Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aim: The majority of commercial curing units in dentistry are of halogen lamp type. The new polymerizing units such as blue LED are introduced in recent years. One of the important side effects of light curing is the temperature rise in composite resin polymerization which can affect the vitality of tooth pulp. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temperature rise in two different composite resins during polymerization with halogen lamps and blue LED.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study investigated the temperature rise in two different composites (Hybrid, Tetric Ceram/Nanofilled, Filteke Supreme) of A2 shade polymerized with two halogen lamps (Coltolux 50, 350 mW/cm2 and Optilux 501 in standard, 820 mW/cm2 and Ramp, 100-1030 mW/cm2 operating modes) and one blue LED with the intensity of 620 mW/cm2. Five samples for each group were prepared and temperature rise was monitored using a k-type thermocouple. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests with P<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: Light curing units and composite resins had statistically significant influence on the temperature rise (p<0.05). Significantly, lower temperature rise occurred in case of illumination with Coltolux 50.There was no significant difference between Optilux 501 in standard curing mode and LED. Tetric Ceram showed higher temperature rise.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study the high power halogen lamp and LED could produce significant heat which may be harmful to the dental pulp.

Background and Aim: Light cured composites and other restorative materials are quite common in dentistry today. Successful restorations are dependent on efficiency of curing light unit, eg. the intensity of emitted light and its wave length. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency units of curing, in private dental offices in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study, light curing devices in 240 private dental offices were evaluated randomly. Light intensity was measured by radiometer, debris on the fan and cracks and scratches on the filter were directly observed and the age of the device, frequency of changing the bulb and satisfaction of the dentist with regard to the light curing unit were recorded in a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Spearman and t test, with p<0.05 as the level of significance.

Results: The results showed that 53.8% of the units had intensities more than 300 mW/cm². The intensity of 30.4% of curing light units were between 20 and 300 mW/cm² and 15.8% had intensities lower than 200 mW/cm². There was a negative relation between light intensity and the age of the unit, frequency of bulb changing or scratches on the filter and debris on the fan.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the light intensities of about 46% of light curing units used in private dental practices and clinics were inadequate. Since factors like aging of the curing light unit, frequent bulb changing, increasing the amount of debris on the fan and scratches on the filter reduce the light intensity, regular quality control of these devices is essential.

Background and Aim: Halogen lamp is the commonly used light source for composite photo polymerization. Recently, high power halogen lamps, LED and plasma arc are introduced for improving the polymerization. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conventional and high power halogen lamps and LED light curing unit on degree of conversion of two different composite resins.

Materials and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study two halogen units (Coltolux 50 with the intensity of  330 mW/cm² and Optilux 501 with two different operating modes of standard with the intensity of 820 mW/cm² and Ramp with the intentsiy of 100-1030mW/cm²) and one LED light curing unit (620 mW/cm²) were used. The composites were hybrid (Tetric ceram) and nanofilled (Filteke supreme). Each materials/curing method contained three samples and degree of conversion (DC) was measured with FTIR. Data were analyzed statistically with one way and two way ANOVA, Tukey HSD. P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance.

Results: Tetric ceram revealed higher DCthan Supreme. Tetric ceram showed a significant decrease in DC when Coltolux 50 was used in comparison to LED and Optilux 501. The latters did not show significant effect on DC of this material. DC of Supreme polymerized with various curing modes was not significantly different.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, degree of conversion in hybrid composites was higher than nanofilled. In comparison with conventional halogen lamp (Coltolux 50), high intensity halogen lamps and LED unit significantly lead to higher degree of conversion in hybrid composites.

Background and Aim: Amalgam is one of the mostly used restorative materials, but has some disadvantages. Microleakage is one of the short comings of amalgam which may lead to sensitivity and recurrent caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three dentin bonding systems on reduction of microleakage in amalgam restorations.

Materials and Methods: Class II amalgam restorations were made in 40 noncarious molar and premolar teeth. Then the specimens were divided into four equal groups. Scotch Bond Multi Purpose, Single bond,
iBond, were used as liner in groups one to three respectively and in group four no liner was used. The teeth were restored with high copper spherical amalgam. After thermocycling for 500 cycles at 5⁰C and 55⁰C, the specimens were immersed in basic fuchsin for 24 hours, bisectioned mesiodistally and evaluated under stereomicroscope at X25 for dye penetration. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-wallis and Scheffe. P<0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: The groups showed significant difference (p=0.003). The group four had significantly less microleakage than the first and second groups (p<0.05). The second and third groups showed significantly different microleakage (p=0.038).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this investigation applying dentin bonding agents has no effect on reducing microleakage in amalgam restorations, however more studies are recommended.

Background and Aim: Various studies have shown that reliable bond at the root - post - core interfaces are critical for the clinical success of post - retained restorations. Severe stress concentration at post - cement interface increases post debonding from the root. To form a bonded unit that reduces the risk of fracture, it is important to optimize the adhesion. Therefore, some post surface treatments have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various surface treatments of tooth - colored posts on the bonding of resin cement.

Materials and Methods: In this interventional study, 144 tooth colored posts were used in 18 groups (8 samples in each group). The posts included quartz fiber (Matchpost), glass fiber (Glassix), and zirconia ceramic (Cosmopost) and the resin cement was Panavia F 2.0. The posts received the following surface treatments: 1- No surface treatment (control group), 2- Etching with HF and silane, 3- Sandblasting with Cojet sand, 4- Sandblasting with Cojet sand and application of silane, 5- Sandblasting with alumina particles, 6- Sandblasting with alumina particles and application of silane. Then, posts were cemented into acrylic molds with Panavia F 2.0 resin cement. The specimens were placed in water for 2 days and debonded in pull - out test. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Tamhane and Tukey HSD. Failure modes were observed under a stereomicroscope (10 ). P<0.05 was considered as the significant level.

Results: Surface treatments (sandblasting with Cojet and alumina particles ,with or without silane) resulted in improved bond strength of resin cement to glass fiber post (Glassix) and zirconia ceramic (Cosmopost) [p<0/05], but not to the quartz fiber post (Matchpost). In general, higher bond strengths resulted in a to higher percentage of cohesive failures within the cement.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, sandblasting with cojet and alumina particles increases bond strength of resin cement to glass fiber post (Glassix) and zirconia ceramic (Cosmopost).Generally, the bond strength of resin cement to the posts is affected by the post's composition and surface treatment.

Background and Aim: Nonmetallic tooth- colored posts adhere to canal walls by dentin bonding agents and resin cements. Better retention and proper distribution of stress result from enough and proper bonding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bond strength of D.T. Light - post with two different resin cements (self-cure & dual-cure) and to investigate the effect of irrigating solutions applied in root canal on bond strength of the resin cements and D.T.Light- post to root canal wall.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 40 single root teeth (maxillary canine & central) were selected and stored in 0.1% thymol solution for one week and transferred to distilled water. The teeth were decoronated 2mm above CEJ. The canal space was mechanically enlarged using k-files (up to # 70). The teeth were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was irrigated with 2.6% NaOCl, and the second was irrigated with normal saline. After drying, the teeth were filled with gutta percha cones using lateral condensing method. After two weeks the post space was prepared and D.T.Light- post was inserted in each subgroup using self or dual-cure cements according to manufacturer's instructions. After thermocycling, the apical part was cut 1cm below CEJ. The remained length was divided into 9 equal sequential sections. Each section was submitted to shear push-out test in universal testing machine. Statistical analysis of the bond strength data was performed using ANOVA and post hoc tests with p<0.05 as the level of significance. All failed specimens were examined under stereomicroscope. Degrees of conversion of the cements were determined by FTIR.

Results: Significant difference in bond strength values were found among sites (P=0.001) and cements (P=0.03). With increasing in depth, bond strength decreased. The mean bond strength value in dual-cure resin cement was higher than self-cure cement. The irrigating solutions caused no significant difference in bond strength (P=0.46). DC% had significant difference in various depths.

Conclusion: According to the results of this investigation, bond strength of dual-cure cement is higher than self-cure one in D.T Light- post because of post's translucency. 2.6% sodium hypochlorite does not affect the bond strength.

Background and Aim: Decreasing the hardness of dental restorative composites after curing in oral environment can influence their clinical durability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of food-simulating liquids such as 25%, 50%, 75 % ethanol and 50 % heptane on surface hardness of two composites - (Gradia and P60) after curing and immersing time of 24 hours and 7 days.
Materials and Methods: 45 specimens of each composite were prepared in a stainless steel mold with 6 mm diameter and 2 mm depth. 5 specimens of each composite were tested for microhardness immediately after curing as the control group. The other specimens of each composite were randomly divided into eight groups. Each specimen was immersed in one of the following solutions 25%, 50%, 75 % ethanol and 50 % heptane for either 24 hours or 7 days. Then the specimens were taken out of the solutions and washed and dried and transferred to the refrigerator until performing the test. In standard conditions, surface microhardness of specimens was evaluated by the microhardness device based on Vickers. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA 3 way ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc tests. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Surface hardness of P60 composite was higher than that of Gradia. An analysis of variance in gradia and p60 showed significant difference between the control and all the other groups (P<0.05) except the 25% ethanol (P=0.514). After 24 hours all the solutions had significant effect on Gradia (P<0.05) except 50% and 75% ethanol (P=0.793). After 7 days all the solutions had significant effect on Gradia except 50% and 25% ethanol (P=0.385)and 50% and 75% ethanol (P=0.150) According to P60 after both 24 hours and 7 days all the solutions had significant effect on the hardness. 50 % heptane increased the hardness (P=0.00). 75% ethanol significantly decreased the hardness (P=0.000) followed by 50% (P=0.001) and 25% ethanol (P=0.007).
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the effect of time was not significant. P60 showed to be more resistant. 75% ethanol had much more effect followed by 50% and 25% ethanol. Heptane increased the mean surface hardness.

Background and Aims: In spite of the advances achieved in the field of dentin adhesives, the longevity of bond to dentin is still a challenge. According to recent studies, Matrix Metaloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors can increase clinical longevity of bonding and decrease leakage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount and pattern of doxycycline release from an experimental dentin adhesive containing this MMP inhibitor.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, specimens containing 0.25 and 0.5 loading percent of doxycycline in an experimental monomer were prepared in cylindrical moulds of 12 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness. The adhesive monomer was composed of 12 wt% Bis-GMA, 10 wt% TMPTMA, 28 wt% HEMA and 50 wt% ethanol. Camphorquinone and amine were used as initiators.

Results: Addition of 0.25 and 0.5 w% doxycycline showed linear release in both groups. Increasing the loading percent of doxycycline caused more release. The release continued during the test period.

Conclusion: Doxycycline release was observed from the experimental adhesive. Further studies in this field will help in preparing adhesive systems with more clinical longevity.