Journal of Dental Medicine

This investigation was performed according to the widespread application of base metal alloys and few articles published about the marginal integrity of restorations fabricated by these metals.Three standard dies of a maxillary first premolar were prepared with a flat shoulder finish line in buccal aspect and chamfer in palatal. One of them left with no change. On the buccal aspect of the second and third dies 135?and 1607 bevel were added respectively Using dual wax technique, nine wax patterns were formed on each die and casting procedure of selected non precious alloy was performed by centrifugal method. Marginal gaps of each copping seated on dies were measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with X500 magnification. Measurements were done on three areas of marked dies on buccal aspect. Measurement son palatal aspect was done on marked midpalatal point as control.Results and statistical analysis showed no significant difference among marginal gaps in lingual aspect.But on the buccal aspect there were statistically significant differences among the groups (P<0.001). Flat shoulder had the best marginal integrity (mean 4 micron). Shoulder with 160' bevel had the most marginal gap (mean 26.5 micron) and shoulder with 1357 bevel was between two other groups (mean 15.7 micron).

Statement of Problem: The pulp may be exposed during remove of caries or by traumatic and iatrogenic injuries. The material used to DPC, must be biocompatible, scalable and prevent bacterial leakage.Furthermore, it is better to stimulate dentinogenesis. Calcium hydroxide is most usual material for DPC. But it cannot provide a suitablcbiologic seal. Mineral irioxide aggregate (MTA) is also a suitable material for DPC.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical success of DPC done with MTA or calcium hydroxide cement.

Materials and Methods: In this study eighteen posterior teeth without previous spontaneous pain that involved mechanicaly exposure was randomly selected and capped with MTA or calcium hydroxide. These teeth were evaluated by clinical vitality test and radiograph after 3 and 12 months, and patients were questioned about irritative or spontancus pain in this period. Statistical analysis was carried out by Usher exact
test (a-0.05).
Results: This study showed that in calcium hydroxid groud three had irreversible pulpitis and two teeth had symptom and signs of reversible pulpitis. While, In MTA group all cases were normaL and no clinical sign was evident.
Conclusion: MTA exhibited better results than calcium hydroxide cement for the capping of the pulp in human

Background and Aim: Dentists are exposed to mercury from dental amalgam in their routine occupational practice. Excess exposure to mercury is harmful and the measurement of mercury content of urine is a reliable and valid assessment of the level of mercury exposure from dental amalgam. The aim of this study was the measurement of urine mercury in dentists of Tehran and assessment of some possible related factors.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed randomly on 211 dentists in all regions in Tehran city (center, north, south, west, and east) between 1381 and 1383. Dentists were asked to give a sample of urine in the day of visit and to complete a questionnaire consisting of variables such as age, working history, handling of amalgam, environmental parameters and general health situation. Urine samples were analyzed by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed by Kruskall Walis, Kendall and Mann Whitney tests, with p<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: The mean of urine mercury content in Tehran dentists was 3.1 (± 3.95) which was lower than the international TLV (Threshold Limit Value). There was a significant relation between urine mercury level and working hours per day (P=0.006). This relation was observed with working hours per week too (P=0.006). In general dentists, there was a positive relation between urine mercury and age (0.008) as well as the practicing years (P=0.034). A significant relation was found between urine mercury and the number of amalgam repairs and replacements in restorative specialists (p=0.039). There was a significant relation between the number of amalgam fillings in the mouth and urine mercury in general practitioners (p=0.027). The type of amalgam (predosed capsules or bulk powder) had a significant effect on the urine mercury content (P=0.001). There was no significant relation between urine mercury and other variables of the study such as the squeezing of triturated amalgam, storage method of residual amalgam, method of storing mercury and office ventilation.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the mean urine mercury content of dentists of Tehran was below the international TLV. The use of precapsulated amalgams had significant effect on the urine mercury. Most of the dentists were working in public or semiprivate clinics, so it is concluded that the level of general hygiene and specially mercury hygiene in these centers seems to be acceptable.

Background and Aim: Dental Amalgam is a common restorative material for posterior teeth. Because of Hg content in the composition of amalgam, during the handling of material, mercury may release as vapor in the environment. Excess amount of mercury vapor can cause serious health problems in dental personnel. The aim of this investigation was to determine mercury vapor concentration in working environment of dentists in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: 211 dental clinics were participated in this cross-sectional study. The clinics were randomly selected from different regions of Tehran (north, center, south, east and west). The dentists were asked to complete a questionnaire including items on demographic characteristics such as age, sex and work history, method of handling of amalgam, environmental characteristics and general health conditions. Environmental measurements of mercury vapor in dentists’ offices were done by mercury absorption tubes (Hydrar) and personal pumps (SKC, 222-3, England) as suggested in NIOSH method. Analysis of air samples was done by atomic absorption spectrophotometery (cold vapor). The data were analyzed by non-parametric tests (Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Kendall).P<0.05 as the level of significance.

Results: The mean mercury vapor concentration in dentists’ offices was 8.39(±9.68) µg/m³.There was no significant relationship between the urine mercury of dentists (3.107±3.95) and the air Hg vapor concentration of their offices. Using precapsulated amalgam showed significantly less Hg vapor than bulk amalgam (P=0.034). Also the surface area of working room and air Hg vapor (P=0.009) had a significant relationship (P=0.009 r=0.81). There was not any significant correlation between mercury vapor and other factors such as working hours per day and working days per week, squeezing of triturated amalgam or not, storage medium of set amalgam (water or fixer solution), mercury storage method and type of ventilation.

Conclusion: The concentration of mercury vapor in dental offices' environment was lower than threshold limit value. Based on this study the type of amalgam (precapsulated or not) and area of the working room had significant effect on the mercury vapor concentration of environment.

Background and Aim: An important criterion for success assessment of implant-supported prostheses is marginal fit. Vertical and horizontal discrepancy can result in loosening of the prosthetic screw, crestal bone resorption, peri-implantitis and loss of osseointegration. Despite careful attention to waxing, investing, and casting, marginal discrepancies are inevitable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the marginal gap and overhang in three casting methods with two different alloys in ITI implants.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study 48 analog abutments were randomly divided into six groups as follows: 1) burn out cap + BegoStar, 2) impression cap + BegoStar, 3) conventional wax up + BegoStar, 4) burn out cap + Verabond2, 5) impression cap + Verabond2, 6) conventional wax up + Verabond2. Waxing was done in 0.7 mm thickness verified by a digital gauge and a putty index was made for all groups. Reamer was used for correction of the finish line after casting in all groups. Castings were seated on analog abutments and embedded in acrylic resin. Specimens were sectioned by isomet instrument and polished and cleaned by ultrasonic cleaner for 10 min. The marginal gap and overextended margins of castings were examined under a  Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (X200). The mean gap and margin overextension were calculated for each group. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis and Bonferroni post-hoc test with p<0.05 as the level of significance.

Results: No significant difference in gap size was observed among the three casting methods with two alloys (P=0.056). The marginal gap was not different in the studied casting methods (P=0.092). Gold alloy crowns showed lower marginal gaps compared to base metal alloy crowns (P<0.001). No significant difference in overhang size was observed among casting methods with two alloys (P=0.093). Base metal alloy crowns showed less overhang compared to gold alloy crowns (P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between overhang and use of impression cap in base metal alloys (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, vertical discrepancy of frameworks made with gold alloy were less than those made with base metal alloy. Base metal alloy demonstrated less overhang. Conventional wax up or using burn out caps produced less horizontal discrepancy.

  Background and Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tissue responses to octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and calcium hydroxide (CH) used as direct pulp capping (DPC) materials in cat teeth.

  Materials and Methods: 72 premolar teeth of 9 cats were selected and divided into 3 groups (Two experimental and one control group). After the cats had been anesthetized, the pulp were exposed and capped directly with OCP, CH or no capping material as control group. The cavities of all three groups were filled with Glass ionomer cement (GI). Histological evaluations were performed at two, four and eight weeks after pulp capping. After tissue preparation procedures, paraffin blocks were prepared. After preparation and staining of the sections, the relevant variables were measured by optical microscope. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests ( α =0.05).

  Results: Two weeks after pulp capping, all specimens in three groups showed mild to sever inflammation. The formation of hard tissue (dentinal bridge) at in the exposed areas of the experimental groups was more noticeable for calcium hydroxide than that of octacalcium phosphate group. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). At four weeks, hard tissues were observed in both groups which were more evident for the CH group and there were statistically significant difference between two experimental groups (p<0.003). At eight weeks, continuous hard tissues were observed in both groups and there were no statistically significant difference between them (P>0.05), but hard tissues continuity were better for in the OCP than that of the CH.

  Conclusion: It seems that the formation of hard tissue in CH because of its porosities had a worse percentage in sealing of the pulp than the OCP .