Reversal of compromised bonding in bleached enamel.

Oxygen inhibits polymerization of resin-based materials. We hypothesized that compromised bonding to bleached enamel can be reversed with sodium ascorbate, an anti-oxidant. Sandblasted human enamel specimens were treated with distilled water (control) and 10% carbamide peroxide gel with or without further treatment with 10% sodium ascorbate. They were bonded with Single Bond (3M-ESPE) or Prime&Bond NT (Dentsply DeTrey) and restored with a composite. Specimens were prepared for microtensile bond testing and transmission electron microscopy after immersion in ammoniacal silver nitrate for nanoleakage evaluation. Bond strengths of both adhesives were reduced after bleaching but were reversed following sodium ascorbate treatment (P < 0.001). Resin-enamel interfaces in bleached enamel exhibited more extensive nanoleakage in the form of isolated silver grains and bubble-like silver deposits. Reduction of resin-enamel bond strength in bleached etched enamel is likely to be caused by a delayed release of oxygen that affects the polymerization of resin components.

Comparison of pulse activation vs conventional light-curing on marginal adaptation of a compomer conditioned using a total-etch or a self-etch technique.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of two factors: conditioning methods and light-curing techniques on the marginal adaptation of Dyract AP (Dentsply DeTrey, Germany). The 'pulse activation' curing technique was compared with a conventional light-curing technique for their effectiveness in reducing marginal gaps in restorations that were conditioned with three different protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cylindrical cavities, 3mm in diameter, were prepared in extracted human molar teeth. They were restored with Dyract AP using Prime&Bond NT (PBNT; Dentsply DeTrey) as the adhesive. Cavities were etched with: Conditioner36/PBNT (group 1), Non-Rinse Conditioner (NRC)/PBNT (group 2), and PBNT only (group 3). Either conventional or the 'pulse activation' technique was used for light-curing of the material. Epoxy resin replicas were obtained from longitudinal sections of the specimens, and the restoration-tooth interfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Marginal qualities along the resin-dentin interfaces were further measured using image analysis and analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods. RESULTS: With the conventional curing technique, enamel margin fractures were frequently observed. Marginal gaps were found along the compomer-dentin interfaces irrespective of the conditioning protocol. A significantly lower percentage of gap-containing margins were found in cavities that were conditioned with 36% phosphoric acid. With the 'pulse activation' technique, no marginal gap was found along compomer-dentin interfaces that were etched with either Conditioner36 or NRC. More than 90% of the total margin length were excellent. No cohesive failure of enamel could be observed along cavosurface margins. SIGNIFICANCE: The 'pulse activation' curing technique significantly improves the marginal integrity of Dyract AP when Conditioner36/Prime&Bond NT and NRC/Prime&Bond NT are used as conditioning/bonding systems. The use of Prime&Bond NT without etching is not recommended, as marginal gaps are present irrespective of the curing techniques employed.

Hygroscopic expansion of a compomer and a composite on artificial gap reduction.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effect of water sorption on the extent of marginal gap reduction in a compomer (Dyract AP, Dentsply) and a composite (Spectrum, Dentsply) over a 12-week storage period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Artificial gaps were created in 40 borosilicate glass cylinders, each 5mm deep and with an internal diameter of 5.5mm. Half of the internal bonding surface of each cylinder was sandblasted, silanised and coated with a dentine adhesive (Prime&Bond NT, Dentsply). Twenty partially bonded cylinders were incrementally filled with Dyract AP (AP) and the rest with Spectrum (S). For each material, 10 specimens were stored in de-ionised water (W), and 10 (control) in non-aqueous silicone fluid (O) at 37 degrees C. The dimension of the same maximum gap created in each specimen was repeatedly measured at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, using a light microscope under incident light at 570x magnification. Gap widths in each of the four groups (n=10) were statistically compared. Correlations between mean gap width reduction and storage time were also examined. RESULTS: Friedman repeated measures ANOVA on ranks revealed significant differences (p<0.001) among the gap widths measured at different time intervals in groups AP-W and S-W. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in groups AP-O and S-O. Tukey's multiple comparison test indicated that no significant differences (p>0.05) were detectable beyond the sixth week in AP-W and the fourth week in S-W. Linear regression analyses showed that mean gap widths decreased exponentially with time for AP-W (r=0.97) and S-W (r=0.90). From the slopes of the regression lines, the rate of marginal gap reduction in AP-W was 4.6 times faster than S-W. CONCLUSION: Marginal gap reduction in both the materials are directly attributed to water sorption and that the reduction is larger and more rapid in Dyract AP.