Effects of cigarette smoke on color, roughness and gloss of high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoke (CS) on color, roughness and gloss of bulk-fill resin composites. METHODS: Resin discs (10 x 2 mm) were made for resin composites (n= 10) : Filtek Z250XT (control), Filtek One Bulk Fill (FOBF), Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-Fill (TBF) and Aura Bulk-Fill (ABF). The color ( ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, ΔE and ΔE00), roughness (Ra) and gloss analyses were performed at the baseline and after CS exposure (10 packs of cigarettes - Marlboro Red). The data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's test for Ra and gloss; and one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test for ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, ΔE and ΔE00 ( α= 0.05). RESULTS: For ΔL*, all groups presented reduced luminosity and all bulk-fill resin composites differed statistically from the control (P< 0.05). ABF presented greater variation of ΔL*, differing statistically from all resin composites (P< 0.05). For ΔE and ΔE00, all bulk-fill resin composites showed greater staining, differing statistically from the control, which presented lower values. For Ra, after CS, only ABF presented a decrease, differing statistically from baseline (P< 0.05). After CS smoke, all groups presented gloss increase, statistically different from the baseline (P< 0.05), and when compared among resin composites, no difference was found. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Bulk-fill resin composites are more prone to staining by cigarette smoke when compared to the conventional microhybrid resin composites.

Influence of pre-heating and ceramic thickness on physical properties of luting agents.

PURPOSE: The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of ceramic thickness and pre-heating of luting agents on their physical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials RelyX Arc, RelyX Ultimate, RelyX Veneer, and Filtek Z350 Flow were handled at different temperatures (23°C or 54°C), inserted into matrix, and photoactivated through ceramic disks (0.75 mm or 1.5 mm). The following tests were performed ( n=8): degree of conversion, Knoop Hardness, cross-link density, water sorption, solubility, and ultimate tensile strength. Data were analyzed using three-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α=0.05). RESULTS: Regarding ceramic thickness, the thinnest ceramic resulted in higher values of Knoop Hardness ( p=0.027). The lowest temperature (23°C) resulted in a higher solubility ( p=0.0257), and water sorption ( p=0.0229) values. There was also statistical difference among the materials: RelyX Arc showed a higher degree of conversion and ultimate tensile strength, followed by RelyX Veneer, RelyX Ultimate, and Filtek Z350 Flow. For Knoop Hardness and cross-link density tests, RelyX Ultimate showed the highest values, followed by RelyX Arc, RelyX Veneer, and Filtek Z350 Flow. For water sorption and solubility, RelyX Veneer showed the highest values, followed by RelyX Arc, RelyX Ultimate, and Filtek Z350 Flow. CONCLUSION: Pre-heating interfered with water sorption and solubility, whereas ceramic thickness only affected Knoop Hardness; the physical properties of the materials are dependent on their composition.

Influence of surface treatments on enamel susceptibility to staining by cigarette smoke.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of remineralizing agents, including artificial saliva, neutral fluoride, and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), on the susceptibility of bleached enamel to staining by cigarette smoke. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): G1- bleaching; G2- bleaching and immersion in artificial saliva; G3- bleaching and application of CPP-ACP; G4- bleaching and application of neutral fluoride; and G5- untreated (Control). Teeth were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide and treated with the appropriate remineralizing agent. After treatment, all groups were exposed to cigarette smoke. Enamel color measurements were performed at three different times: before treatment (T1), after treatment (bleaching and remineralizing agent) (T2), and after staining (T3), by using the CIE Lab method with a spectrophotometer. The data coordinate L* was evaluated by analysis of repeated-measures PROC MIXED and Tukey-Kramer's test, and the ΔE values were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The G1 group did not show any statistically significant difference for L* values between times T1 and T2. The G4 and G5 groups showed lower L* values at T3 compared to T2. No significant differences between the groups were observed for ΔE (after treatment and staining). However, G4 showed a clinically apparent color change. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of bleached enamel with neutral fluoride can contribute to the increased staining of enamel due to cigarette smoke. Key words:Spectrophotometer, remineralizing agents, bleaching.

Influence of light curing and sample thickness on microhardness of a composite resin.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of light-curing units and different sample thicknesses on the microhardness of a composite resin. Composite resin specimens were randomly prepared and assigned to nine experimental groups (n = 5): considering three light-curing units (conventional quartz tungsten halogen [QTH]: 550 mW/cm(2) - 20 s; high irradiance QTH: 1160 mW/cm(2) - 10 s; and light-emitting diode [LED]: 360 mW/cm(2) - 40 s) and three sample thicknesses (0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm). All samples were polymerized with the light tip 8 mm away from the specimen. Knoop microhardness was then measured on the top and bottom surfaces of each sample. The top surfaces, with some exceptions, were almost similar; however, in relation to the bottom surfaces, statistical differences were found between curing units and thicknesses. In all experimental groups, the 0.5-mm-thick increments showed microhardness values statistically higher than those observed for 1- and -2-mm increments. The conventional and LED units showed higher hardness mean values and were statistically different from the high irradiance unit. In all experimental groups, microhardness mean values obtained for the top surface were higher than those observed for the bottom surface. In conclusion, higher levels of irradiance or thinner increments would help improve hybrid composite resin polymerization.