Finite element analysis of FGM dental crowns using phase-field approach.

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) - categorized in advanced composite materials - are specially designed to reduce the stresses and failure due to material mismatches. Advances in manufacturing techniques have brought FGMs into use in a variety of applications. However, the numerical analysis is still challenging due to the difficulties in simulations of non-homogeneous material domains of complex parts. Presenting a numerical procedure that both facilitates the implementation of material non-homogeneity in geometrically complex mediums, and increases the accuracy of the calculations using a phase-field approach, this study investigates the usage of FGMs in dental prostheses. For this purpose, a porcelain fused to metal (PFM) mandibular first molar FGM crown is simulated and analyzed under the maximum masticatory bite force, and eventually the results are compared to a PFM crown prepared conventionally.

Influence of various metal oxides on mechanical and physical properties of heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate denture base resins.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of various metal oxides on impact strength (IS), fracture toughness (FT), water sorption (WSP) and solubility (WSL) of heat-cured acrylic resin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty acrylic resin specimens were fabricated for each test and divided into five groups. Group 1 was the control group and Group 2, 3, 4 and 5 (test groups) included a mixture of 1% TiO2 and 1% ZrO2, 2% Al2O3, 2% TiO2, and 2% ZrO2 by volume, respectively. Rectangular unnotched specimens (50 mm × 6.0 mm × 4.0 mm) were fabricated and droptower impact testing machine was used to determine IS. For FT, compact test specimens were fabricated and tests were done with a universal testing machine with a cross-head speed of 5 mm/min. For WSP and WSL, discshaped specimens were fabricated and tests were performed in accordance to ISO 1567. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: IS and FT values were significantly higher and WSP and WSL values were significantly lower in test groups than in control group (P<.05). Group 5 had significantly higher IS and FT values and significantly lower WSP values than other groups (P<.05) and provided 40% and 30% increase in IS and FT, respectively, compared to control group. Significantly lower WSL values were detected for Group 2 and 5 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Modification of heat-cured acrylic resin with metal oxides, especially with ZrO2, may be useful in preventing denture fractures and undesirable physical changes resulting from oral fluids clinically.

Impact of dental and zygomatic implants on stress distribution in maxillary defects: a 3-dimensional finite element analysis study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution in the bone around dental and zygomatic implants for 4 different implant-supported obturator prostheses designs in a unilaterally maxillary defect using a 3-dimensional finite element stress analysis. A 3-dimensional finite element model of the human unilateral maxillary defect was constructed. Four different implant-supported obturator prostheses were modeled; model 1 with 2 zygomatic implants and 1 dental implant, model 2 with 2 zygomatic implants and 2 dental implants, model 3 with 2 zygomatic implants and 3 dental implants, and model 4 with 1 zygomatic implant and 3 dental implants. Bar attachments were used as superstructure. A 150-N vertical load was applied in 3 different ways, and von Mises stresses in the cortical bone around implants were evaluated. When the models (model 1-3) were compared in terms of number of implants, all of the models showed similar highest stress values under the first loading condition, and these values were less than under model 4 conditions. The highest stress values of models 1-4 under the first loading condition were 8.56, 8.59, 8.32, and 11.55 Mpa, respectively. The same trend was also observed under the other loading conditions. It may be concluded that the use of a zygomatic implant on the nondefective side decreased the highest stress values, and increasing the number of dental implants between the most distal and most mesial implants on the nondefective side did not decrease the highest stress values.

The bond strength of a highly cross-linked denture tooth to denture base polymers: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: This study compared shear bond strength and type of bond failure between a highly cross-linked tooth and different denture base polymers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-linked denture teeth were bonded to either a heat-, an auto-, a microwave-polymerized denture base resin or a relatively new injection-molded, microwave-polymerizable polyurethane-based resin. Six experimental groups were established for each of the shear and peel tests. In four of the groups, teeth were used as received and bonded to each of the denture base resins; in the remaining two groups, they were treated with dichloromethane to determine its effect on the bonding with heat or auto-polymerized denture base resins. Bond strength was determined by compressive load applied at 45 degrees on the palatal surface of each tooth until fracture; the type of bond failure was assessed by the peel test. RESULTS: The results showed that heat-cured PMMA groups failed cohesively and demonstrated significantly higher bond strengths than the other resins used. The application of dichloromethane on the ridge lap areas of teeth resulted in a significant improvement of bond strengths in heat- and auto-cured resins. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this experimental study, the results suggest that type of denture base material and processing methods may have an influence upon the bond strength between interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) denture teeth and base materials. Treatment of denture teeth with dichloromethane could provide substantial improvement in the bond strength of teeth with heat and auto-cured denture base resins; however, this finding should be validated in further investigations on the long-term effect of such treatment on the bond strength.

An impression technique for implant-retained orbital prostheses.

This article describes an impression technique to transfer implant positions to the definitive cast using magnetic attachments splinted with acrylic resin for an implant-retained orbital prosthesis. The acrylic resin transfer device that incorporated the magnets was also used as the acrylic resin magnet substructure for the silicone orbital prosthesis.

Color stability of glazed and polished dental porcelains.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the visual and colorimetric color stability of two ultra low-fusing and three conventional low-fusing porcelains on both glazed and polished surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve disks, 10 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness, were fabricated for each porcelain. Specimens were glazed using their specific glaze materials. For each type of porcelain, the specimens were divided into two groups: one group was immersed in methylene blue and the other group in distilled water as a control. The surfaces were visually examined for staining without magnification. Objective color measurement was performed for each sample using a Tristimulus colorimeter. After examining the color of the glazed specimens, glazed layers were removed from the surface of the specimens to simulate an intraoral environment. Then, porcelain polishing points and diamond polishing paste were applied. The samples were immersed again in methylene blue and distilled water, and after removing from the staining solution and distilled water, visual and objective measurements were performed again. RESULTS: Visually discernible stain was present on the polished groups of all five porcelains immersed in methylene blue, whereas the glazed group immersed in methylene blue showed no staining. No staining was observed with glazed and polished samples immersed in distilled water. The objective evaluation showed that the polished porcelain surface of all five porcelain products had statistically significant color deviation than the glazed surface in the same group after immersion in methylene blue. The results of this study show a statistically significant difference in color stability between the polished and glazed specimens. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that the glazed specimens showed a better color stability, although the staining observed in the polished specimens was not clinically noticeable.

Effects of mesiodistal inclination of implants on stress distribution in implant-supported fixed prostheses.

PURPOSE: Patterns of von Mises stress values surrounding implants supporting fixed prostheses in the posterior edentulous maxilla were evaluated using 3-dimensional finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implants were placed in maxillary bone in 2 different configurations. In the first configuration, implants were placed in the first premolar, second premolar, and second molar regions; in the second configuration, implants were placed in the second premolar and second molar regions, and a mesial cantilever was extended to the space of the first premolar tooth on the superstructure. On the implant placed in the socket of the second molar, 3 different inclinations were used (0, 15, and 30 degrees). Loading was applied in the vertical, oblique, and horizontal axes. RESULTS: Inclination of the implant in the molar region was found to result in increased stress. Significant increase in stress on the implant embedded in the premolar region was also seen in the design with the cantilever as compared to the conventional prosthesis design. DISCUSSION: The stress concentrations observed at the neck of the implant were similar to results reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: The highest stress value obtained in the study was 194.2 MPa with oblique loading. This value did not exceed the endurance limit of pure titanium, which is 259.9 MPa.

Dynamic mechanical analysis of provisional resin materials reinforced by metal oxides.

In this study, several provisional resin materials were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The materials were autopolymerized PMMA and PEMA, light cured PMMA. Autopolymerized PMMA has the highest T(g) (131 degrees C) compared to that of the autopolymerized PEMA (102 degrees C) and light cured PMMA (120 degrees C). The storage moduli for autopolymerized PMMA, autopolymerized PEMA and light cured PMMA are 2.9, 1.8 and 2.3 GPa, respectively. The loss moduli of the same resins are 330, 300 and 350 MPa, respectively. Each of these resins were reinforced with 1%, 3% and 5% of each of metal oxides of MgO, ZrO2 and Al2O3 and then studied with DMA. Small changes were observed for dynamic mechanical properties tested. However, the changes are not systematic and noticeable. This is most probably due to smaller size of metal oxides particles compared to that of polymer particle size.

Clinical examination and interleukin-1beta levels in gingival crevicular fluid in patients treated with removable partial dentures.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the periodontal status and susceptibility to periodontal disease progression of the teeth in contact with removable partial dentures (RPD) and to compare them with control teeth in mouths not restored with a partial denture, by means of both clinical parameters and interleukin (IL)-1beta levels in gingival crevicular fluid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight periodontally healthy patients were selected for the study; 14 of them were treated with mandibular Kennedy Class I RPDs, and the other 14 patients were not restored for control. Clinical periodontal measurements were assessed, and crevicular fluid samples were collected from both abutment and control teeth to determine IL-1beta levels, which were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These procedures were performed both at baseline and 9 months after the insertion of the dentures. RESULTS: The wearing of RPDs resulted in statistically higher clinical scores and total IL-1beta levels compared to the baseline examination. In contrast, no statistically significant differences were found between baseline and 9-month examinations in the control group. CONCLUSION: RPDs are a risk factor for periodontal disease progression because of increased plaque accumulation associated with increased total IL-1beta levels and impaired clinical periodontal parameters.