The Psoriasis Association of Malta

The Psoriasis Association of Malta was the brainchild of leading dermatologist Dr. Joe Pace. In January 1994 he invited many of his patients who had this condition, to get together to work out how the association was to function.peer-reviewe

A review of the methods used to study biocompatibility of Portland cement-derived materials used in dentistry

Advanced restorative dentistry may necessitate the need for surgical intervention to the infected root apex. Once access to the root end is achieved, the root apex is resected and filled with a dental restorative material. The materials currently in use are not satisfactory due to inadequate biocompatibility and failure to achieve desirable properties in an aqueous environment. With the introduction of a new material, essentially Portland cement used in the building industry, these desirable properties have been achieved. This paper reviews the methods of testing biocompatibility of Portland cement used in dentistry.peer-reviewe

Dentistry

The specialty of Dental Surgery has progressed from the "blood and acrylic" of the early seventies. Dentistry has undergone a quantum leap over the past twenty-five years, with improvements in both technique and technology, bringing us the sophisticated procedures used in today's practice.peer-reviewe

Novel dental implant coating materials

An implant coating must be biocompatible, not compromise the long term function and success of the prosthesis and must be strong enough to withstand and transfer all loads without delamination. In this study, six different tricalcium silicate cements were investigated in the mixed and sintered form while hydroxyapatite was used as a control. The properties of each material were studied carefully to propose an innovative coating material and coating process. The hypothesis is that there is no difference between the prototype mixed and sintered cements. It is also hypothesised that there will be no difference between the prototype cements and the control hydroxyapatite.peer-reviewe

Characterization and Assessment of Physical Properties of 3 Single Syringe Hydraulic Cement-based Sealers

INTRODUCTION: A number of sealers with different chemistries are badged as Bioceramic, implying biological activity, but have dissimilar properties, which has implications on the sealer properties and will affect the quality and outcome of root canal treatment. This study aimed to assess the physical and chemical properties of 3 hydraulic cement-based sealers, namely BC Universal sealer compared with Totalfill BC sealer and AH Plus Bioceramic.METHODS: The microstructure and composition of the sealers were assessed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy after setting. The crystalline phases were assessed by X-ray diffraction analysis and the leachates were tested using inductively coupled plasma. All testing was performed at 0, 7, and 28 days. The physical properties of film thickness, flow, radiopacity, and solubility were evaluated using ISO 6876:2012 standards.RESULTS: All 3 sealers contained calcium, zirconium, and silicon. Totalfill BC had the highest calcium release at 7 and 28 days followed by AH Plus Bioceramic and BC Universal sealer. All 3 sealers adhered to the ISO standard in terms of flow and radiopacity. BC Universal sealer was slightly over the range (&gt;50 μm) for film thickness. All sealers exceeded the solubility range set by ISO 6876:2012.CONCLUSION: Although these hydraulic cement sealers had similar components and delivery, the properties varied significantly. The testing of material properties to confirm the suitability for clinical use is necessary.</p

Assessment of the interaction of Portland cement-based materials with blood and tissue fluids using an animal model

Portland cement used in the construction industry improves its properties when wet. Since most dental materials are used in a moist environment, Portland cement has been developed for use in dentistry. The first generation material is mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), used in surgical procedures, thus in contact with blood. The aim of this study was to compare the setting of MTA in vitro and in vivo in contact with blood by subcutaneous implantation in rats. The tissue reaction to the material was also investigated. ProRoot MTA (Dentsply) was implanted in the subcutaneous tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats in opposite flanks and left in situ for 3 months. Furthermore the material was also stored in physiological solution in vitro. At the end of the incubation time, tissue histology and material characterization were performed. Surface assessment showed the formation of calcium carbonate for both environments. The bismuth was evident in the tissues thus showing heavy element contamination of the animal specimen. The tissue histology showed a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate associated with the MTA. MTA interacts with the host tissues and causes a chronic inflammatory reaction when implanted subcutaneously. Hydration in vivo proceeds similarly to the in vitro model with some differences particularly in the bismuth oxide leaching patterns.peer-reviewe