Caries progression in non-cavitated fissures after infiltrant application: a 3-year follow-up of a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of a conservative treatment to prevent the progression of caries using an infiltrant on non-cavitated pit and fissures. Material and Methods This controlled clinical trial selected 23 volunteers with clinically and radiographically non-cavitated occlusal caries among patients presenting a "rather low" to "very high" caries risk. Eighty-six teeth were randomly divided into two experimental groups: teeth receiving a commercial pit-and-fissure sealant (Alpha Seal-DFL) and contralateral teeth receiving Icon infiltrant (DMG). Caries progression was monitored by clinical (laser fluorescence caries detection) and radiographic examination at 12-month intervals over a period of 3 years of monitored caries progression. Probing the sealing materials to detect areas of retention was also used to evaluate marginal integrity. Results Statistical analysis showed no difference in caries progression using laser fluorescence caries detection when both materials were compared, regardless of the evaluation times (p>0.05). No significance was observed when the marginal sealant integrity of both materials was compared, regardless of the evaluation time (p<0.05). Marginal integrity significantly reduced after 1 year for both materials (p<0.05), but remained stable after 2 and 3 years of evaluation, compared with 1-year results (p>0.05). SEM analysis exhibited a more homogeneous sealing for the infiltrant than obtained by the sealant. Conclusions The infiltrant was effective to prevent the caries progression in non-cavitated pit-and-fissures after 3 years of clinical evaluation, comparable with the conventional sealant. The infiltrant also presented better results in terms of caries progression at the 3-year evaluation time using the radiographic analysis.

Mechanical properties of composites as functions of the syringe storage temperature and energy dose

Objective: To investigate the mechanical properties of different classifications of composites indicated for posterior application as functions of the storage condition and of the energy dose. Material and Methods: Specimens (8x2x2 mm) were obtained according to the factors: I) Composites (3M ESPE): Filtek P60, Filtek Z350XT, and Filtek Silorane; II) Syringe storage conditions: room temperature, aged, oven, refrigerator, and freezer; and III) Energy dose: 24 J/cm2 and 48 J/cm2. After photoactivation, the specimens were stored at 37ºC for 24 h. After storage, a three-point bending test was carried out in a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. Flexural strength (S) and flexural modulus (E) were calculated. Data were analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Results: Different storage conditions significantly affected the silorane composite for S; conversely, no effects were noted in terms of E. The accelerated aging protocol significantly increased the S of Filtek P60 and Filtek Silorane, whereas storage in the oven significantly decreased the S for all of the composites tested. Filtek P60 was the only composite not affected by the lower storage temperatures tested for S, whereas for the silorane this parameter was impacted at the same conditions. The factor "dose" was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The syringe storage at different temperature conditions proved to influence mostly the flexural strength, a clinically important characteristic considering the posterior indication of the materials tested. The silorane composite should not be stored at lower temperatures. .

Micro-sized erosions in a nanofilled composite after repeated acidic beverage exposures: consequences of clusters dislodgments

Objective: To evaluate the hardness (KHN), color stability (DE), and superficial micromorphology of two categories of composites after immersion in either distilled water or grape juice for up to 45 days. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cylindrical specimens (6 mm diameter x 2 mm thick) were obtained according to the factors: composite [Opallis (FGM) and Filtek Z350XT (3M ESPE)]; immersion solution (distilled water and grape juice); and evaluation time: 24 h and 7, 14, 21, 28, and 45 days. After photoactivation, the specimens were stored at 37ºC for 24 h. KHN (50 g/15 s) and ΔE were then repeatedly assessed according to the immersion solutions. Data were analyzed (three-way ANOVA/Tukey's test). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) topographic analysis was also performed. RESULTS: In general, KHN of both composites reduced after 24 h, irrespective of the immersion solution and time. A significantly lower KHN was noted for Opallis compared with Filtek Z350XT in all parameters. An increase in ΔE over time was noted for both composites, irrespective of the immersion solution. Significantly higher ΔE was noted for Filtek Z350XT immersed in grape juice compared with Opallis, regardless of the evaluation time. The grape juice caused significantly higher DE compared with water in all periods. SEM analysis showed eroded areas for Filtek Z350XT but not for Opallis. CONCLUSIONS: The compositions and immersion solutions influence the composite hardness and the color stability. In spite of the higher hardness, the nanofilled composite is more susceptible to color change than the microhybrid when immersed in an acidic dyed solution. .

Effects of solvent evaporation on water sorption/solubility and nanoleakage of adhesive systems

Objective: To evaluate the influence of solvent evaporation in the kinetics of water diffusion (water sorption-WS, solubility-SL, and net water uptake) and nanoleakage of adhesive systems. Material and Methods: Disk-shaped specimens (5.0 mm in diameter x 0.8 mm in thickness) were produced (N=48) using the adhesives: Clearfil S3 Bond (CS3)/Kuraray, Clearfil SE Bond - control group (CSE)/Kuraray, Optibond Solo Plus (OS)/Kerr and Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SBU)/3M ESPE. The solvents were either evaporated for 30 s or not evaporated (N=24/per group), and then photoactivated for 80 s (550 mW/cm2). After desiccation, the specimens were weighed and stored in distilled water (N=12) or mineral oil (N=12) to evaluate the water diffusion over a 7-day period. Net water uptake (%) was also calculated as the sum of WS and SL. Data were submitted to 3-way ANOVA/Tukey's test (α=5%). The nanoleakage expression in three additional specimens per group was also evaluated after ammoniacal silver impregnation after 7 days of water storage under SEM. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that only the factor "adhesive" was significant (p<0.05). Solvent evaporation had no influence in the WS and SL of the adhesives. CSE (control) presented significantly lower net uptake (5.4%). The nanoleakage was enhanced by the presence of solvent in the adhesives. Conclusions: Although the evaporation has no effect in the kinetics of water diffusion, the nanoleakage expression of the adhesives tested increases when the solvents are not evaporated. .

Fracture resistance of teeth restored with different resin-based restorative systems

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of teeth restored with resin composite. Forty-eight maxillary premolar teeth were chosen and randomly divided to six groups: G1 (control): sound teeth; G2: MOD preparation, unrestored; G3: MOD + Adper Single Bond 2/P60; G4: MOD + Adper Easy One/P60; G5: MOD + P90 restorative system; G6: MOD + Adper Easy One/P90 Bond/P90. Specimens were subjected to compressive axial loading (0.5 mm/min). Flexural strength and the modulus of elasticity were also tested (n = 7). The only statistical equivalence with sound teeth was noted for G3 (p < 0.05). Flexural strength and the modulus of elasticity varied among the composites tested (n = 10). The reestablishment of the resistance to fracture in premolars subjected to Class II MOD preparations is restorative-system-dependent. The silorane restorative system is not able to recover the resistance to fracture.

Estudo in vivo do manchamento dental causado pela ingestão de café associada ao clareamento profissional / In vivo study of dental discoloration caused by coffee ingestion associated within-office dental bleaching

Objective: The present study aims to verify the effectiveness of in-office dental bleaching using 35% hydrogen peroxide in patients with or without a habit of consuming coffee at least three times per day at different time intervals (pre-bleaching or baseline;48 hours post-bleaching or start; and 90 days post-bleaching or recall). Methods and Material - Forty patients with superior and inferior vital teeth from canine to canine participated in this study. The optical measurements with SpectroShade Microspectrophotometer (MHT, Verona, Italy) determined the pre-bleaching status (baselinemeasurement), the status at 48 hours post-bleaching (start measurement), and thestatus at 90 days post-bleaching (recall measurement). The Delta E (ΔE) value was determined, and the difference between the pre- and post-bleaching luminosity was used as an indicator of the degree of chromogenic alteration. The patients were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of a coffee ingestion habit and according to different post-bleaching time intervals. These data were analyzed by ANOVA and in case of significant differences the mean values were compared usingthe Tukey test (p < 0.05). Results and Conclusions - In conclusion, it was possible to confirm that professional dental bleaching is an effective technique that can be usedboth in patients who drink and do not drink coffee. However, the maintainability of this treatment was significantly reduced in the group of patients who habitually drink coffee within a period of only 90 days

Objetivos: O presente estudo visa verificar a efetividade do clareamento dental profissional utilizando o peróxido de hidrogênio a 35% em pacientes com e sem o hábito de ingestão de café por pelo menos três vezes ao dia em diferentes intervalosde tempo (pré-clareamento ou baseline; 48 horas pós-clareamento ou start; e 90 diaspós-clareamento ou recall). Material e Métodos - Quarenta pacientes com dentes naturais inferiores e superiores participaram deste estudo. As tomadas de cor com o espectrofotômetro SpectroShade (MHT, Verona, Itália) determinaram a condição pré clareamento(medição baseline), a condição em 48 horas pós-clareamento (medição start),e a condição após 90 dias (medição recall). O valor de Delta E (ΔE) foi determinado, e a diferença entre a luminosidade na condição pré e pós-clareamentos foram utilizadas como o indicador do grau de alteração cromatogênica. Os pacientes foram divididos em quatro grupos de acordo com a presença ou ausência de hábitos de ingestão de café e dos diferentes períodos pós-clareamento. Os dados foram analisados via ANOVA e, quando necessário, os valores médios foram comparados utilizando o teste de Tukeya 5% de significância (p < 0.05). Resultados e Conclusões - Como conclusão foi possível confirmar que clareamento dental profissional é uma técnica efetiva e que pode ser utilizada tanto em pacientes que ingerem como nos que não ingerem café. Contudo, a durabilidade deste tratamento clareador é significativamente reduzida no grupo de pacientes que habitualmente bebem café dentro de um período relativamente curto, ou seja, de apenas 90 dias

Microtensile bond strength of adhesive systems to dentin with or without application of an intermediate flowable resin layer

This study evaluated the effect of flowable composite resin application on the microtensile bond strength (muTBS) of adhesive systems to dentin. Occlusal surfaces of human third molars were ground to obtain flat dentin surfaces. The crown of each tooth was sectioned occluso-gingivally into four quarters with a water-cooled diamond saw. One of the following adhesive systems was applied to dentin surface in each quarter of the same tooth, following manufacturers' instructions: Scotchbond Multipurpose, Single Bond Adper Prompt and Clearfil SE Bond. Experimental and control groups received the same treatment, except for the fact that a layer of flowable composite (Filtek Flow) was placed and light-cured on top of the adhesive layer in the specimens of the experimental groups. Resin composite (Filtek Z250) crown buildups were then made on the bonded surfaces and incrementally light-cured for 20 s. The restored teeth were stored in water at 37ºC for 24 h. Each tooth quarter was serially cut in a longitudinal direction in order to obtain several bonded sticks (0.9-mm² in cross-section). Maximal microtensile stress (in MPa) at failure was recorded using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5 percent significance level. Placement of a low-viscosity resin to the hybridized dentin increased the muTBS for all tested adhesive systems. However, such increase was significant only for Clearfil SE Bond (p<0.05). When the restorations were placed without low-viscosity resin, Clearfil SE Bond presented higher muTBS than Adper Prompt (p<0.05). For the groups treated with flowable composite, Clearfil SE Bond produced the highest muTBS means to dentin. In conclusion, the effect of the addition of an intermediate flowable composite layer on muTBS to dentin was material-dependent and resulted in an increased adhesion for all tested materials, though with significance only for Clearfil SE Bond.

Este estudo avaliou o efeito da aplicação de uma resina flow na resistência de união (RU) (microtração) de sistemas adesivos à dentina. Superfícies oclusais de terceiros molares humanos foram abrasionadas para formar superfícies dentinárias planificadas. As coroas foram seccionadas no sentido ocluso-gengival em quatro partes de tamanhos similares com disco diamantado sob refrigeração. Os sistemas adesivos (Scotchbond Multipurpose; Single Bond; Adper Prompt e Clearfil SE Bond) foram aplicados nas superfícies dentinárias, de acordo com as instruções dos fabricantes, sendo cada um deles em uma das quatro partes de um mesmo dente. Os grupos experimentais e controle receberam o mesmo tratamento, porém a resina flow (Filtek Flow) foi aplicada e fotoativada sobre os sistemas adesivos nos espécimes dos grupos experimentais. Um bloco de compósito (Filtek Z250) foi confeccionado em incrementos sobre as superfícies tratadas com o sistema adesivo e fotoativado por 20 s. Os dentes restaurados foram armazenados em água a 37ºC por 24 h e seccionados longitudinalmente para obtenção de espécimes com formato de paralelepípedo, com 0,9 mm² na área de união. O ensaio de tração foi realizado em máquina universal de ensaios e os valores de RU foram expressos em MPa. Os dados foram analisados pela ANOVA (dois fatores) e teste de Tukey (5 por cento). A aplicação da resina flow na dentina previamente hibridizada aumentou a RU para todos os sistemas adesivos, entretanto, foi estatisticamente significativa somente para o adesivo Clearfil SE Bond (p<0,05). Quando as restaurações foram confeccionadas sem a resina de baixa viscosidade, o Clearfil SE Bond obteve maior valor de RU que o adesivo Adper Prompt (p<0,05). Para os grupos com a resina flow, o Clearfil SE Bond resultou no maior valor médio de RU à dentina. Conclui-se que o efeito da aplicação da resina flow foi depende do sistema adesivo utilizado e indicou um aumento na RU para todos os sistemas adesivos...