Role of non-carious cervical lesions multicausality in the behavior of respective restorations.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate biocorrosion and eccentric occlusal loading interplay in marginal quality of cervical restorations. METHODS: Cervical wedge-shaped cavities were prepared in extracted premolars and restored with a composite. Premolars underwent either an erosive challenge (E: 1% citric acid/10 min), eccentric occlusal loading (EOL: 150 N/2.5 Hz/106 cycles), E before EOL (E + EOL), E intermediate to EOL (EOL/E/EOL), E after EOL (EOL + E), or no E or EOL (C: control). Marginal quality was analyzed based on a series of Optical Coherence Tomography images. Each of the margins was assigned a gap score (0, 1, 2, or 3) and measurement (µm). For each margin, scores data were analyzed with Kruskall Wallis and Dunn tests, and µm data, with Kruskall Wallis. Overall and for each group, the different margins were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the correlation between scores and µm, Spearman's correlation coefficient (α = 0.05). RESULTS: E and EOL, even if associated, did not influence enamel marginal quality. EOL/E/EOL impaired dentin/cementum marginal quality only in the case of scores and compared to E. E + EOL, EOL + E or EOL and even C, without differences between each other, did not influence results differently from E or EOL/E/EOL. Margins in dentin/cementum always showed lengthier gaps. Except for C, E and EOL + E cervical margin, there was a strong positive correlation between scores and µm. CONCLUSIONS: Eccentric occlusal loading and/or biocorrosion cannot be assumed as causes of marginal failure of cervical restorations in wedge-shaped cavities. A relevant concern may still be the establishment of adhesive interfaces in dentin/cementum. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although non-carious cervical lesions are strongly being recognized multifactorial and their respective restorations not always behave as expected, biocorrosion and eccentric occlusal loading interplay cannot serve as an explanation for marginal gaps they often present.

Effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation, used as a desensitizing strategy, on bond strength to simulated hypersensitive dentin.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation as a prior desensitizing strategy on immediate and medium-term microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to simulated hypersensitive dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flat mid-coronal dentin was obtained from third molars and submitted to a 600-grit SiC paper (1 min; N: normal dentin) or subsequently challenged with citric acid (6%, 1 min; H: simulated hypersensitive dentin). Afterwards, dentin was or was not (C: control; HC, NC - each n = 7) irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (L: laser; 1.0 W/10 Hz/100 mJ/4 irradiations of 50-60 s; HL, NL - each n = 7). A 2-step self-etch adhesive (Clearfil SE Bond) was applied and composite (Filtek Z350) buildups were constructed. After 24-h (distilled water/37 °C) storage, specimens were sectioned into beams and tested (µTBS; 0.5 mm/min) immediately or after 6-month aging. Three-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were applied (α = 0.05). Qualitative evaluation of the adhesive interface (n = 1 extra tooth per group) was performed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. RESULTS: Substrate condition (p < 0.001), laser irradiation (p < 0.001), and aging (p = 0.002) influenced the results. Furthermore, there was interaction between substrate and irradiation (p < 0.001). Laser irradiation favored µTBS exclusively to hypersensitive dentin immediately and after aging. µTBS to hypersensitive dentin was higher than that to the normal substrate only when it was laser-irradiated. In any case, immediate µTBS was always higher than that after aging. CLSM revealed longer and more numerous resin tags for simulated hypersensitive dentin, and shorter and fewer resin tags for laser-irradiated dentin. No differences were observed in the hybrid layer itself. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser irradiation prior to restoration favored the µTBS of a self-etch adhesive and resin composite to hypersensitive dentin. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Desensitizing strategies are usually tried before performing restorative treatments in hypersensitive dentin; therefore, they may influence behavior of the adhesive interface established. However, instead of causing concern, Nd:YAG laser irradiation revealed a favorable effect on the aforementioned interface.

Could applying gels containing chlorhexidine, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or proanthocyanidin to control tooth wear progression improve bond strength to eroded dentin?

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A consensus on whether or how to treat eroded dentin to bond to composite resins is lacking. The role of gels containing chlorhexidine (CHX), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and proanthocyanidin (PAC) in controlling erosive wear progression needs to be evaluated for bonding. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of gels containing antiproteolytic agents (CHX or EGCG) or an antiproteolytic and also collagen crosslinking agent (PAC) to control tooth wear progression on the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) of an adhesive system plus a composite resin to simulated eroded dentin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Superficial occlusal dentin surfaces obtained from sectioned third molars were ground with SiC paper (600-grit; 1 minute; N-normal dentin) or subsequently submitted to an initial erosive challenge (Coca-Cola; 5 minutes). They then received one of the following treatments: application of a placebo (P), a 0.12% CHX digluconate, an EGCG at 400 µM, or a 10% PAC gel (vehicle: hydroxyethylcellulose, propylene glycol, methylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea, and deionized water; active principle: as per the experimental groups when applicable) or no treatment (C: control). Initially demineralized dentin was also submitted to pH cycling (Coca-Cola; 5 minutes, 3×/day, 5 days) to simulate eroded dentin (E). After acid etching all the specimens, adhesive Adper Single Bond 2 was applied, and composite resin (Filtek Z350 XT) was placed. After 24 hours storage in distilled water at 37 °C, the specimens were sectioned into beams, and the µTBS was tested at 0.5 mm/minute. The µTBS values obtained were evaluated considering each tooth as an experimental unit, and 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons were applied (α=.05). RESULTS: Immediate µTBS values for the eroded dentin were always lower than those for the normal dentin, irrespective of whether any of the gels were applied for wear control. CONCLUSIONS: CHX, EGCG, PAC, and placebo gels, applied after the initial demineralization and before the pH cycling to simulate the eroded dentin, had a similar effect on the µTBS of the adhesive system plus the composite resin to simulated eroded dentin when compared with nonapplication (control).

Composite vs. ionomer vs. mixed restoration of wedge-shaped dental cervical lesions: Marginal quality relative to eccentric occlusal loading.

Dental cervical restorations may be impacted by resultants of occlusal loads that may have already contributed to the development of the lesion and should rely on materials' favorable properties to bear the stresses. The marginal quality of cervical restorations made with materials of different moduli of elasticity in essence, isolated, or in combination, was evaluated relative to eccentric occlusal loading. Cervical wedge-shaped cavities, prepared in extracted premolars, were restored with a composite resin (CR), a restorative ionomer (GIC), or the composite in combination with a lining ionomer (Mixed restoration: M). Half of the teeth in each group were subjected to eccentric occlusal loading (eol; 150 N / 106 cycles / 2.5 Hz; CReol / GICeol / Meol, n = 10), and the others were stored in 37 °C distilled water (Control: c; CRc / GICc / Mc, n = 10). A fluorescein-modified adhesive favored delimitation of formed gaps, which were evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy regarding their presence, location related to the cavity walls, and width and depth (µm), at a 5% significance level. From a comprehensive perspective, neither the loading nor the materials were significantly associated with the qualitative response variables or exerted any influence over the quantitative variables. More specifically, the use of the different materials was significantly associated with the frequency of gaps exclusively when loading was applied (Chi-square test, p = 0.029, CR > M > GIC). Though the marginal quality of cervical restorations may not be influenced by eccentric occlusal loading or the use of different materials, even in association in general, the unfavorable aspects of the use of the composite may be relevant, particularly in face of the existence of eccentric occlusal loads.