Effect of accelerated aging on the color stability of feldspathic ceramic treated with various surface treatments.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the accelerated aging process on the color stability of feldspathic ceramic treated with dual ion exchange, overglaze, polishing, and autoglaze surface treatments. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 40 disks (15 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick) of feldspathic ceramic were made in an A2 shade according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The samples were randomly divided into 4 groups: dual ion exchange, overglaze, polishing, and autoglaze. The samples were subjected to conditions in an accelerated aging machine for 150 and 300 hours. Differences in color before and after accelerated aging were calculated using spectrophotometric analyses. Overall color difference (DeltaE) was determined using the CIE L*a*b* system for measuring small color differences. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the surface texture of samples. Color difference data were evaluated statistically by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, with a significance level of .05. RESULTS: After 150 and 300 hours of accelerated aging, color changes of the 4 surface treatment groups ranged between 0.35 and 1.31 DeltaE units. All DeltaE values were below a quantitative level that would be considered clinically acceptable. Autoglazed samples were the most color stable, followed by ion exchanged, overglazed, and polished test samples. CONCLUSIONS: All groups demonstrated color stability below a quantitative level that would be considered clinically acceptable, but long-term clinical studies are necessary to verify these findings.

Stress analysis of effects of nonrigid connectors on fixed partial dentures with pier abutments.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: In some patients, the pattern of missing teeth may require the use of a fixed partial denture (FPD) with an intermediate pier abutment. Information is needed regarding the biomechanical behavior and the position of a nonrigid connector for this treatment option. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by means of finite element method (FEM), the effects of rigid and nonrigid design types on stress distribution for 5-unit FPDs with pier abutments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 3-dimensional cross-section FEM model (SAP 2000) simulating a 5-unit metal ceramic FPD with a pier abutment with rigid or nonrigid designs (connector location at the mesial region of the second molar, at the distal region of the second premolar, at the mesial region of the second premolar, and at the distal region of the canine) was developed. In the model, the canine, second premolar, and second molar served as abutments. A supporting periodontal ligament and alveolar bone (cortical and trabecular) were modeled. A 50-N static vertical occlusal load was applied on the cusp of each abutment to calculate the stress distributions. Three different types of load were evaluated: loading of all cusps to simulate maximum centric occlusion contacts, loading of the canine to simulate a single anterior contact, and loading of the second molar to simulate a posterior contact. RESULTS: The analysis of the von Mises stress values revealed that maximum stress concentrations were located at the load areas for all models. Also, for all models, the highest stress values were located at connectors and cervical regions of abutment teeth, especially at the pier abutment. CONCLUSIONS: The area of maximum stress concentration at the pier abutment was decreased by the use of a nonrigid connector at the distal region of the second premolar.

In vivo heat transfer capacities of autopolymerizing, heat-polymerizing, and injection-molded acrylic resins.

The aim of this pilot study was to measure the heat transfer capacities of heat-polymerizing, injection-molded, and autopolymerizing acrylic resins in vivo. Two volunteers used acrylic resin removable plates and consumed hot (69 degrees C) and cold drinks (6 degrees C). Differences between oral temperature and highest and lowest temperature readings were recorded. Temperature changes for the autopolymerizing acrylic resin were found to be significantly higher than the heat-polymerizing and injection-molded acrylic resins for both cold and hot drinks. Despite the disadvantages of autopolymerizing acrylic resins, their high heat transfer capacity may be an advantage.