Effects of disinfection of combined agar/alginate impressions on the dimensional accuracy of stone casts.

This study investigated the effects of disinfection of combined agar/alginate impressions on the dimensional accuracy of resultant stone casts. Impressions of a master cast designed to simulate an abutment tooth were prepared by combining each of two brands of cartridge-form agar impression materials with an alginate impression material. The impressions were immersed in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes or 2% glutaraldehyde for 30 minutes. The remaining impressions were sprayed with these two disinfectants and then stored in sealed bags for 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Stone casts obtained from the non-disinfected impressions were also prepared as control. Changes in diameter of the stone casts were then measured. Results indicated that storage for 10 minutes after spraying with 1% sodium hypochlorite was an appropriate disinfection method for combined agar/alginate impressions, as well as immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes.

Effects of disinfecting alginate impressions on the scratch hardness of stone models.

This study investigated the effects of disinfecting alginate impressions on the scratch depth of resultant stone models. Eleven brands of alginate impression material and two disinfectants, 1% sodium hypochlorite and 2% glutaraldehyde, were used. Impressions were immersed in disinfectant solutions or stored in sealed bags after spraying with disinfectants, and then poured with a type V dental stone. The scratch depth of the stone model obtained from disinfected impression was measured. The storage of alginate impressions after spraying with disinfectants did not increase the scratch depth of resultant stone models. However, the effect of immersion in disinfectants on scratch depth varied with the brand of the alginate impression material.

Effect of storage period of alginate impressions following spray with disinfectant solutions on the dimensional accuracy and deformation of stone models.

This study investigated the effect of storage period on dimensional change and deformation of stone models to determine an acceptable period of alginate impression storage in a sealed bag after spraying with disinfectant solution. Two alginate impression products: Aroma Fine DFIII and Alginoplast EM, characterized by greater or smaller contraction in 100% relative humidity, were used. The impressions were sprayed with 1% sodium hypochlorite or 2% glutaraldehyde solution and then stored in sealed bags. The storage periods were 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours. The sectional profiles of the stone models obtained from each impression were measured using a three-dimensional coordinate measuring system. The results indicated that the impression characterized by greater contraction in 100% relative humidity should not be stored for even 1 hour, and that storage for up to 3 hours of the impression characterized by smaller contraction was clinically acceptable.

Three-dimensional evaluation for augmented bone using guided bone regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated new bone regeneration beyond the skeletal envelope within an occlusive titanium cap on rabbit calvaria using microfocus computed tomography images. METHODS: In 10 rabbits, the calvaria was exposed and a circular groove was prepared. After penetrating the marrow, a standard hemispherical titanium cap was placed in the groove and covered with a cutaneous flap. After 1 or 3 months, the animals were killed and the calvariae and titanium caps were dissected. After taking microfocus computed tomography images of the specimens, histological sections were made. The specimens were observed using three-dimensional images constructed from the microfocus computed tomography images, and the histological sections were examined to compute bone parameters. RESULTS: The three-dimensional images and histological specimens showed that new bone formed in flat, cup-like, and dome shapes. The bone parameters trabecular thickness and the proportion of marrow space to the capacity of the titanium cap increased, whereas bone density decreased, and there were significant differences between the 1- and 3-month groups. DISCUSSION: First, a cylinder of new bone formed from the existing bone. Gradually, bone formed along the cap wall and the new tissue formed in a crater indented centrally. Finally, the new tissue formed in the shape of a dome. CONCLUSION: Trabecular bone formed along the wall of the titanium cap, and bone filled the inside of the cap within 3 months.

Effect of metal halide light source on hardness, water sorption and solubility of indirect composite material.

This study evaluates the effects of a metal halide light source on the post-polymerization properties of the Sinfony indirect composite material. Two polymerization systems were employed: the Hyper LII system, comprising a metal halide polymerization unit, and the Visio system, comprising two proprietary units designed for polymerizing the Sinfony composite. The composite material was polymerized for 60, 120 or 180 s with the LII system. As a control, the composite was polymerized for 15 min with the Visio system. Knoop hardness, water sorption and solubility were determined. The results were analyzed by Dunnett's T3 multiple comparison test (P<0.05). Knoop hardness was greater for polymerization with the LII unit than for that with the Visio system. Water sorption was greater for polymerization with the Visio system than that with the LII unit. For polymerization with the LII unit for 180 s, solubility was significantly reduced as compared with the Visio system. Within the limitations of the current experiment, it can be concluded that the metal halide unit exhibited better polymerizing performance for the composite material than the proprietary units.

The thickness effects of titanium castings on the surface reaction layer.

In this study, wedge-shaped CP titanium castings and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy castings were produced by three types of investment. The effects of the castings' thickness on surface reaction layer were investigated by measuring Vickers hardness, observing the microstructure, and analyzing the oxygen concentration. It was found that the thickness of the surface reaction layer was affected by the thickness of the wedge-shaped castings, and that the hardness value near the surface became lower toward the tip of the wedge-shaped CP titanium and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy castings. The surface reaction layer of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy castings was thinner than that of the CP titanium castings.

Thermal properties of dental materials--cavity liner and pulp capping agent.

We studied the thermal properties of cavity liners that included calcium phosphate as inorganic filler, in contrast to the conventional pulp capping agents. Therefore, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity were measured. In addition, thermal conductivity results were compared with those of restorative materials and human dentin to examine thermal insulation effects. The thermal conductivity of cavity liners ranged from 0.23 to 0.28 W m(-1) K(-1), and that of pulp capping agents ranged from 0.44 to 0.48 W m(-1) K(-1). Test results indicated that the thermal conductivity of cavity liner was lower than those of human dentin, pulp capping agent, cast alloy, and composite resin for restoration, hence suggesting that cavity liner has a good thermal insulation effect.

Histopathological and cell enzyme studies of calcium phosphate cements.

New types of self-setting calcium phosphate cement (N-CPC), which do not contain tetracalcium phosphate, were recently developed. N-CPCs harden in 10 minutes with phosphate solution as the cement liquid, and form hydroxyapatite as the set product. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the biocompatibility (Study I) and cell enzyme activity of N-CPCs and a conventional CPC (Study II). Four experimental cements were tested: (1) dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) and calcium oxide; (2) DCPA and calcium hydroxide; (3) tricalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate; and (4) DCPA and tetracalcium phosphate. Phosphate solution was used as the cement liquid for cements (1)-(3), and water for cement (4). Sintered hydroxyapatite particles (5) were used as a control. The test materials were implanted subcutaneously in rats. Four weeks after operation, the animals were sacrificed and histopathological observations were performed. Cements (2) and (3) showed no inflammatory reaction, and were surrounded only by very thin fibrous connective tissues. The histopathological reactions of N-CPCs were nearly identical and were similar to (4) and (5). In addition, effects of alkaline phosphatase (ALP-ase) activity--invoked by the presence of cements (3) and (4)--on osteoblast-like cells derived from dog alveolar bone were also examined because ALP-ase activity is closely related to new bone formation. These results indicated that (3) and (4) were highly compatible with subcutaneous tissues and suggested that these cements may enhance new bone formation.

Histopathologic reaction of a calcium phosphate cement for alveolar ridge augmentation.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a calcium phosphate cement (CPC) in the reconstruction of a defective alveolar ridge in conjunction with implant placement. The CPC consisted of an equimolar amount of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous. At the beginning of the experiment, all mandibular premolar teeth of mature beagle dogs were extracted. After 1 month of healing, alveolar bone was reduced to make a space for a CPC block that was prefabricated from a CPC mixed with water at a powder/liquid ratio of 5 g/mL. After an additional month, 8-mm long hydroxyapatite-coated titanium implants were placed in such a way that the apical half was embedded into alveolar bone and the coronal half in the preformed CPC block. The dogs were sacrificed and biopsies were obtained at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Sections that included implants were evaluated for integration of the CPC block to the alveolar bone and of the implant to the alveolar bone. Additional sections without the implants served as controls. The results obtained from this study show that the CPC ridge augmentation gradually is replaced by natural bone. Six months after surgery, histopathologic features of the augmentation area were quite similar to those of natural alveolar bone. The coronal half of the implants, previously surrounded by the CPC block, was firmly fixed by natural bone. Therefore, this method may be useful for increasing the height of the alveolar ridge.

Fluorescent labeling analysis and electron probe microanalysis for alveolar ridge augmentation using calcium phosphate cement.

Our previous histopathological study showed that the augmentation block, prepared from a calcium phosphate cement (CPC) mixed with H2O at powder to liquid ratio of 5 g/mL, placed on the alveolar bone ridge, was gradually replaced by natural bone. In the present study, fluorescent labeling analysis (FLA) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were performed on the same surgical site of the above histopathological study. Fluorescent labeling agents, that would be incorporated into newly formed mineralized tissues, were injected into dogs intramuscularly twice a week during the 3 week period that ended 1 week before sacrifice. The specimens obtained from the block were subjected to FLA for assessing the extent of new bone formation and to EPMA for measuring the elemental (Ca, P, Mg) distributions. FLA results showed the presence of newly formed bone at 1 month after surgery. EPMA results showed that the elemental distributions in the augmentation site were similar to those of the residual bone area at 6 months after surgery. FLA and EPMA examinations also indicated that the implants were surrounded and fixed by natural bone chronologically. A CPC augmentation block is clearly useful for alveolar ridge augmentation and osteointegrated implant fixation.

Synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid fillers at the molecular level and their application to composite resin.

The objective of this study was to synthesize a hybrid type filler composed of an organic component with inorganic component at the molecular level and to examine the properties of the filler. The composite resin was prepared by mixing synthesized filler with monomer and its physical properties were also examined. An organic-inorganic hybrid filler was synthesized by using 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPTS), methyltriethyoxysilane (MTES) and methanol silica sol. Firstly, poly3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (poly3-MPTS) was synthesized by polymerization of 3-MPTS. A gelation product was obtained by graft-polymerization of poly3-MPTS with condensed organopolysiloxane after the hydrolysis of 3-MPTS, MTES and methanol silica sol. The gelation product was dried and ground to a filler. From the results of thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), the organic-inorganic hybrid filler was found to be composed of 16.5 wt% organic component, 83.1 wt% inorganic component and 0.4 wt% residual water. A trial composite resin was prepared by mixing 55 wt% dimethacryloxyethyl 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diurethane (UDMA), 15 wt% triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), 30 wt% 1-fluoro-1,3,3,5,5-penta (methacryloxyethyleneoxy) cyclotriphosphazene [P3N3(F)1 (EMA)5] as a base monomer and then 32.0 wt% of this monomer was mixed with 68.0 wt % of synthesized filler and a photo initiator, comphorquinone (CQ), was added. Compressive strength of the trial visible-light cured composite resin showed 397.0 MPa, and flexural strength and elastic modulus showed 142.5 MPa and 11.5 GPa, respectively. From the results, it was demonstrated that the present organic-inorganic hybrid filler at the molecular level can be used as a composite resin filler.