Surface detail reproduction of elastomeric impression materials related to rheological properties.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to discern, for elastomeric impression materials, the important rheological properties and importance of hydrophilicity for detail reproduction. METHODS: Viscosity, modulus and tan delta were measured using a controlled-stress rheometer in cone/plate configuration. The flow of the materials, immediately after mixing and at the manufacturer's stated working time, was measured using a shark fin test and the interaction with moist surfaces was determined by taking impressions from two different sized grooves in moist gypsum casts. RESULTS: Tan delta was found to be the parameter most indicative of the accuracy of the impression and the flow of the material. Impregum samples, a polyether material, exhibited the highest initial tan delta (7.4), the largest shark fins at both time periods and the most accurate impressions from both grooves. Aquasil, a polyvinylsiloxane material, had similar initial tan delta values (6.9) and impressions taken on the deep groove with this material closely matched the groove. The other two polyvinylsiloxane materials (Affinis and Flexitime) had significantly lower initial tan delta values (3.1 and 2.9, respectively), exhibited much smaller shark fins and a worse ability to accurately reproduce the deep groove. SIGNIFICANCE: For large features, it is clear that the higher the initial tan delta of the impression material the better the ability to replicate larger features. However, with smaller features the relative hydrophobicity of the material becomes an important factor, with more hydrophilic materials better able to reproduce fine detail.

A method for producing controlled fluoride release from an orthodontic bracket.

The aim of this study was to manufacture and test, in vitro, a novel modification to provide fluoride-releasing orthodontic brackets. Thirty-two orthodontic brackets were drilled to produce a recess (approximately 1.3 mm in diameter and 0.7 mm in depth) at the centre of the bracket base. Four materials, with and without the addition of sodium fluoride, a glass ionomer cement (Ketac Cem micro), a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC; GC Fuji Ortho LC), a zinc phosphate (Zinc Cement Improved), and a resin (Transbond XT) were used to fill the recess in the bracket base. Fluoride release was measured daily during the first week and then weekly for 10 weeks. An ion chromatograph with suppressed conductivity was used for free fluoride ion determination. Statistical analysis to determine the amount of flouride release was undertaken using analysis of variance and Tukey's test. During the first 2 weeks, the resin group, with the addition of 38 per cent sodium fluoride added, released significantly more free fluoride (P < 0.05), but after 2 weeks the fluoride release markedly decreased. After 5 weeks, the RMGIC group, with 15 per cent added sodium fluoride, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) daily fluoride release than the other groups. The findings demonstrated that an appropriate fluoridated material can be used as a fluoride-releasing reservoir in a modified orthodontic bracket to enable it to release fluoride over the period of fixed appliance treatment.

Comprehensive analysis of the gene encoding filaggrin uncovers prevalent and rare mutations in ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic eczema.

We recently reported two common filaggrin (FLG) null mutations that cause ichthyosis vulgaris and predispose to eczema and secondary allergic diseases. We show here that these common European mutations are ancestral variants carried on conserved haplotypes. To facilitate comprehensive analysis of other populations, we report a strategy for full sequencing of this large, highly repetitive gene, and we describe 15 variants, including seven that are prevalent. All the variants are either nonsense or frameshift mutations that, in representative cases, resulted in loss of filaggrin production in the epidermis. In an Irish case-control study, the five most common European mutations showed a strong association with moderate-to-severe childhood eczema (chi2 test: P = 2.12 x 10(-51); Fisher's exact test: heterozygote odds ratio (OR) = 7.44 (95% confidence interval (c.i.) = 4.9-11.3), and homozygote OR = 151 (95% c.i. = 20-1,136)). We found three additional rare null mutations in this case series, suggesting that the genetic architecture of filaggrin-related atopic dermatitis consists of both prevalent and rare risk alleles.

Dentin decontamination using chloramine T prior to experiments involving bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the importance of ISO11405 recommended storage regime for extracted teeth in surface disinfectant chloramine T (chlT) prior to use in biofilm or in vitro caries studies involving microorganisms. ChlT may be absorbed into dentin and undergoes breakdown with organic material. METHODS: Extracted roots were stored in chlT (2 days), rinsed and transferred to distilled deionised water. HPLC at regular intervals determined chlT elution. At 4 weeks roots were boiled in water and eluent assessed with HPLC. ChlT breakdown (+/-organic material) over time was monitored with HPLC. ChlT minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) against Lactobacillus acidophilus was evaluated using L. acidophilus broth and chlT serial dilutions. RESULTS: No significant increase in chlT elution was detected between 2h and 4 weeks (ANOVA, Tukeys, p>0.05), although levels tended to increase with time. ChlT detected in water was 0.005%, corresponding to 0.05% in dentin. After boiling (4 weeks) chlT breakdown products in water corresponded to 0.015% in dentin. MIC/MBC of chlT against L. acidophilus was 0.031%. SIGNIFICANCE: ChlT breakdown is accelerated by organic material. L. acidophilus is highly sensitive to chlT. ChlT readily leaches from dentin but rinsing does not reduce chlT concentration below MIC/MBC. Low levels of chlT may remain but will probably be in a less active form. Teeth disinfected in chlT for use in research involving bacteria must be stored in distilled water for at least 2h to reduce chlT concentration below MBC, although longer will give greater elution and breakdown.

Response to thermal stimuli of glass ionomer cements.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the dimensional changes of glass ionomers caused by thermal stimuli under both dry and wet conditions. METHODS: Eight cylindrical specimens (6 mm x 4 mm) were made (using a stainless steel mold) of each of the following materials: a conventional luting glass ionomer, two high viscosity restorative glass ionomers, a resin-modified glass ionomer and a resin composite which was used as a control. The thermal expansion characteristics were determined by a thermal mechanical analyzer (TMA) under wet and dry conditions by heating the samples from 25 to 70 degrees C at 10 degrees C min (-1). RESULTS: All materials showed contraction on heating in dry ambient conditions. In wet conditions, all glass ionomers maintained their original dimensions on heating, but the resin-modified glass ionomer expanded. The resin composite showed expansion in both wet and dry conditions. The results are explained in terms of the opposing effects of thermal expansion and desiccation on heating. SIGNIFICANCE: Under wet conditions glass ionomers maintain their original dimensions when heated. This kind of behavior may be considered as 'smart' behavior.

Fluoride release and neutralizing effect by resin-based materials.

This study evaluated the fluoride-releasing and neutralizing abilities of resin-based materials containing fluoride in water and aqueous lactic acid. Two composites, containing a low-solubility fluoride component (Heliomolar) and a fluoroalumino-silicate glass (UniFil S), and two giomers, containing surface reaction type prereacted glass-ionomer filler (Beautifil) and full reaction type glass-ionomer filler (Reactmer paste), were used. Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (Fuji II LC) was used as a control. The fluoride release and pH value in storage medium, after immersion in each material, was measured for 10 weeks. For UniFil S and Beautifil, the amount of fluoride released in acid solution markedly increased compared to storage in water (p<0.05). Although all materials, except Heliomolar, neutralized the storage media, the neutralizing ability of these resin-based materials in acid solution sharply decreased with aging of the specimens, except for Fuji II LC. These results suggest that the nature of fluoride incorporated into resin-based materials affect the fluoride-releasing and neutralizing ability of materials in water and aqueous lactic acid.

Fluoride release from aged resin composites containing fluoridated glass filler.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluoride release from aged resin composites containing different types of fluoridated glass filler into both deionized distilled water and lactic acid solution. METHODS: Three resin composites, UniFil S (containing fluoro-alumino-silicate glass filler), Reactmer (containing pre-reacted glass-ionomer filler) and Beautifil (containing both types of fillers) were used. A conventional glass-ionomer cement, Ketac-Fil, was used as a control. Five disk specimens of each material were prepared and aged in water for 10 weeks. After aging, specimens were immersed in deionized distilled water for a further 6 days and then in aqueous lactic acid (pH 4.0) for 2 days. This process was repeated twice more and the specimens were subsequently immersed in water for a further 12 days. Fluoride release was measured every 2 days throughout the post-aging period. RESULTS: The amount of fluoride release for aged UniFil S and Beautifil markedly increased in acid solution compared with water storage. The difference was not so great for aged Reactmer and Ketac-Fil. UniFil S and Beautifil gave significantly greater fluoride release in water following immersion in acid solution (p<0.05, two-way ANOVA and Scheffe's test), but Reactmer and Ketac-Fil showed no such increase in fluoride release after acid immersion. SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggested that the nature of the fluoridated glass filler within a resin composite and the way in which the material interacts with an acidic environment affected the amount of fluoride released.

Effect of the applied load on surface contact fatigue of dental filling materials.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the applied load in a rolling-ball device on the surface contact fatigue of two dental filling materials: a microfilled composite (FA) and a glass ionomer (GFII). METHODS: Disk specimens 10 mm diameter by 1.5 mm thick were set into cavities cut in plates of PMMA. After setting, the specimens were ground and polished using wet-carborundum paper followed by 1 microm alumina and then stored for 24 h in water at 23 degrees C. The surface fatigue test was carried out using loads ranging from 100 to 500 gf through a ruby ball 2 mm diameter using a rolling-ball device. The ball was set to rotate at 720 rpm and a surface profile was determined on impressions recorded at regular intervals. Fatigue life was defined as the number of cycles to produce a track 5 microm deep and was determined by interpolation. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and t-tests at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: At loads ranging from 200 to 500 gf the fatigue life was 0.7-10.6 x 10(5) cycles for FA, and 0.7-4.8 x 10(3) cycles for GFII. For both materials the fatigue life was reduced significantly by increasing the test load (p<0.05). The surface contact fatigue life for FA was at least 100 times greater than that for GFII at all loads. SIGNIFICANCE: The rolling ball device was confirmed as a simple and meaningful device for the study of surface contact fatigue. A microfilled composite is very much more resistant to contact fatigue than a glass ionomer.

Fluoride release and recharge in giomer, compomer and resin composite.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the fluoride recharging and releasing abilities of resin-based materials containing fluoridated glass filler to determine whether the extent of the glass-ionomer matrix of the material affects these properties. METHODS: Three materials having a different proportion of the hydrogel matrix surrounding the glass filler, namely: Reactmer paste, Dyract AP and Xeno CF, were used for this study. Five disk specimens of each material were placed into distilled/deionized water and the fluoride release measured during 38 days. For fluoride recharge the disks were exposed to 250 ppm F solution for 1 h and the pre- and post-recharge fluoride release were determined using an ion-selective electrode (total fluoride ions) and ion chromatography (free fluoride ions). RESULTS: The amounts of total and free fluoride release from each material at the initial period in descending order were Reactmer paste > Dyract AP > Xeno CF (p < 0.05 ANOVA and Scheffe's test). After fluoride recharge, Reactmer paste showed a greater amount of fluoride release than the other materials. Dyract AP and Xeno CF showed a similar total level of fluoride release after recharging. For Xeno CF the amount of total fluoride released after recharging was significantly greater than that of free fluoride, but there was no significant difference between total and free fluoride released after recharging for Dyract AP (p = 0.05 paired t-test). SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggested that the extent of the glass-ionomer matrix of the glass filler played an important role for fluoride-releasing and recharging abilities of the resin-based materials.

Temperature mediated coefficient of dimensional change of dental tooth-colored restorative materials.

OBJECTIVES: Restorative materials are constantly subjected to thermal challenges in the oral environment. Such challenges, if significant, can have unfavorable effects on the margins of restorations in terms of the seal between the material and the tooth structure. This study aimed to assess the Coefficient of Dimensional Change (CDC) of tooth-colored restorative materials. METHODS: Five cylindrical specimens (6 mm x 4 mm) were made (using a stainless steel mold) of each of the following: the compomers Dyract AP (Dentsply), or F2000 Compomer (3M); a resin composite, Z100 MP (3M); a resin-modified glass-ionomer, Fuji II LC Capsule (GC); the conventional glass-ionomers Fuji IX GP Fast (GC) or Ketac Fil Aplicap (ESPE). The light-cured materials were cured for 40 s at each end and also around the 'waist' after removal from the mold. All specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 h, before testing. The CDC for each specimen was determined using a thermal mechanical analyser, by heating the sample from 25 to 70 degrees C at 10 degrees C min(-1). RESULTS: All materials except the glass-ionomers showed expansion on heating. The temperature response was non-linear in each case and values of CDC were therefore calculated between 25 and 50 degrees C and between 50 and 70 degrees C. The mean values of CDC (x 10(-6) degrees C(-1)) between 25 and 50 degrees C were Dyract: 83.4, F2000: 66.1, Z100: 64.5. The glass-ionomer materials showed contraction, which was non-linear in nature and was associated with a loss of water on heating. ANOVA and Tukey's pairwise comparisons of mean CDC values for the other materials indicated significant differences between all pairs of materials. SIGNIFICANCE: The compomers and resin composite tested had similar values of CDC. The conventional and resin-modified glass-ionomers contracted on heating. For one glass-ionomer the dimensional change on heating was minimal as thermal expansion appeared to be compensated by water loss.

Determination of fluoride ions released from resin-based dental materials using ion-selective electrode and ion chromatograph.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the quantities of total and free fluoride ions released from four resin-based composites containing fluoride (Heliomolar (HE), UniFil S (UF), Beautifil (BE) and Reactmer paste (RP)) and one glass ionomer cement (Ketac-Fil Plus Aplicap (KF)). METHODS: Five disk specimens of each material were prepared and the fluoride release was measured at 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The amounts of total and free fluoride ions released from materials were measured by using an ion-selective electrode (ISE) and ion chromatography (IC). Data were statistically analyzed using a t-test at a significant level of 0.05. RESULTS: For HE, fluoride release is undetectable using the ISE but was detected by the IC method. There were no significant differences in the free and total fluoride ions released from UF and BE (p>0.05). For RP, the free fluoride ions were significantly lower than the total fluoride ions after 4 days (p<0.05). KF showed significant difference between total and free fluoride ions at 7 and 28 days (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The nature of the fluoride incorporated into dental materials affected the amounts of free and total fluoride ions released from materials.

Adhesive bond strength and compliance for denture soft lining materials.

Peel bond strength and tensile bond strength between three polyvinylsiloxane denture soft liners and a heat-cured acrylic resin denture base were measured using two adhesive systems. The soft lining materials differed only in regard of their filler content and compliance. The values of bond strength and mode of failure were explained in terms of the inherent strength of the bond and varying compliance and tear strength of the soft material. For tensile testing, when bond failure occurred through an adhesive debonding mechanism, materials of low compliance (stiffer materials) produced the greatest tensile bond strength. Conversely, when the same materials were subjected to peel testing a different trend emerged; the material with lowest compliance produced the lowest peel bond strength. When de-bonding occurs by tearing or snapping of the soft material, the measured value of bond strength was controlled by the tear strength of the soft material. The results could be explained by a consideration of stress concentrations at the soft-hard material interface during 180 degrees peel testing. Adhesives based on ethyl acetate solvents produced stronger bond strengths than equivalent toluene based adhesives, particularly for materials of low compliance. Bond failure for toluene based adhesives was predominantly adhesive, whereas that for ethyl acetate based adhesives was predominantly cohesive. Overall, the least resistance to peeling was exhibited by a material of low compliance (i.e. relatively stiff) bonded with a toluene based adhesive. When an ethyl acetate based adhesive was used, all materials exhibited a resistance to peeling with a predominantly cohesive mode of failure.

Determining low levels of fluoride released from resin based dental materials.

Fluoride release determinations were made on two resin matrix dentine bonding systems using an ion-selective electrode and ion chromatography. Calibrations were made on serially diluted samples of standard fluoride solutions. The electrode method consistently gave higher values than the chromatographic method for one of the materials, and this was considered to be due to the use of total ionic strength adjustment buffer in electrode determinations. The lower limit of fluoride determination using the electrode was 0.5-0.1 p.p.m. Below this concentration the output from the electrode became meaningless. The chromatographic method gave meaningful results down to 0.001 p.p.m. The fluoride release results for the meter were meaningful only for the first 2 d for one test material and for up to 10 d for the other material. Using chromatography, fluoride release could be monitored for the full 44 d of the trial for both materials. Over the range of concentrations where fluoride determinations were possible by both methods, the values were correlated (R = 0.98). Ion chromatography appears to have an advantage over the ion-selective electrode for measuring low levels of fluoride release from dental materials.