Effect of chemical degradation followed by toothbrushing on the surface roughness of restorative composites

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the exposure to food-simulating liquids prior to brushing simulation on the surface roughness of five composite materials (Quixfil, Filtek Supreme, Esthet-X, Filtek Z250, Tetric Ceram). Material and METHODS: Twenty cylinders (5 mm diameter and 4 mm height) of each composite were randomly allocated to 4 groups (n=5), according to the food-simulating liquid in which they were immersed for 7 days at 37°C: artificial saliva, heptane, citric acid, and ethanol. After this period, the top surface of composite cylinders was submitted to 7,500 brushing cycles (200 g load). Measurements of the surface roughness (Ra, »m) were carried out before and after the exposure to the chemicals/brushing simulation. Changes on the morphology of composite surfaces were observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The statistical analysis (ANOVA with cofactor / Tukey's test, α=5 percent) detected a significant interaction between solutions and composite resins. Esthet-X, Filtek Z250 and Tetric Ceram were not affected by the food-simulating liquids/toothbrushing. Citric acid and ethanol increased the surface roughness of Quixfil and Filtek Supreme, respectively. SEM images corroborate the surface roughness findings, demonstrating the negative effect from chemical solutions and mechanical abrasion. CONCLUSIONS: The surface roughness of composite resin materials are differently affected by the food-simulating solutions, depending on the immersion media.

Effect of different light-curing devices and aging procedures on composite knoop microhardness

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of light-curing devices (Halogen/HAL, Light Emitting Diodes/LED, Argon Laser/LAS and Plasma Arc/PAC) and aging procedures (Mechanical Cycling/MC, Thermal Cycling/TC, Storage/S, MC+TC and MC+TC+S) on the micro-hardness of bottom/B and top/T surfaces of 2-mm-high composite resin cylinders. The Knoop microhardness test (25 g, 20 s) on both B and T was performed before and after each aging procedure. For B and T, before aging procedures, PAC showed reduced polymerization effectiveness when compared with HAL. In the T, after TC, PAC and LAS had also showed reduced polymerization effectiveness when compared to HAL and LED. For all light-curing devices, MC+TC+S and S affected the Knoop microhardness values. In the B, no difference could be observed among the aging procedures for PAC. From all light-curing units, PAC may have rendered composites of reduced quality and the storage aging procedures were the most harmful to the polymer hardness.

Nutrição para idosos / Nutrition for the elderly

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir a contribuição da nutrição na qualidade vida dos indivíduos idosos e de que forma ela pode influenciar para uma velhice mais saudável. Serão abordados os aspectos bioquímicos e fisiológicos do envelhecimento, os aspectos relacionados à saúde bucal e às necessidades nutricionais dos idosos, assim como serão evidenciadas as alterações fisiológicas que direta ou indiretamente afetam a sua alimentação.

The main of this article is to discuss the influence of nutrition in the orderly?s quality of life and whether it can implicate in oral health or to contribute for a healthier old age. Considerations on biochemical and physiologic aspects of the aging will be considered, associated with the senior?s nutritional needs, as well as it will be evidenced the physiologic changes that directly or indirectly affect elder food consumption.

Bond strength of a resin cement to dentin using the resin coating technique

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of a resin cement to dentin using different adhesive systems (AS) in the presence or absence of a low-viscosity composite liner (Protect Liner F - PLF) applied over the bonded dentin. The adhesive systems selected were: AdheSE/Vivadent (AD); Clearfil Protect Bond/Kuraray (CP); One-Up Bond F/Tokuyama (OU); Single Bond/3M ESPE (SB); Tyrian SPE/One-Step Plus/Bisco (TY); Xeno III/Dentsply (XE) and Unifil Bond/GC (UN). After removing the labial and lingual enamel surfaces of bovine incisors, dentin fragments were prepared and randomly divided into 15 groups (n = 8). The dentin substrates were bonded with the AS and the PLF was applied or not before application of the resin cement (Panavia F, Kuraray). In the control group, the ED Primer (ED) and the resin cement without PLF were used. The AS, PLF and resin cement tested were used according to the manufacturers' instructions, and all treated dentin surfaces were temporized. After water storage for one week, three cylinders of resin cement were applied to each bonded dentin surface, using tygon tubing molds. The specimens were subjected to micro-shear testing and the data were statistically analyzed (two-way ANOVA, Tukey and Dunnett tests, p < 0.05). The observed mean shear bond strengths in MPa were: ED: 20.2 ± 2.3; AD: 30.3 ± 6.5; CP: 25.3 ± 4.4; OU: 28.3 ± 6.6; SB: 25.6 ± 6.9; TY: 24.5 ± 2.5; XE: 17.3 ± 3.4; UN: 28.4 ± 6.2; AD+PLF: 32.8 ± 4.1; CP+PLF: 29.9 ± 3.9; OU+PLF: 34.1 ± 4.1; SB+PLF: 29.5 ± 8.2; TY+PLF: 29.2 ± 3.9; XE+PLF: 32.8 ± 6.7; UN+PLF: 32.2 ± 4.5. The bond strength of the resin cement to dentin using the tested AS was increased when the low-viscosity composite liner was applied.