Effect of calcination on minimally processed recycled zirconia powder derived from milling waste.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of calcination process on the properties of minimally processed recycled 3Y-TZP, and to compare it with its commercial counterpart. METHODS: Non-milled 3Y-TZP waste was collected, fragmented and ball-milled to a granulometric < 5 µm. Half of the recycled powder was calcined at 900 °C. Recycled 3Y-TZP disks were uniaxially pressed and sintered to create two recycled groups: 1) Calcined and 2) Non-calcined to be compared with a commercial CAD/CAM milled 3Y-TZP. The microstructure of experimental groups was assessed through density (n = 6), scanning electron microscopy (n = 3) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (n = 3); and the crystalline content was evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) (n = 3). Optical and mechanical properties were investigated through reflectance tests (n = 10), and Vickers hardness, fracture toughness (n = 5), and biaxial flexural strength tests (n = 16), respectively. Fractographic analysis was performed to identify fracture origin and crack propagation. Statistical analyses were performed through ANOVA followed by Tukey´s test, and by Weibull statistics. RESULTS: Particle size distribution of recycled powder revealed an average diameter of ∼1.60 µm. The relative density of all experimental groups was > 98.15 % and XRD analysis exhibited a predominance of tetragonal-phase in both recycled groups, which were similar to the crystallographic pattern of the control group. Cross-section micrographs presented flaws on the non-calcined group, and a more homogeneous microstructure for the calcined and commercial groups. Commercial samples showed lower contrast-ratio and higher translucency-parameter than the recycled groups, where non-calcined presented higher translucency-parameter and lower contrast-ratio than its calcined counterpart. The commercial group presented higher fracture toughness and characteristic strength than the recycled groups. Moreover, the calcined group exhibited higher hardness, characteristic strength, and probability of survival at higher loads than the non-calcined group. Fractographic analysis depicted the presence of microstructural flaws in the non-calcined group, which may have acted as stress-raisers and led to failures at lower flexural strengths values. SIGNIFICANCE: The calcination process improved the microstructure, optical, and mechanical properties of the recycled 3Y-TZP.

Effect of Antioxidant Agents After Dental Bleaching on Color Stability and Mechanical Properties of Bonding Interface Components in Ceramic Laminate Veneer Luting.

PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated the influence of antioxidant agents on the optical and mechanical properties of ceramic laminate veneers after dental bleaching. Thus, this in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of antioxidant agents on the color stability and mechanical properties, such as nanohardness (HIT), elastic modulus (Eit*), and degree of conversion (DC) of the bonding interface components after dental bleaching in ceramic laminate veneer luting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 143 bovine teeth were distributed into experimental groups, according to the procedure method (unbleached or bleached with Whiteness HP Maxx 35%), antioxidant type (control, 10% ascorbic acid, or 10% α-tocopherol), and luting period (24 hours or 14 days) (n=13). The Tetric N-Bond Universal adhesive system and Variolink Esthetic LC resin cement were used as luting agents to lute IPS e.max ceramic restorations (0.6 mm in thickness) to enamel. A UV-visible spectrophotometer was used to assess color stability before and after UV-B artificial accelerated aging for 252, 504, and 756 hours (n=8). The HIT and Eit* of the adhesive and resin cement were measured using a nanohardness tester under a load of 1000 µN, and the DC was measured using a micro-Raman spectrometer (n=5). The color stability and mechanical properties were measured and evaluated by twoway and one-way ANOVA, respectively, and Tukey test (α=0.05). RESULTS: Distinct aging periods exerted significant changes on the color stability of the restorations luted in enamel associated with ascorbic acid, bleached and unbleached, and the bleached enamel under no antioxidant agent action, for the experimental groups evaluated after 14 days (p<0.05). The use of the α-tocopherol antioxidant solution after the bleaching process for 24 hours did not alter the optical and mechanical properties of the adhesive interface of the laminate restorations compared to those of the control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of a 10% α-tocopherol antioxidant solution produced promising results, suggesting that it could be mediately used after tooth bleaching to lute ceramic laminate veneers.

Cytotoxicity of root canal irrigating solutions and photodynamic therapy using curcumin photosensitizer.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown satisfactory antibacterial effects. However, little information regarding the cytotoxicity potential of PDT using curcumin as a photosensitizer (PS) on fibroblasts are found. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of root canal irrigating solutions and photodynamic therapy with curcumin PS on the L-929 cell line. METHODS: Healthy mouse skin fibroblast cells were distributed into the following 7 experimental groups: G1 - culture medium DMEM (control group); G2 - 0.9% sodium chloride; G3 - 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); G4 - 5% NaOCl; G5 - PDT with curcumin PS at 500 mg/L + blue LED; G6 - PDT with curcumin PS at 750 mg/L + blue LED; and G7 - PDT with curcumin PS at 1000 mg/L + blue LED. All experimental groups which underwent PDT action were submitted to blue LED for 4 min, with a wavelength of 480 nm and energy fluency of 75 J/cm². The cultures were maintained under standard cell culture conditions (37°C, 100% humidity, 5% CO2). Cell viability analysis was performed using the colorimetric method to evaluate the periods of 6, 24, and 48 h. Data were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Dunn test to compare groups and Friedman test to compare periods (α = 0.05). RESULTS: When comparing the periods, no significant differences were observed for any of the experimental groups analyzed (p > 0.05), except for the NaOCl2.5 group that exhibited higher cell viability at 6 h compared to the period of 48 h (p = 0.0489). In the comparisons of the experimental groups, there were no statistically significant differences between the control group compared to all disinfection protocols, regardless of the period evaluated (p > 0.05), except for the PDT + C1000 group that showed lower cell viability (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PDT with curcumin at 1000 mg/L was cytotoxic on L-929 fibroblast cell culture. However, laser-activated curcumin at a concentration of 500 mg/L presented no influence on L-929 fibroblast cell viability in in vitro conditions.

Influence of photodynamic therapy on bond strength and adhesive interface morphology of MTA based root canal sealer to different thirds of intraradicular dentin.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used as an adjunct to endodontic treatment to enhance microbial reduction in the root canal system. However, studies evaluating the impact of PDT on the bond strength of the canal sealer to intraradicular dentin are scarce. Thus, this in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of photodynamic therapy with methylene blue (MB) photosensitizer (PS) on the bond strength and morphology of the interface between mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) based endodontic sealer and different thirds of intraradicular dentin. METHODS: Fifty-five bovine incisors were used to simulate experimental endodontic treatments. Biomechanical instrumentation was performed in all root canals and teeth were divided into 5 groups (n = 11): deionized water (control), methylene blue 50 mg/L (MB50WL), methylene blue 100 mg/L (MB100WL), methylene blue 50 mg/L + red laser (MB50L), and methylene blue 100 mg/L + red laser (MB100L). The push-out bond strength of canal sealer to intraradicular dentin was measured using a universal testing machine (n = 8). Representative scanning electron microscopy images were obtained to qualify the fracture patterns. Images of the adhesive interface morphology were obtained using confocal laser scanning microscopy (n = 3). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare data on bond strength between groups, and the Friedman test between thirds (α = 0.05). RESULTS: When comparing root thirds for the MB group with the higher concentration activated by red laser, higher bond strength values was found for the apical third than for the middle third (P = 0.0302). MB in different concentrations, activated by red laser or not, had no influence on the bond strength of distinct thirds of the intraradicular dentin (P > 0.05). As for the adhesive interface morphology, the MB100L group showed a lower qualitatively sealer penetration into the intraradicular dentin. CONCLUSIONS: PDT with MB PS at 50 mg/L had no negative impact on the bond strength of MTA Fillapex canal sealer to intraradicular dentin, being a suitable antisepsis protocol for endodontic treatments.