligament thickening and greater cementum and bone resorption (P < 0.05) compared to group VII, which received the calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing.Conclusions Biomechanical preparation with the irrigating solutions did not inactivate the effects of the endotoxin but the calcium hydroxide intracanal dressing did appear to inactivate the effects induced by the endotoxin in vivo.

Effect of irrigating solution and calcium hydroxide root canal dressing on the repair of apical and periapical tissues of teeth with periapical lesion

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of fluoride-containing solutions on the translucency of flowable composite resins

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of fluoride-containing solutions on the translucency of flowable composite resins, with respect the immersion time. Flow-It! (FI) and Natural Flow (NF) composite resins and three commercial brands of fluoride-containing solutions (Fluordent, Fluorgard and Oral B) were used. Specimens were prepared and stored in the solutions at 37degreesC, until the measurements were made after the following treatments: T1 - after 1 hour in relative humidity; T2 - after 1 h in solution; T3 - 24 h; T4 - 48 h; T5 - after a week; from T9, the measurements were accomplished weekly, up to 30-day immersion. To obtain translucency values an electrophoresis equipment was employed. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey tests. The results disclosed that NF showed highest values of translucency and was statistically different from FI (p < 0.001). As regards the solutions, Fluordent and Oral B presented similar values and were statistically superior to Fluorgard (p < 0.05). Concerning the immersion time, similar results were observed for the different evaluation periods. It may be concluded that the fluoride-containing solutions affected the translucency of the composite resins, independently of the materials used. Among the tested resins, NF presented the best performance. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Electromechanical properties of calcium bismuth titanate films: A potential candidate for lead-free thin-film piezoelectrics

CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBTi144) thin films were evaluated for use as lead-free thin-film piezoelectrics in microelectromechanical systems. The films were grown by the polymeric precursor method on (100)Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates. The a/b-axis orientation of the ferroelectric film is considered to be associated with the preferred orientation of the Pt bottom electrode. The P-r and E-c were 14 mu C/cm(2) and 64 kV/cm, respectively, for a maximum applied field of 400 kV/cm. The domain structure was investigated by piezoresponse force microscopy. The film has a piezoelectric coefficient, d(33), equal to 60 pm/V and a current density of 0.7 mA/cm(2).

The investigation of alpha -> beta phase transition in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)

The phase transition from the non-polar a-phase to the polar beta-phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has been investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy, which is advantageous for being a non-destructive technique. Films of alpha-PVDF were subjected to stretching under controlled rates and at 80 degrees C, the transition to beta-PVDF being monitored by the decrease in the Raman band at 794 cm(-1) characteristic of the a-phase, with the concomitant increase in the 839 cm(-1) band characteristic of the beta-phase. Poling with negative corona discharge was found to affect the alpha-PVDF morphology improving the Raman bands related to this crystalline phase. This effect is minimized for films stretched to higher ratios. Significantly, corona-induced effects could not be observed with the other experimental techniques, viz. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.

Fabrication and testing of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) microvalve for gas flow control

A microactuator made from poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), a piezoelectric polymer, was fabricated to control the gas flow rate through a glass micronozzle. The actuator was formed by gluing together two PVDF sheets with opposite polarization directions. The sheets were covered with thin conducting films on one side, that were then used as electrodes to apply an electric field to move the valve. The actuator has a rectangular shape, 3 mm x 6 mm. The device was incorporated with a micronozzle fabricated by a powder blasting technique. Upon applying a DC voltage across the actuator electrodes, one sheet expands while the other contracts, generating an opening motion. A voltage of +300 V DC was used to open the device by moving the actuator 30 mu m, and a voltage of -200 V DC was used to close the device by moving the actuator 20 mu m lower than the relaxed position. Flow measurements were performed in a low-pressure vacuum system, maintaining the microvalve inlet pressure constant at 266 Pa. Tests carried out with the actuator in the open position and with a pressure ratio (inlet pressure divided by outlet pressure) of 0.5, indicated a flow rate of 0.36 sccm. In the closed position, and with a pressure ratio of 0.2, a flow rate of 0.32 sccm was measured.

ELECTROACTIVE BLENDS OF POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) AND POLYANILINE DERIVATIVES

The conditions for processing and doping of blends of poly(o-alkoxyaniline)s and poly(vinylidene fluoride) were investigated. Flexible, free-standing and stretchable films of blends of various compositions were obtained by casting. A low percolation threshold was observed with the onset of conductivity at low polyalkoxyaniline contents (i.e. 5%). Interestingly, these blends displayed electrochromism with colour changes similar to those of the parent conducting polymer, as observed from cyclic voltammetry measurements. This behaviour is seen even for low contents of the conducting polymer, indicating that a continuous conducting pathway, which is capable of exchanging charge, is formed within the insulating matrix.

STUDY OF POLING BEHAVIOR OF BIAXIALLY STRETCHED POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) FILMS USING THE CONSTANT-CURRENT CORONA TRIODE

This article reports systematic results of corona poling measurements obtained on biaxially stretched polyvinylidene fluoride films charged in dry air. Charging was performed using the constant current corona triode. The dependence of the poling process on the sample thickness, charging current, and successive charging processes was investigated. Phase transitions from alpha to delta and to beta phases were observed when virgin samples were corona charged. The thermal pulse technique showed that the polarization profiles during charging can be made consistently almost uniform and that the ferroelectric reorientation can be associated with the rising plateau region displayed on potential buildup curves. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.