Use of a vacuum-formed plastic sheet to aid in transferring and bonding metal splints

Mobile teeth with compromised periodontal support may shift from their unstressed position during clinical splinting procedures and be stabilized in an incorrect position, resulting in occlusal interferences and unnecessary adjustment. A technique is presented that can be helpful to splint mobile teeth with a metal device. Using a vacuum or pressure device to create a mold using a cast transfers the splint intraorally for bonding. This thermoplastic sheet maintains mobile teeth in the desired position during the splinting procedure. (J Prosthet Dent 2007;98:235-238). © 2007 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry

Light protection of fiber-reinforced strip using aluminum foil for the direct splinting technique

The critical point of the clinical procedure of direct splinting is the placement of the fiber-reinforced strip, which has to be well adapted to tooth surfaces. This article describes the use of aluminum foil to cover and protect the fiber-reinforced strip from light polymerization during the direct splinting technique. The advantage of using aluminum foil is to prevent premature curing of the fiber-reinforced strip, which would necessitate repetition of the procedure. With this technique, the strip is gradually exposed and adapted to the lingual/palatal surfaces of the teeth and light cured, allowing for ample working time. © Operative Dentistry, 2006

Chemical, mechanical and biological properties of contemporary composite surface sealers

Objectives To evaluate the chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of modern composite surface sealers (CSS) having different compositions. Methods The CSS products tested were Biscover LV (BC), Durafinish (DF), G-Coat Plus (GC), and Permaseal (PS). The tests performed were: (A): degree of conversion (DC%) by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy; (B): thickness of O2-inhibition layer by transmission optical microscopy; (C): surface hardness, 10 min after irradiation and following 1 week water storage, employing a Vickers indenter (VHN); (D): color (ΔE∗) and gloss changes (ΔGU) after toothbrush abrasion, using L∗a∗b∗colorimetry and glossimetry; (E): accelerated wear (GC,PS only) by an OHSU wear simulator plus 3D profilometric analysis, and (F): cytotoxicity testing of aqueous CSS eluents on human gingival fibroblast cultures employing the methyl-3H thymidine DNA labeling method. Statistical analyses included 1-way (A, B, ΔE∗, ΔGU) and 2-way (C, F) ANOVAs, plus Tukey post hoc tests. Student's t-test was used to evaluate the results of the accelerated wear test (α = 0.05 for all). Results The rankings of the statistical significant differences were: (A) PS (64.9) > DF,BC,GC (56.1-53.9) DC%; (B) DF,PS (12.3,9.8) > GC,BC (5.2,4.8) μm; (C): GC (37.6) > BC,DF (32.6,31.1) > PS (26.6) VHN (10 min/dry) and BC,DF (29.3,28.7) > GC(26.5) > PS(21.6) VHN (1w/water), with no significant material/storage condition interaction; (D): no differences were found among GC,DF,BC,PS (0.67-1.11) ΔE∗, with all values within the visually acceptable range and PS,BC (32.8,29.4) > GC,DF (19.4,12.9) ΔGU; (E): no differences were found between GC and PS in volume loss (0.10,0.11 mm3), maximum (113.9,130.5 μm) and mean wear depths (30.3,27.5 μm); (F): at 1% v/v concentration, DF showed toxicity (23% vital cells vs 95-102% for others). However, at 5% v/v concentration DF (0%) and BC (9%) were the most toxic, whereas GC (58%) and PS (56%) showed moderate toxicity. Significance Important chemical, mechanical, and biological properties exist among the CSS tested, which may affect their clinical performance. © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved