ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of carbonated water on etched or sealed enamel according to the carbonation level and the presence of calcium ions.@*METHODS@#Carbonated water with different carbonation levels was manufactured by a soda carbonator. Seventy-five premolar teeth were randomly divided into a control group and 4 experimental groups in accordance with the carbonation level and the presence of calcium ions in the test solutions. After specimen preparation of the Unexposed, Etched, and Sealed enamel subgroups, all the specimens were submerged in each test solution for 15 minutes three times a day during 7 days. Microhardness tests on the Unexposed and Etched enamel subgroups were performed with 10 specimens from each group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests on the Unexposed, Etched, and Sealed enamel subgroups were performed with 5 specimens from each group. Microhardness changes in different groups were statistically compared using paired t-tests, the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test.@*RESULTS@#The microhardness changes were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.000). The microhardness changes in all experimental groups except Group 3 (low-level carbonated water with calcium ions) were significantly greater than those in the Control group. SEM showed that etched areas of the specimen were affected by carbonated water and the magnitude of destruction varied between groups. Adhesive material was partially removed in groups exposed to carbonated water.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Carbonated water has negative effects on etched or sealed enamel, resulting in decreased microhardness and removal of the adhesive material.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the mandibular condyle during mandible advancement by functional appliance and to correlate it with the histologic changes and bone remodeling. METHODS: Twenty-four female, 35-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups. In all experimental groups, the mandibles of the rats were kept in a continuous forward position with a fixed bite jumping appliance. The rats were sacrificed on the 3rd, 14th, and 30th days of experiment. More than 2 rats in each group were used for staining. RESULTS: There were no remarkable histologic changes and NOS expression differences in the control group. The most prominent histologic changes occurred in the 14th day experimental group. NOS decreased in the 30th day experimental group. There was increased expression of NOS2 and NOS3 in all experimental groups, comparative to the control group. In all the experimental groups and control group, the expression of NOS2 was greater than that of NOS3. CONCLUSIONS: It is postulated that NOS2 and NOS3 in the mandibular condyle might play an important role in bone remodelling of the mandibular condyle.