Microleakage in primary teeth restored by conventional or bonded amalgam technique.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate marginal leakage in class V restorations in primary teeth restored with amalgam, using three different techniques. Thirty maxillary anterior primary teeth, clinically sound and naturally exfoliated, were used. In group 1 (n = 10), two thin layers of a copal varnish (Cavitine) were applied. In group 2 (n = 10), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus, a dual adhesive system, was used according to manufacturer instructions. In group 3 (n = 10), One-Step adhesive system in combination with a low-viscosity resin (Resinomer) were used according to manufacturer instructions. All samples were restored with a high-copper dental amalgam alloy (GS 80, SDI). After restoration, the samples were stored in normal saline at 37 degrees C for 72 h. The specimens were polished, thermocycled (500 cycles, 5 degrees and 55 degrees C, 30-s dwell time) and impermeabilized with fingernail polish to within 1.0 mm of the restoration margins. The teeth were then placed in 0.5% methylene blue for 4 h. Finally, the samples were sectioned and evaluated for marginal leakage. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the filled adhesive resin (group 3) had the least microleakage. There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2.

Kinetic studies of the effect of varnish on water loss by glass-ionomer cements

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports a study of the water loss behaviour of two commercial glass-ionomer cements coated with varnishes. METHODS: For each cement (Fuji IX Fast or Chemflex), specimens (6mmdiameterx2mm depth) were prepared and cured for 10min at 37 degrees C. They were exposed to a desiccating environment over H(2)SO(4) either uncoated or coated with the appropriate varnish (Fuji Varnish, a solvent-based lacquer, or Fuji Coat, a light-cured varnish). Four specimens were prepared for each material. They were weighed at hourly intervals for 6h, daily for up to 5 days, then weekly thereafter until equilibration. RESULTS: Unlike the uncoated specimens, water loss from varnished cements was not Fickian, but followed the form: mass loss=A/t+B, where t is time, A and B are constants specific to each cement/varnish combination. A varied from 1.22 to 1.30 (mean 1.26, standard deviation 0.04), whereas B varied from 1.54 to 2.09 (mean -1.83, standard deviation 0.29). At equilibrium, varnished specimens lost much less water than unvarnished ones (p>0.01) but there was no significant difference between the solvent-based and the light-cured varnishes. SIGNIFICANCE: Varnishes protect immature glass-ionomer cements from drying out by altering the mechanism of water loss. This slows the rate of drying but does not necessarily change the total amount of water retained. It confirms that, in clinical use, glass-ionomer restoratives should be varnished to allow them to mature satisfactorily.

The effect of an experimental 4% TiF(4) varnish compared to NaF varnishes and 4% TiF(4) solution on dental erosion in vitro

This in vitro study assessed the effect of an experimental 4% TiF(4) varnish compared to commercial NaF and NaF/CaF(2) varnishes and 4% TiF(4) solution on enamel erosion. For this, 72 bovine enamel specimens were randomly allocated to the following treatments: NaF varnish (2.26% F), NaF/CaF(2) varnish (5.63% F), 4% TiF(4) varnish (2.45% F), F-free placebo varnish, 4% TiF(4) solution (2.45% F) and control (not treated). The varnishes were applied in a thin layer and removed after 6 h. The solution was applied to the enamel surface for 1 min. Then, the specimens were alternately de- and remineralized (6 times/day) in an artificial mouth for 5 days at 37 degrees C. Demineralization was performed with the beverage Sprite (1 min, 3 ml/min) and remineralization with artificial saliva (day: 59 min, 0.5 ml/min; during the night: 0.1 ml/min). The mean daily increment of erosion and the cumulative erosion data were tested using ANOVA and ANCOVA, respectively, followed by Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). The mean daily erosion increments and cumulative erosion (micrometers) were significantly less for the TiF(4) varnish (0.30 +/- 0.11/0.65 +/- 0.75) than for the NaF varnish (0.58 +/- 0.11/1.47 +/- 1.07) or the NaF/CaF(2) varnish (0.62 +/- 0.10/1.68 +/- 1.17), which in turn showed significantly less erosion than the placebo varnish (0.78 +/- 0.12/2.05 +/- 1.43), TiF(4) solution (0.86 +/- 0.11/2.05 +/- 1.49) and control (0.77 +/- 0.16/2.06 +/- 1.49). In conclusion, the TiF(4) varnish seems to be a promising treatment to reduce enamel loss under mild erosive conditions. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Effect of a 4% titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) varnish on demineralisation and remineralisation of bovine enamel in vitro

Objectives: This in vitro study assessed the effect of a 4% TiF4 varnish on demineralisation and remineralisation of sound enamel and artificial carious enamel lesions, respectively.Methods: Bovine sound and carious enamel (n = 110) were randomly allocated to each type of varnish: Duraphat (R))-D (NaF, 2.26%F, pH 4.5, Colgate-Brazil, n = 30), Duofluorid (R)-F (NaF, 2.71%F, pH 8.0, FGM-Brazil, n = 30), TiF4-T (2.45%F, pH 1.0, FGM-Brazil, n = 30) and no-fluoride-P (FGM-Brazil, pH 5.0, n = 20). For the formation of artificial enamel caries, half of the blocks were immersed in 32 mL buffer acetate solution (16 h), whereas the other half was maintained sound. The varnishes were applied onto the enamel surfaces. Thus, the samples were subjected to pH cycles (37 degrees C) for 7 days. The response variables tested were surface and cross-sectional hardness. Data were tested using Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05).Results: All F varnishes significantly reduced demineralisation and increased remineralisation in comparison to placebo. The TiF4 did not significantly reduce the surface enamel softening when compared with the other F varnishes, but it decreased the loss of subsurface hardness to the same extent. In enamel blocks with previous artificial carious lesions, the TiF4 significantly improved the rehardening compared to the other varnishes up to 30 mu m depth.Conclusions: The TiF4 varnish was able to decrease the demineralisation and increase the remineralisation of previously sound and carious enamel, respectively. It was equally effective compared to NaF varnishes on reducing the demineralisation at subsurface, but it was more effective on improving the remineralisation at surface and subsurface. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Urinary fluoride output in children following the use of a dual-fluoride varnish formulation

Objective: This study evaluated the bioavailability of fluoride after topical application of a dual-fluoride varnish commercially available in Brazil, when compared to Duraphat T. Material and methods: The urinary fluoride output was evaluated in seven 5-year-old children after application of the fluoride varnishes, in two different phases. In the first phase (I), children received topical application of the fluoride varnish Duofluorid XII (2.92% fluorine, calcium fluoride + 2.71% fluorine, sodium fluoride, FGM (TM)). After 1-month interval (phase II), the same amount (0.2 mL) of the fluoride varnish Duraphat (2.26% fluorine, sodium fluoride, Colgate T) was applied. Before each application all the volunteers brushed their teeth with placebo dentifrice for 7 days. Urinary collections were carried out 24 h prior up to 48 h after the applications. Fluoride intake from the diet was also estimated. Fluoride concentration in diet samples and urine was analyzed with the fluoride ion-specific electrode and a miniature calomel reference electrode coupled to a potentiometer. Data were tested by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: There were significant differences in the urinary fluoride output between phases I and II. The use of Duofluorid XII did not significantly increase the urinary fluoride output, when compared to baseline levels. The application of Duraphat caused a transitory increase in the urinary fluoride output, returning to baseline levels 48 h after its use. Conclusions: The tested varnish formulation, which has been shown to be effective in in vitro studies, also can be considered safe.

Clinical evaluation of low-level laser therapy and fluoride varnish for treating cervical dentinal hypersensitivity

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the use of low-level galium-aluminium-arsenide (GaAlAs) (BDP 600) laser and sodium fluoride varnish (Duraphat((R))) in the treatment of cervical dentine hypersensitivity. Twelve patients, with at least two sensitive teeth were selected. A total of 60 teeth were included in the trial. Prior to desensitizing treatment, dentine hypersensitivity was assessed by a thermal stimulus and patients' response to the examination was considered to be a control. The GaAlAs laser (15 mW, 4 J/cm(2)) was irradiated on contact mode and fluoride varnish was applied at cervical region. The efficiency of the treatments was assessed at three examination periods: immediately after first application, 15 and 30 days after the first application. The degree of sensitivity was determined following predefined criteria. Data were submitted to analysis and no statistically significant difference was observed between fluoride varnish and laser. Considering the treatments separately, there was no significant difference for the fluoride varnish at the three examination periods, and for laser therapy, significant difference (P < 0.05) was found solely between the values obtained before the treatment and 30 days after the first application. It may be concluded that both treatments may be effective in decreasing cervical dentinal hypersensitivity. Moreover, the low-level GaAlAs laser showed improved results for treating teeth with higher degree of sensitivity.

Application of Nonisothermal Cure Kinetics to the Interaction of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with Alkyd Resin Varnish

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of the interaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with alkyd varnish

The recycling of soft drink bottles poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been used as an additive in varnish containing alkyd resin. The PET, called to recycled PET (PET-R), was added to the varnish in increasing amounts. Samples of varnish containing PET-R (VPET-R) were used as a film onto slides and its thermal properties were evaluated using thermogravimetry (TG). Throughout the visual analysis and thermal behavior of VPET-R it is possible to identify that the maximum amount of PET-R added to the varnish without changing in the film properties was 2%.The kinetic parameters, such as activation energy (E) and the pre-exponential factor (A) were calculated by the isoconversional Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method for the samples containing 0.5 to 2.0% PET-R. A decrease in the values of E was verified for lower amounts of PET-R for the thermal decomposition reaction. A kinetic compensation effect (KCE) represented by the lnA=-13.42+0.23E equation was observed for all samples. The most suitable kinetic model to describe this decomposition process is the autocatalytic Sestak-Berggren, being the model applied to heterogeneous systems.

Effect of an experimental 4% titanium tetrafluoride varnish on dental erosion by a soft drink

Objectives: This in vitro study assessed the effect of an experimental 4%TiF4 varnish on enamel erosion.Methods: Sixty bovine enamel blocks were randomly allocated to each type of varnish:Duraphat((R)) -D (NaF, 2.26%F), Duofluorid((R))-F(NaF, 2.71% F), TiF4-T(2.45%F) and no-fluoride-P. After application of the varnishes, the blocks were subjected to six sequential pH cycles (cola drink for 10 min and artificial saliva for 50 min, each) per day, during 4 days. After the pH cycles, the blocks were maintained in artificial saliva for 18 h. Enamel alterations were determined in the 2nd and 4th days, using profilometry (wear) and microhardness (%SMHC) tests. Data were tested using ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p < 0.05).Results: the mean %SMHC (+/- S.D.) at the 2nd and 4th day was, respectively, D (-77.26 +/- 5.04(a) and -88.59 +/- 5.11(A)), F (-76.79 +/- 7.82(a) and -88.78 +/- 6.10(A)), T(-88.28 +/- 3.19(b) and -92.04 +/- 2.54(A,B)) and P (-87.96 +/- 2.23(b) and -94.15 +/- 1.14(B)). The mean wear (mu m +/- S.D.) at the 2nd and 4th day was, respectively, D (3.16 +/- 0.32(a) and 7.56 +/- 0.90(A)), F(3.35 +/- 0.78(a,b) and 7.92 +/- 0.98(A)), T (3.81 +/- 0.43(b) and 7.69 +/- 0.76(A)) and P (3.43 +/- 1.13(a,b) and 7.31 +/- 0.53(A)).Conclusions: the NaF varnishes reduced the softening, but had no effect on the reduction of the wear. The TiF4 varnish was not able to reduce the softening and wear. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.