Periodontal Status of Postmenopausal Women

The objective of this study was to compare the periodontal status in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Material and Methods: We examined 43 postmenopausal women aged from 55 to 74 years. Material assessment of bones in every patient was performed by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) from two points on the skeleton – part of the femur neck and between the first and fourth lumbar vertebrae. A lipid blood test was done for patients of both groups. All patients were divided into two groups (the 1st with osteopenia, and the 2nd with osteoporosis). All patients were subjected to an oral clinical examination: the periodontal examination was composed of Plaque Index (PI), Pocket Score (PS), and Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI). X-ray analysis was performed for every patient. Results: The results of the clinical periodontal examination demonstrated that the mean PBI in patients in the 1st group had no significant differences from the PBI in patients in the 2nd group. PI value and PS findings in patients with general osteoporosis also had no statistical differences from the same parameters in patients with osteopenia. Conclusion: Under the circumstances of these patients’ characteristics and within the limits of the present study, we concluded that there is no significant difference in the periodontal status of postmenopausal women with systemic osteopenia and with osteoporosis

The Influence of a Hemostatic Agent on Adhesion Strength and Microleakage of Composite Resin Restorations

The aim of the present study was to assess the side effect of an aluminum chloride hemostatic agent on adhesion strength and microleakage of composite resin restorations bonded with the one-bottle total-etch adhesive system. Methods: We prepared 10 human tooth samples (extracted premolars for orthodontic purposes) in accordance with the Ultratest technique for the assessment of shear bond strength (SBS), and another 10 human tooth samples for microleakage assessment. The SBS tooth samples (n=10) were subjected to the two following tests: In Test 1, before traditional adhesive protocol, the aluminum chloride hemostatic agent was rubbed into a surface dentin for 60 sec with the help of a metal dento-infusor tip and washed with distilled water. In Test 2, just traditional wet bonding was performed. In the group of teeth (n=10) for microleakage assessment, we prepared two round artificial cavities of similar size (3 mm in diameter, 1 mm deep) in each tooth sample on the proximal surfaces with half in enamel and another half in root dentin. All created cavities (n=20) were divided into two subgroups. In cavities of Subgroup 1 (n=10), the adhesive protocol and filling with composite resin were performed after preliminary rubbing-in of the hemostatic agent. In Subgroup 2 (n=10), cavities were merely restored according to the rules for applying the one-bottle total-etch adhesive system. Assessment of microleakage was performed at the enamel margin and dentin margin. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the microstructure morphology of a hybrid layer, formed without the side effect of a hemostatic agent and after application of it. Results: The average score of SBS was 7.42±3.5 kg in Test 2 and 3.87±2.45 kg in Test 1. Therefore, the side effect of the aluminum chloride hemostatic agent was detrimental to the bond strength of the composite resin to human dentin and significantly decreased the quality of adhesion by 1.92 times (P0.05). However, the visual analysis of the dentin-composite junction of sectioned tooth samples demonstrated 2.1 times more microleakage in Subgroup 1 (1.7±0.95 CU) than in Subgroup 2 (0.8±0.79 CU), but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). In view of clinical situations with no possibility to escape the application of a hemostatic agent in cases of possible capillary hemorrhage and crevicular fluid leakage, it could be wise before running an adhesive protocol to cut off the portion of surface dentin that was exposed to an aluminum chloride hemostatic agent side effect

The Role of Biomimetic Incubation of Sandblasted Titanium Implants in the Process of Osseointegration: An Experimental Study in Dogs

The aim of the present study was to examine the surface characteristics and values of removal torque of an implant surface subjected to sandblasting with 125µm Al2O3 particles with a following immersion in biomimetic fluid and to compare that surface with a machined implant surface. Study protocol: Forty-eight conical implants were initially made of second-grade titanium alloy. The diameter of implants was 4mm at the head and 2.6 at the apex, all implants were of 8 mm length and of large variable thread design. Half of them were subjected to sand blasting and immersion in biomimetic fluid at 37 ⁰C for four weeks with daily replenishment of solution until the moment of placement; another 24 implants were left with untreated machined surface. Three-dimensional roughness values were obtained with the help of confocal laser scanning microscope. Forty-eight implants were implanted in 12 dogs. Twenty-four implants were retrieved after a 6-week healing period following installation, and the remaining 24 were removed upon the completion of 16 weeks, using a torque calibrator ((BTG150CN-S TOHNICHI) with a 20 cN•m - 150 cN•m scale of force registration was applied for the measurements of the removal torque. Results: The mean 3-dimensional roughness value of biomimetically treated implant surfaces was 1.34±0.24µm and the mean roughness value measured for the machined surfaces was 0.33±0.04µm (P<0.05). As to the average parameters of maximum peak-trough distance, these were equal to 2.85 for machined and 24.25 for incubated sandblasted implants. Machined implants demonstrated 49.5±10.3 removal torque values after the 6-week healing period. But for the immersed sandblasted implants the same parameter was equal to 72.7±15.98 Ncm. During a 16-week recovery period, these values increased up to 77.5±15.16 Ncm and 89.7±11.83 Ncm for machined and biomimetically treated sandblasted implants, respectively, P<0.05. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the rapid recovery time for biomimetically incubated sandblasted dental implants in comparison to machined surface implants based on findings of early (6 weeks healing period) removal tests. Although there was established only a 13.4% difference in values of removal torque after a 16-week healing period (instead of 32% after 6 weeks of recovery) between two groups of implants which could be associated with delayed bone integration

Shear Bond Strength of Two Self-Etching Adhesives to Air-Abraded Dentin: An in Vitro Study

Background: The aim of this research was to study the effect of air-abrasive treatment of dentin on the chemical composition of its surface and the adhesion strength of 2 self-etching adhesive systems (AS). Methods and Results: Powders based on aluminum oxide (Al2O3) (27µm) (KaVo, Biberach, Germany), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (40µm) (AIR-FlOW Classic Comfort, EMS, Nyon, Switzerland), and erythritol (14µm) (AIR-FLOW Plus, EMS, Nyon, Switzerland) were used for the air-abrasive treatment of adhesive surfaces. Bonding steps were carried out with Single Bond Universal (SBU) (3M ESPE, USA) and Bond Force 2 (BF2) (Toquyama, Japan). The adhesion strength of composite to dentin was evaluated on 80 samples prepared in accordance with the Ultradent Shear Bond Strength test. All samples were divided into 4 groups depending on the method of dentin surface processing. In the samples of Group 1 (n=20), aluminum oxide was used for the air-abrasive treatment of dentin. In Group 2 (n=20) and Group 3 (n=20), samples were treated using powders based on sodium bicarbonate and erythritol, respectively. Group 4 (control, n=20) included tooth samples in which the dentin surface was not air-abraded after preparation with carbide burs. Then, each group was divided into 2 subgroups (Sub-A and Sub-B) depending on the type of adhesive system used. Adhesive resin was applied and polymerized in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Single Bond Universal (SBU) was used for the samples of Sub-A, and Bond Force 2 (BF2) (Toquyama, Japan) was used for the samples of Sub-B. Scanning electron microscopy and determining the surface elemental composition of samples were carried out on an SEM-EVO MA 10 (Carl Zeiss) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer with EDS Aztec Energy Advanced X-Act (Oxford Instruments). It was concluded that air-abrasive treatment of the dentin surface does not enhance the adhesion strength of composite material when using self-etch AS. Also, it was noted that the pH level of self-etch AS is not a crucial feature in determining the strength of the filling-tooth interface. The resulting variations in the elemental composition of dentin surface after air-abrasion with various mixtures and their effect on the efficacy of the different AS require further in vitro studies

Effect of Preheating on Mechanical Properties of Different Commercially Available Dental Resin Composites

Background: This study aimed to reveal the effect of preheating on the surface microhardness and shear strength of composite materials used in the restoration of posterior teeth. Methods and Results: There were 3 composite materials under the study: Estelite Posterior, Harmonize and Filtek Z550. To make static and dynamic tests of them, 120 filling samples were prepared. Of those, 60 samples were for surface hardness measurements and 60 samples were used to evaluate the shear strength of composite materials. We formed 12 study groups with 10 filling samples in each. Samples made off Estelite Posterior, Harmonize™, and Filtek™ were designated with E, H, and F capital letters, respectively; the "VH" abbreviation indicated static Vickers hardness testing and "SS" was assigned for dynamic shear testing; mark (°) was used when preheating was applied. Filling samples were made of heated (up to 60°C) and room-temperature (23-25°C) composite materials. The filling samples of EVH, EºVH, HVH, HºVH, FVH, and FºVH groups were subjected to a surface microhardness test. The samples of ESS, EºSS, HSS, HºSS, FSS, and FºSS groups were subjected to shear-strength assessment of materials. The surface microhardness of filling samples was measured using a ПMT-3 Vickers hardness tester and the Vickers hardness number (VHN) was calculated. Dynamic tests were carried out using an UltraTester machine (Ultradent, Inc., USA) and shear test method until the shear-strength (SS) filling sample had completely failed. After analysis of the obtained results, it was found that preheating had enhanced the surface hardness and mechanical strength of the composite materials used in the study. However, the positive influence of preheating was significant only in the EVH-EºVH, ESS-EºSS, HSS-HºSS, and FSS-FºSS groups in 1.21, 1.09, 1.33, and 1.16 times, respectively. In the HVH-HºVH and FVH-FºVH groups, the identified differences were not of significance despite the improvement in mean values at 1.08 and 1.1 times. Conclusion: Preheating of light-curing resin-based composites is not equally effective for static and dynamic mechanical properties of materials for dental restoration. Preliminary laboratory tests could have helped before their clinical use

Comparative Analysis of in vitro Performance of Total-Etch and Self-Etch Adhesives

The aim of the study was in vitro assessment of shear bond strength and micro-leakage after application of total-etch and self-etch adhesive systems. Materials and Methods: Four adhesive systems were chosen for assessment of adhesion performance: Contax (DMG, GmbH), Bond Force (Tokuyama Dental Corp. Japan Mfr), Te-Econom Bond (Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein) and Swisstec SL Bond (Coltene, Switzerland). The assessment of bond strength was performed on 20 tooth samples, which were prepared in accordance with the UltraTest technique for shear bond strength (SBS) estimation. The test was conducted at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min and results were fixed in kilograms. The assessment of SBS was performed on enamel and dentin separately. Microleakage assessment of self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems was performed on 20 extracted non-carious upper human premolars with immersion in 1% methylene blue solution after thermocycling. Results: Good SBS results and microleakage values on the dentin substrate were obtained after application of the Contax self-etch bonding agent. But the values of bond strength to enamel and the extent of dye penetration within the composite-enamel interface were still better with the total-etch approach