Whole Tooth Regeneration: Can Animal Studies be Translated into Clinical Application?

Tooth loss leads to several oral problems and although a large number of treatments have been proposed to rehabilitate partially or totally edentulous patients, none of them is based on replacement of a missing tooth by a new natural whole tooth. In the field of tissue engineering, some animal models have been developed to regenerate a natural tooth in the oral cavity. This review shows the state of the art in whole tooth regeneration based on data from in vivo studies. A systematic scoping review was conducted to evaluate studies that described whole-tooth regeneration and eruption in the oral cavity. The data demonstrated that over 100 animals were used in experimental studies and all of them received implants of tooth germs constructed by bioengineering processes. Mini pigs and pigs were used in four studies followed by mice (n = 1) and dog (n = 1). Over 58 (44%) animals showed whole tooth eruption around 3.5 months after tooth germ implantation (1 to 13.5 months). Most of specimens revealed the presence of odontoblasts, dentin, dentinal tubules, dental pulp, root analogue, cementum, blood vessels, and alveolar bone. It could be concluded that in vivo whole tooth regeneration was proved to be possible, but the challenge to overcome translational barriers and test these approaches in humans still remains. Impact Statement Advances in tissue engineering have led to the development of new methods to regenerate and replace tissues and organs, including teeth. Tooth regeneration is the main goal for the replacement of tooth loss and therefore current evidence showed that tissue engineering might provide this treatment in future.

Monolithic CAD/CAM laminate veneers: Reliability and failure modes.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the probability of survival and failure modes of lithium-disilicate, feldspathic-ceramic, and resin-nanoceramic anterior veneers cemented on dentin analog substrates after sliding-contact step-stress accelerated life testing (SSALT). METHODS: A virtual incisor tooth preparation was produced with a reduction of 1.5mm at the incisal edge and of 0.7mm buccally. A .STL file of the preparation was generated and CAD/CAM based G10 dentin-analog material was used for testing. Laminate veneers were milled in three different materials: lithium-disilicate (LDS, E.max CAD), resin-nanoceramic (RN, Lava Ultimate), and feldspathic-ceramic (FELDS, Vita Blocks). SSALT was employed where a spherical indenter contacted the veneer, slided along its interface with G10 to lift off and start a new cycle at 2Hz in water. Qualitative fractography was performed. The probability of survival (90% confidence-bounds) was calculated for several load/cycle missions. RESULTS: The probability of survival for a mission of 50,000 cycles decreased from 50 up to 150N equally for all groups and were not different between them. At 200N, the probability of survival was significantly lower for FELDS (10%) compared to RN veneers (41%), whereas LDS presented intermediate values (22%). The characteristic strength of RN (247N) was significantly higher than LDS (149N), and FELDS (151N). In FELDS and LDS, hackles, wake hackles and twist hackles indicated the direction of crack propagation. In RN, hackles were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in probability of survival were observed only at 180 and 200N between groups. Failure modes were similar with veneer fracture down to the tooth-analog substrate.

Bond Strength of Methacrylate-based Blends Containing Elastomeric Monomers and Alternative Initiators after Thermomechanical Cycling.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the bond strength to dentin produced by experimental adhesives formulated with an elastomeric methacrylate monomer (EMM) and an alternative initiator system based on a Thioxanthone derivative (QTX). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-etching primer was used. For the bonding resin, a model adhesive (G1) was formulated containing bis-GMA/TEG-DMA/HEMA (co-monomeric blend) + CQ/EDAB (initiator system). The other groups were formulated by adding to this formulation: EMM only (G2), QTX (G3), or EMM and QTX (G4). Clearfil SE Bond was used as the commercial control group. Fifty bovine teeth (n = 5) were restored with each one of the five adhesives. After restorative procedures, half of the specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h. The other half was fixed on a metal stub and subjected to 200,000 mechanical (50 N loading at 2 Hz frequency) and 1000 thermal cycles (5°C and 55°C). Afterwards, specimens were serially sectioned into beams and tested in tension until fracture. Bond strengths were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 5%). RESULTS: After 24 h, significantly higher µTBS was observed for the formulation containing EMM and QTX (G4) when compared to Clearfil SE Bond (p < 0.05). No significant differences in µTBS were detected among the experimental groups after 24 h (p>0.05). After thermomechanical cycling, no significant differences were observed among groups. CONCLUSION: The addition of EMM and QTX can be considered as possible alternative in dental adhesive formulations.

Uso de resina bulk-fill e novo sistema de matriz seccional para otimizar restaurações Classe II / The use of a bulk-fill composite and a new sectional matrix system for optimization for Class II restorations

Novas tecnologias aliadas a novos materiais vêm de encontro à filosofia de facilitar a clínica diária, diminuindo o número de passos, consequentemente diminuindo a chance de erro se utilizando menos tempo clínico para obter bons resultados. Paciente do gênero masculino,38 anos, apresentava uma restauração classe II OD deficiente no elemento 36. Foi realizado oexame clínico, radiográfico e seleção de cor. Sobre isolamento absoluto, a restauração antiga e a lesão de cárie foram removidas. Para a realização da nova restauração foi utilizado um sistema de matriz seccional e uma resina composta de baixa tensão de contração de polimerização e baixa viscosidade com a técnica bulk-fill, seguida por uma resina convencional como é preconizado.Pode-se observar que a técnica bulk-fill é bastante simples quando comparada à técnica incremental tradicional e aliada ao uso do sistema de matrizes seccionais otimizam ainda mais o dia-a-dia na clínica.

New technologies associated with new materials have been introduced to facilitate the dailyclinical procedures, reducing the number of steps, thus reducing the chance of mistakes andchair time for clinical procedures. Male patient, 38 years old, had a deficient OD class II restorationin the lower left first molar. Clinical examination, x-ray and color selection were performed.Using rubber dam isolation, the old restoration and caries were removed. For the new restorationa sectional matrix system and a low-stress flowable bulk-fill composite were used, followedby a conventional nanohybrid composite as recommended. It can be seen that the bulk-fill techniqueis quite simple compared to the traditional incremental technique and combined withthe system of sectional matrix system further optimize the restorative procedures.

Bond Strength of a Flowable Bulk-fill Resin Composite in Class II MOD Cavities.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of a bulk-fill low-stress resin-based composite to dentin from gingival walls of Class II MOD cavities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Class II MOD cavities were prepared in 44 human molars with the distal and mesial proximal boxes 4 and 6 mm deep, respectively. Eight experimental groups (n = 11) were obtained by a factorial design including 1. "composite" in two levels: a bulk-fill low-stress composite (SureFil SDR Flow, Dentsply Caulk) and a conventional composite (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M ESPE); 2. "filling technique" in two levels: bulk-fill (Bf) and incremental (In); and 3. "depth" in two levels: 4 mm and 6 mm in order to create different polymerization conditions. Twenty-four hours after placement of restorations, teeth were sectioned into beams with a cross-sectional bonded area of approximately 1 mm2. Bonded beams obtained from the gingival walls of the proximal boxes were tested in tension at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were submitted to a 3-way ANOVA followed by a post-hoc Tukey's test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: ANOVA failed to identify significant differences for the triple and double interaction between factors. However, significant differences were observed for the factors "composite" and "filling technique" (p < 0.05). SDR presented significantly higher µTBS values for bulk and incremental filling techniques (p < 0.05), and the incremental filling technique presented significantly higher µTBS values for both composites (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the bulk-fill flowable composite SDR may improve the bond strength to the gingival walls of Class II MOD cavities.