Correlation between microleakage and cement thickness in three Class II inlay ceramic systems.

The objectives of this study include comparing the cement thickness and microleakage of Class II ceramic inlays built with three ceramic systems and verifying whether there was a correlation between those two variables. The ceramic systems used include: 1) Heat-pressed (IPS-Empress); 2) CAD-CAM (CEREC 2) and 3) Sintered (Colorlogic). Standardized MOD Class II inlay cavities with one proximal box extending below and the other extending above the cement-enamel junction (CEJ) were prepared in 30 extracted human molars and randomly assigned to three groups. The ceramic inlays were constructed according to manufacturer's instructions and cemented using a dual-cure resin cement (Variolink II). All teeth were mechanically cycled (100,000 cycles, 78N) and thermocycled (700 cycles, 5 degrees C-55 degrees C). After immersion in silver nitrate, the inlays were sectioned mesial-distally and evaluated with an optical microscope (40x). The cement thickness obtained by the Colorlogic system (enamel: 113 +/- 25 microm; dentin: 118 +/- 23 microm) was significantly higher than that obtained by CEREC (enamel: 78 +/- 14 microm; dentin: 87 +/- 13 microm) and Empress (enamel: 65 +/- 15 microm; dentin: 89 +/- 14 microm). Regarding dye penetration, there was no statistical difference among the three ceramic systems in enamel. At the dentin margins, the Colorlogic system resulted in a significantly higher penetration depth compared to CEREC and Empress, which had similar average values. No correlation was found between cement thickness and microleakage either in enamel or dentin for any of the ceramic systems.

Influence of shade and storage time on the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of composites used for indirect restorations.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Fracture resistance, elastic modulus, and hydrolytic degradation resistance are important properties of indirect composite restorations. Composite systems developed specifically for indirect application are said to have enhanced mechanical properties due to their elevated monomer conversion. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of shade and the effect of 30-day water storage on the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of 4 commercially available indirect composite systems and 1 composite used with the direct technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A variety of commercially available indirect resin composites (Artglass, Belleglass, Sculpture, and Targis) and 1 directly placed composite (Z100, control) were used. Specimens made with either incisal or dentin shade (n = 10) were fractured with a 3-point bending test. Pre-failure loads corresponding to specific displacements of the crosshead were used for flexural modulus calculation. Knoop hardness was measured on fragments (n = 3) obtained after the flexural test. Tests were performed after 24 hours and after a 30-day water storage at 37 degrees C. Flexural strength data were analyzed with the Weibull distribution. Flexural modulus and Knoop hardness data were analyzed with 3-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: In general, the directly placed composite (Z100) demonstrated flexural strength similar to that of Artglass, Targis, and Sculpture. Belleglass presented the highest flexural strength (221.7 MPa for incisal shade after 24 hours storage; 95% confidence interval: 208.3-235.4). Z100 demonstrated the highest flexural modulus (range: 10.9 +/- 0.6 to 12.0 +/- 0.9 GPa) and Targis the lowest (range: 5.1 +/- 0.5 to 5.9 +/- 0.9 GPa). Sculpture was the only material that showed differences in flexural strength with respect to shade (incisal-24 hours: 149.8 MPa; incisal-30 days: 148.7 MPa; dentin-24 hours: 200.0 MPa; dentin-30 days: 177.9 MPa). The flexural modulus and hardness of the dentin shade of Sculpture were higher than those of the incisal shade after 30 days. Belleglass also showed a significant difference in flexural modulus (dentin-24 hours: 11.1 GPa; incisal-24 hours: 9.6 GPa). The effect of water storage was more evident on hardness since all composite systems softened after 30 days. Prolonged water storage decreased flexural strength only for Artglass-dentin and Z100, both incisal and dentin shades. Water aging did not affect the flexural modulus of any composite tested. CONCLUSION: In general, indirect composites did not show enhanced mechanical properties compared to the directly placed composite. Property differences due to shade were more evident for Sculpture. Prolonged water storage had a deleterious effect on the hardness of all composites tested. However, water storage did not affect the flexural strength of most of the indirect composites or the flexural modulus of any composite tested.

In vitro and in vivo corrosion evaluation of nickel-chromium- and copper-aluminum-based alloys.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The low resistance to corrosion is the major problem related to the use of copper-aluminum alloys. PURPOSE: This in vitro and in vivo study evaluated the corrosion of 2 copper-aluminum alloys (Cu-Al and Cu-Al-Zn) compared with a nickel-chromium alloy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the in vitro test, specimens were immersed in the following 3 corrosion solutions: artificial saliva, 0.9% sodium chloride, and 1.0% sodium sulfide. For the in vivo test, specimens were embedded in complete dentures, so that one surface was left exposed. The 3 testing sites were (1) close to the oral mucosa (partial self-cleaning site), (2) surface exposed to the oral cavity (self-cleaning site), and (3) specimen bottom surface exposed to the saliva by means of a tunnel-shaped perforation (non-self-cleaning site). RESULTS: Almost no corrosion occurred with the nickel-chromium alloy, for either the in vitro or in vivo test. On the other hand, the 2 copper-aluminum-based alloys exhibited high corrosion in the sulfide solution. These same alloys also underwent high corrosion in non-self-cleaning sites for the in vivo test, although minimal attack was observed in self-cleaning sites. CONCLUSION: The nickel-chromium alloy presented high resistance to corrosion. Both copper-aluminum alloys showed considerable corrosion in the sulfide solution and clinically in the non-self-cleaning site. However, in self-cleaning sites these 2 alloys did not show substantial corrosion.