The effect of zirconia thickness on the biaxial flexural strength of zirconiaceramic bilayered discs.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of zirconia core thickness on the biaxial flexural strength values of zirconia-porcelain bilayered discs. A total of 60 discs with 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mm thickness were obtained from a fully sintered zirconia block. A 1.5-mm thick layer of veneer porcelain was fired on the zirconia specimens and biaxial flexural strength tests were performed on the bilayered discs. In each group, the loading surface was the veneer porcelain in half of the specimens (core in tension) and the zirconia core surface in the other half (core in compression). The zirconia core thickness had no effect on the biaxial flexural strength of zirconiaporcelain bilayered discs when the core was in tension (p>0.05). Whereas, when the core was in compression, an increase in the zirconia core thickness resulted in an increase in the biaxial flexural strength (p<0.05).

Effect of Storage Temperature on the Shelf Life of Self-adhesive Resin Cements.

PURPOSE: To compare the bonding performance of three new self-adhesive resin cements to human dentin after storage under two different conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal dentin surfaces of 36 human molars were abraded to directly below the enamel with #600 SiC papers. The teeth were divided into two main test groups. In the first test group (FT), the cements were kept in a refrigerator (6 ± 2°C) for three months and then used for the test. The remainder of the cements was kept at a constant room temperature of 19 ± 2°C for an additional three months, and then used again for the second test group (ST). Each test group comprised 6 teeth and 24 dentin sections. The cements Clearfil SA (CSA), G-Cem (GC), and Bis-Cem (BC) were applied to the surfaces according to the manufacturers' recommendations. After application of the cements to the flat dentin surfaces and light curing, shear bond strengths were determined at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Bond strengths were then calculated and expressed in MPa. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. To investigate the cement/ dentin interfaces using SEM, the buccal surfaces of three additional teeth were used for each test group. RESULTS: The bond strength values of cement groups were significantly different for the FT and ST groups (p < 0.01). GC showed the highest bond strength values of all materials. There was a difference between the bond strength values of the two testing periods for all materials (p < 0.01). Bond strengths significantly decreased after storage at room temperature. CONCLUSION: Storage temperatures considerably affect the shelf life of self-adhesive resin cements.

Evaluating the ability of dental technician students and graduate dentists to match tooth color.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The ability of dental technician students to match tooth shade with the Vita 3D-Master shade guide and Toothguide Training Box has not been investigated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the shade-matching ability of dental technician students and graduate dentists using the Vita 3D-Master shade guide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine dental technician students (DTS group) and 30 graduate dentists (GD group) participated in this study. The Toothguide Training Box (TTB) was used to train the participants and test their shade-matching abilities. Shade-matching ability was evaluated with 3 exercises and a final test, all of which are components of the TTB. The number of mistakes for each participant for value (L), chroma (c), and hue (h) were recorded during the exercises and the final test, and the mistake ratios were calculated. Color difference (ΔE) values for each shade were calculated from the L*, a*, and b* values of the Vita 3D-Master shade guide for each participant in both groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine statistically significant differences between the L, c, and h mistake ratios of the 2 groups, and the Student t test was used to determine statistically significant differences between the final test scores and the ΔE values of the groups (α=.05). RESULTS: The mistake ratio for L in the GD group was significantly higher than that of the DTS group (P<.05), whereas the mistake ratio for h in the DTS group was higher (P<.001). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the mistake ratios for c (P>.05). With regard to the final test scores and the ΔE values, no significant differences were found between the groups (P<.001), and the DTS group received higher scores than the GD group (912 and 851). The mean ΔE values for the DTS and GD groups were 1.72 and 2.92. CONCLUSIONS: DTSs made more mistakes in the h parameter than GDs, and GDs made more mistakes in the L parameter than DTSs. With regard to the final test scores and the ΔE values, DTSs were more successful in shade matching than GDs.

Influence of dentin and core porcelain thickness on the color of fully sintered zirconia ceramic restorations.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The influence of the thickness of dentin and core porcelain, and the glazing procedure on the color of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing ceramic restorations has not been investigated. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of the thickness of dentin and core porcelain and glazing on the color of fully sintered zirconia ceramic restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fully sintered zirconia core material was cut into 90 specimens of 0.3 mm (n=30, group ZC1), 0.4 mm (n=30, group ZC2), and 0.5-mm thickness (n=30, group ZC3). On a dentin disk obtained from an extracted molar, the L*, a*, b* values of the specimens were measured at different steps in the laboratory procedures (Zirconia core, Effect Bonder, Effect Liner, dentin porcelain, glazing) with a spectrophotometer. One millimeter dentin porcelain was applied on half of the specimens of each group and 1.5-mm dentin porcelain on the rest. To assess the ability of porcelain substructures to mask the underlying dark colored tooth structure, color difference (ΔE) values between the steps were calculated. Results were statistically analyzed with ANOVA. RESULTS: Glazing caused a decrease in the L* values and an increase in the a* and b* values (P<.05). Increasing the thickness of dentin porcelain decreased the L*, a*, and b* values (P<.05). Increasing the zirconia core thickness resulted in an increase in the L* values and a decrease in the a* and b* values (P<.05). Increasing the dentin porcelain thickness from 1 mm to 1.5 mm resulted in a color change below the perceptibility threshold (ΔE<2.6). In the ZC1 group, glazing resulted in a color change perceptible to 50% of observers, whereas, in the ZC2 and ZC3 groups with 1-mm dentin porcelain, the ΔE value was higher than 5.5. However, the color change was perceptible to 50% of the observers in all of the groups with 1.5-mm dentin porcelain. CONCLUSIONS: Although the thicknesses of the dentin and core porcelain did not influence the final shade of the restoration, glazing resulted in a perceptible color difference.