Influence of furnace type in the crystallization of lithium disilicate on bond strength and flexural strength

Aim: The crystallization step is required for lithium disilicate ceramics to change color, improve the mechanical properties and yield material to support mouth loading. Several furnaces could complete the crystallization process. This study evaluated the flexural and bond strength of lithium disilicate ceramics crystallized by different furnaces with the presence or not of vacum and different holding time. Methods: Forty lithium disilicate samples were divided into two groups: Programat P300 - control group with vacuum and holding time 7 minutes (CG) and FVPlus- experimental group and without vacuum and holding time 25 minutes (EG) and submitted to 2 experimental tests: 3-point flexural strength test and micro shear bond strength test (µSBS). For this test, the surface of the samples was treated and 1mm² of resin cement was applied on the surface. The samples were stored in artificial saliva over 2 time periods (24 hours: T0; 1-month storage: T1). To analyze the morphologic crystals of the ceramics tested, one representative specimen from each group were analyzed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results: There was no significant difference in 3-point flexural strength test between groups CG and EG (p= 0.984). The µSBS results showed no statistical difference between groups, considering different storage time. There was no difference in the 3-point flexural strength and µSBS for lithium disilicate samples regardless of heat treatment of furnace type. The storage time had no influence on the µSBS. No differences were noted in the shape and size of these crystals when comparing the furnace analyzed by SEM images. Conclusion: Different furnaces did not influence the flexural and bond strength of lithium disilicate ceramics

Bacterial microleakage at the implant-abutment interface in Morse taper implants

AIM: To evaluate the microleakage at the implant-abutment (I-A) interface of Morse tapered implants inoculated with different volumes of bacterial suspension. METHODS: Morse tapered I-A sets were selected and divided in two groups depending on the type of abutment: passing screw (PS) and solid (S), and then subdivided into four subgroups (n=6) according to the suspension volume: PS1: 0.1 µL; PS3: 0.3 µL; PS5: 0.5 µL; PS7: 0.7 µL; S1: 0.1 µL; S3: 0.>3 µL; S5: 0.5 µL and S7: 0.7 µL. A control test was performed to verify the presence of external contamination during the inoculation and the implants were incubated for microbiological analysis. The microleakage was evaluated every 24 h for 7 days by the clarity of solution. After this period, the implants were disassembled for confirmation of bacterial viability. RESULTS: All the specimens with 0.7 µL and one sample of S5 presented turbidity in the control test indicating external contamination, and were excluded from the study. After 7 days of observation, none of the specimens presented positive results for microleakage and the bacterial viability was confirmed in all specimens. The 0.1 µL and 0.3 µL volumes did not present bacterial microleakage, meaning that these volumes may be inadequate for analysis. CONCLUSIONS: None of the sets evaluated showed bacterial microleakage at the I-A interface and the volume of 0.7 µL exceeded the internal capacity of the implants...

Micro-leakage at the implant-abutment interface with different tightening torques in vitro

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the microleakage at the implant/abutment interface of external hexagon (eH) implants and abutments with different amounts of bacteria and tightening torques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A bacterial suspension was prepared to inoculate the implants. The first phase of this study used nine EH implants and abutments that were divided into three groups with different amounts of bacterial suspension (n=3): V0.5: 0.5 µL; V1.0: 1.0 µL e V1.5: 1.5 µL, and tightened to the manufacturer's recommended torque. The second phase of this experiment used 27 assemblies that were similar to those used in the first phase. These samples were inoculated with 0.5 µL of bacterial suspension and divided into three groups (n=9). T10: 10 Ncm; T20: 20 Ncm and T32: 32 Ncm. The samples were evaluated according to the turbidity of the broth every 24 hours for 14 days, and the bacteria viability was tested after that period. The statistical evaluation was conducted by Kruskal-Wallis testing (p<.05). RESULTS: During the first phase, groups V1.0 and V1.5 was presented with bacterial contamination in all samples after 24 h. During the second phase, two samples from group T10 and one from T20 presented positive results for bacterial contamination. Different amounts of bacterial solution led to overflow and contamination during the first 24 h of the experiment. The tightening torques did not statistically affect the microleakage in the assemblies. However, the group that was tightened to 32 Ncm torque did not show any bacterial contamination. CONCLUSION: After 14 days of experimentation, the bacteria were proven to remain viable inside the implant internal cavity.