Can Fiber Application Affect the Fracture Strength of Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored with a Low Viscosity Bulk-Fill Composite?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different fiber insertion techniques and thermomechanical aging on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated mandibular premolar teeth restored using bulk-fill composites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty human mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into eight groups: Group IN, Group BF, Group PRF1, Group PRF2, Group IN-TMA, Group BF-TMA, Group PRF1-TMA ,and Group PRF2-TMA. Group IN (intact) and Group IN-TMA (intact but subjected to thermomechanical aging) served as control groups. In the other six groups, endodontic treatment was performed and standardized mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities were prepared. In BF, PRF1, and PRF2, the cavities were restored with bulk-fill composite only, bulk-fill/Ribbond, and bulk-fill/additional Ribbond, respectively. In BF-TMA, PRF1-TMA, and PRF2-TMA, the teeth were subjected to thermomechanical aging after the restorations. All of the teeth were fractured on the universal testing machine. Fracture surfaces were analyzed with a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: Control groups showed significantly higher fracture strengths than tested groups (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed among the tested groups (P>0.05). Most of the favorable fractures were seen in PRF1, PRF2, and PRF2-TMA. Most of the unfavorable fractures were seen in BF-TMA. CONCLUSIONS: Although fiber insertion with different techniques did not increase the fracture strength of teeth restored with bulk-fill composites, it increased the favorable fracture modes. Thermomechanical aging did not change the fracture strength of the groups.

Use of Artificial Neural Network in Determination of Shade, Light Curing Unit, and Composite Parameters' Effect on Bottom/Top Vickers Hardness Ratio of Composites.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of light emitting diode (LED) and quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) light curing unit (LCU) on the bottom/top (B/T) Vickers Hardness Number (VHN) ratio of different composites with different shades and determination of the most significant effect on B/T VHN ratio of composites by shade, light curing unit, and composite parameters using artificial neural network. METHOD: Three composite resin materials [Clearfil Majesty Esthetic (CME), Tetric N Ceram (TNC), and Tetric Evo Ceram (TEC)] in different shades (HO, A2, B2, Bleach L, Bleach M) were used. The composites were polymerized with three different LED LCUs (Elipar S10, Bluephase 20i, Valo) and halogen LCU (Hilux). Vickers hardness measurements were made at a load of 100 g for 10 sec on the top and bottom surfaces and B/T VHN ratio calculated. The data were statistically analyzed with three-way ANOVA and Tukey test at a significance level of 0.05. The obtained measurements and data were then fed to a neural network to establish the correlation between the inputs and outputs. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the B/T VHN ratio of LCUs for the HO and B shades of CME (p>0.05), but there were significant differences between the B/T VHN ratio of LCUs for shade A2 (p<0.05). No significant difference was determined between the B/T VHN ratio of LCUs for all shades of TNC (p>0.05). For TEC, there was no significant difference between the B/T VHN ratio of halogen and LED LCUs (p>0.05), but a significant difference was determined among the LED LCUs (p<0.05). The artificial neural network results showed that a combination of the curing light and composite parameter had the most significant effect on the B/T VHN ratio of composites. Shade has the lowest effect on the B/T VHN ratio of composites. CONCLUSION: The B/T VHN ratio values of different resin-based composite materials may vary depending on the light curing device. In addition, the artificial neural network results showed that the LCU and composite parameter had the most significant effect on the B/T VHN ratio of the composites. Shade has the lowest effect on the B/T VHN ratio of composites.

Apical extrusion of sodium hypochlorite activated with two laser systems and ultrasonics: a spectrophotometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of ultrasonically or laser (Nd:YAG or diode) activated irrigation on the irrigating solution extrusion compared to non-activated syringe irrigation. METHODS: Extracted mandibular premolar teeth (n = 48) with single canals were instrumented. The teeth were secured through the lid of an Eppendorf tube filled with 1.0 mL distilled water to collect the apically extruded irrigating solution. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups: non-activated syringe irrigation, diode laser, Nd:YAG laser and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) using 2% NaOCl. The irrigating solution extruded through the apical foramen was collected in the Eppendorf tube and evaluated by a chemical reaction with using a spectrophotometer. The data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: All the groups showed apically extruded irrigating solution. There were significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05). Nd:YAG laser activated irrigation showed greater extrusion (p < 0.05), while the non-activated syringe irrigation showed less extrusion (p < 0.05). Only the difference between diode laser and PUI was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the researchers concluded that non-activated syringe irrigation caused less apically extruded irrigating solution than PUI and LAI using Nd:YAG or diode lasers.

The effect of different adhesive system applications on push-out bond strengths of glass fiber posts.

PURPOSE: Over the past years, the adhesion of fiber posts luted with simplified adhesive systems has been a matter of great interest. The aim of this study was to assess the post retentive potential of a self-adhesive resin cement using different adhesive systems to compare the push-out bond strengths of fiber posts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The post spaces of 56 mandibular premolar roots were prepared and divided into 4 experimental groups and further divided into 2 subgroups according to testing time (n=7). The fiber posts (Rely X Fiber Post) were luted with a self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX Unicem) and one of the following adhesive systems: no adhesive, a total-etch adhesive resin (Single Bond), a two-step self-etch adhesive resin (Clearfil SE Bond) and a one-step self-etch adhesive resin (Clearfil S3 Bond). Each root was cut horizontally, and 1.5 mm thick six root segments were prepared. Push-out tests were performed after one week or three months (0.5 mm/min). Statistical analysis were performed with three-way ANOVA (α=.05). RESULTS: Cervical root segments showed higher bond strength values than middle segments. Adhesive application increased the bond strength. For one week group, the total-etch adhesive resin Single Bond showed higher bond strength than the self-adhesive resin cement RelyX Unicem applied without adhesive resin at middle region. For 3 months group, the two-step self-etch adhesive resin Clearfil SE Bond showed the highest bond strength for both regions. Regarding the time considered, Clearfil SE Bond 3 months group showed higher bond strength values than one week group. CONCLUSION: Using the adhesive resins in combination with the self-adhesive resin cement improves the bond strengths. The bond strength values of two-step self-etch adhesive resin Clearfil SE Bond improved as time passes.

In vivo comparison of laser fluorescence measurements with conventional methods for occlusal caries detection.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the laser fluorescence (LF) (DIAGNOdent) measurements comparing with visual examination and conventional bitewing radiography for occlusal caries detection. The study comprised 44 occlusal surfaces. Three examiners independently evaluated the teeth by visual examination, LF measurements, and bitewing radiographs. After the evaluations, the teeth were opened, and the clinical lesion depth was determined. One-way variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed for comparison of observers. The diagnostic performance of three methods was assessed by using non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman rank correlation). No statistically significant difference was found between observers (p > 0.05), and statistically significant difference was found between diagnostic systems (p < 0.01). The correlation of LF measurements with the clinical lesion depth was better than visual examination and bitewing radiography. This result concluded that LF may be a useful adjunct to visual examination, and the diagnostic performance of this device seems to be good for occlusal caries detection.