Journal of Dental Medicine

 Polymerization shrinkage of light cure composite resins causes many complications in conservative and esthetic restorations. The objective of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the polymerization shrinkage, degree of conversion and the amount of filler in IDM and tetric ceram composites. Ten disk shaped, uncured specimens (8mm×1.547mm) of each composite were placed on glass slide in the center of the metal attached to it. Then specimens were light cured for 60s from underneath. After 30 minutes, the thickness of specimens, using a micrometer and the percent of the polymerization shrinkage of each sample were measured. Statistical analysis was carried out by t-test (P<0.05). Also the degree of conversion of specimens was evaluated with FTIR and the mineral filler content was measured by burning in electric oven. Polymerization shrinkage in IDM and tetric ceram was not significantly different. Degree of conversion and mineral filler content in tetric ceram was greater than that of IDM.

It is assumed that the low degree of conversion in IDM is due to its chemical composition and filler content. Also, the similarity in linear polymerization shrinkage between IDM and tetric ceram may be caused by the low degree of conversion in IDM.

Statement of Problem: Recently, investigators have presented new methods to reduce polymerization shrinkage of composite resin restorations. It is claimed that more powerful light cure systems associated with a change in radiation patterns, lead to improved mechanical properties and reduced microleakage.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two curing systems, known as Soft-Start, Pulse-Delay, on microleakage and degree of conversion of composite resin restorations.

Materials and Methods: To evaluate microleakage, dye penetration method in class V cavities was applied. 30 extracted human molars filled with three different curing techniques, namely conventional, Soft-Start and Pulse-Delay, were compared. Degree of conversion was measured by FTIR Spectroscopy method immediately after sample curing. Kruskal- Wallis and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare groups.
Results: The degree of microleakage in enamel and dentin among three groups was not significantly different, however, microleakage in gingival and occlusal walls showed a significant difference among Pulse-Delay curing (P=0.001) and Soft-Start curing (P=0.28) groups, meaning that leakage gingival in wall was significantly higher than occlusal wall. This difference was not significant in conventional group. Moreover, the degree of conversion was not statistically significant among three groups (P-0.909).
Conclusion: Soft-Start and Pulse-Delay curing systems, with a two intensity start curing light, do not provide better marginal adaptation in class V composite resin restorations. It should be mentioned that polymerization degree is not also reduced in these methods.

Statement of Problem: Composite reins have recently become popular for posterior teeth restorations. Gap formation and subsequent microleakage are of the complications resulting from such restorations. One of the techniques to overcome polymerization shrinkage of composite resins is sandwich technique (application of glass ionomer as a base beneath the composite resin). Since polymerization patterns in two types of composite resins (light cure and self cure) differ from each other, various effects on the bond strength between glass ionomer and dentin are expected.
Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of self- cure and light- cure composite resins in sandwich technique on the bond strength of light cure glass ionomer and dentin.
Materials and Methods: 40 extracted human premolars were selected and divided into four groups:Group 1: Light cure glass ionomer of 1mm thickness was placed on dentin.Group 2: 1mm thickness of light cure glass ionomer plus a mass of self cure composite resin of 2mm thickness were placed.Group 3: 1mm thickness of light cure glass ionomer plus light cure composite resin as two separate 1mm layer were placed.Group 4: 1mm thickness of light cure glass ionomer with 37% phosphoric acid etching followed by two separate layers of light cure composite resin of 1 mm thickness were placed.SEM was used to determine gap size ai Gl- dentin and Gi- composite interlaces. The findings were analyzed by ANOVA and t-student tests.

Results: Groups 1 and 2 showed no gap at Gl-dentm interface and also cracks were not observed in all these specimens. In group 3, there was gap between light cure GI and light cure composite resin and cracks were seen in GI, too. Group 4 showed gap at both interfaces and more cracks were seen in GI. Groups I and 2 showed the least gap formation and group 4 showed the most. Statistically significant difference was found between groups 3, 4 and group 1 (control), 2.
Conclusion: Base on this study, the application of self-cure composite resin on light cure GI showed no gap and crack formation on Gl-dentin and Gl-composite interfaces and GI itself. However, light cure composite resins and glass ionomer etching aggregated crack and gap formation.

Background and Aim: Sufficient polymerization is a critical factor to obtain optimum physical properties and clinical efficacy of resin restorations. The aim of this study was to evaluate wear rates of composite resins polymerized by two different systems Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to and Halogen lamps.

Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, 20 specimens of A3 Tetric Ceram composite were placed in brass molds of 2*10*10 mm dimensions and cured for 40 seconds with 1 mm distance from surface. 10 specimens were cured with LED and the other 10 were cured with Halogen unit. A device with the ability to apply force was developed in order to test the wear of composites. After storage in distilled water for 10 days, the specimens were placed in the wear testing machine. A chrome cobalt stylus with 1.12 mm diameter was applied against the specimens surfaces with a load of 2 kg. The weight of each samples before and after 5000, 10000, 20000, 40000, 80000 and 120000 cycles was measured using an electronic balance with precision of 10-4 grams. Data were analyzed using t test and paired t test. P<0.05 was considered as the limit of significance.

Results: Mean weight in both groups had statistically significant difference before and after all cycles (P<0.05). In halogen group 5000 and 10000 cycles led to significant difference with 40000, 80000 & 120000 cycles (P<0.05). In LED group 20000 cycles had significant difference with both 5000 and 120000 cycles (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, LED and halogen light curing units resulted in a similar wear rate in composite resin restorations.

Background and Aim: Use of provisional restorations is one of the important phases in the treatment of patients who need fixed prosthesis. Some physical properties are required for these materials. The purpose of this study was the comparison of some physical properties of 4 kinds of resins: Trim, Tempron, Duralay (Aria Dent) and Acropars TRII.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, transverse-strength (TS), setting time (ST), polymerization shrinkage (PS) and temperature rise (TR) during polymerization were tested. In transverse strength test, 5 samples of each resin were made. TS testing was done with an Instron testing machine. ST testing (5 samples in each group) was done with Gilmore needle. In PS test, 11 cylindric samples were prepared from each resin and the shrinkage was examined with digital micrometer (up to 24 hours). In TR test, after mixing the powder and liquid of resins (8 samples in each group), the temperature rise was recorded with 10 seconds interval (up to 15 minutes). Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests with p<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: In TS test, all samples of Trim were bent and no fracture was observed, while Tempron and Duralay showed no significant difference. Both Tempron and Duralay revealed high significant difference with Acropars TRII (P <0.01). In ST test, the difference between groups was significant (P<0.01). The lowest ST was observed in Acropars TRII (7 min), and the highest in Tempron (9.53 min). In PS test, significant difference was observed between Trim and Acropars TRII (P<0.01). PS was completed after 120 min in Tempron and Trim groups. However, PS continued to increase in other groups. In TR test, the difference between groups was significant (P<0.05). Duralay showed the highest TR and the lowest was seen in Trim.

Conclusion: In this study, Trim showed better properties than other studied groups. Acropars TRII had the lowest strength. The highest temperature rise was recorded for Duralay and Tempron, respectively.

Background and Aim: Insufficient polymerization of resin cements is of considerable clinical importance, because of mechanical deficiencies and biological side effects of uncured resin. Dual cure resin cements are getting popular in luting tooth colored posts and although their curing is claimed to proceed chemically, polymerization efficiency in deep areas of canal is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate degree of polymerization of dual-cure resin cements used for luting translucent and opaque fiber posts in different distances from the light tip.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, degree of conversion of two dual cured resin cements, Rely X ARC (3M, ESPE) and Nexus 2 (Kerr, USA) were measured when used with DT-Light and DT-White posts (RTD, France). The light curing unit used was Optilux 501, with output of 650-700 mw/cm2 with emitting time of 60 seconds. Degree of conversion was measured in three different depths (4, 6, 8 mm) by FTIR. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Post hoc tests. P<0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: DC% of Rely X with either of the posts was not significantly different in the studied depths (P>0.05). Nexus used with DT-Light had lower DC% in 8 mm depth (P<0.05). Nexus used with DT-White showed lower DC% in 8 mm depth compared to 4 mm depth. The control groups of both cements showed significant increased DC% in 4 mm depth compared to 6 and 8 mm depths (P<0.05). DT-White caused decreased DC% in both cements in 4 mm. DT-Light caused increased DC% of Rely X in 6 mm depth compared to DT-White and control. DT-Light increased DC% of Nexus in 6 and 8 mm depths, compared to DT-White and control groups.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, application of translucent fiber posts has a significant effect on degree of polymerization in dual-cure resin cements, compared to opaque types. Their better light transmission to deep areas due to the effect of optical fibers, can lead to better results.

Background and Aim: Polymerization shrinkage of resin cements during setting leads to stress on teeth receiving indirect esthetic restorations. Some methods like blocking out undercuts during cavity preparation with glass Ionomer can reduce the mass of resin cement and therefore the amount of stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of molar teeth, receiving class I ceramic inlays with two different methods of blocking out undercut.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty intact molar teeth were randomly divided into three groups of 10 each. One group was maintained intact as the control group. Similar class I cavities with identical undercuts were prepared on the other groups. In group 2 the undercut was filled with light cured glass Ionomer (vitremer 3M) before making impression, and in group 3 they were blocked out in the lab before preparation of the inlay. All the teeth in test groups were restored with indirect ceramic inlays.(vitadur - Alpha/ single bond / Rely X ARC). After thermocycling load causing fracture was assessed by universal testing machine. All the specimens were examined under a steriomicroscope (X40) to determine type of fracture. The results were analyzed by one way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. P< 0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: The restored groups showed significantly less fracture resistance than the control group. The difference between two test groups was not significant. The fracture in group2 had less destruction.

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, blocking out the undercut with two different methods (using glass ionomer/ or blocking it out on the die) made no diferrence in fracture resistance.

Background and Aim: Extent of polymerization (Ep) is the rate at which methacrylate C=C bonds are converted to aliphatic C-C bonds. The higher the Ep value, the better the polymerization of the polymer. If the polymer dose not polymerize sufficiently, it could have destructive effects e.g. releasing monomer, initiator, free radical or insufficient polymerization of hybrid layer. Therefore, measuring the Ep value is very important. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming increasingly popular in dental practice as they have a long life expectancy. LEDs do not generate infrared wavelength, and have a constant light output. Therefore, comparison of LED and Quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) from the point of Ep is important. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a proper tool for determining the Ep value, monitoring the process of reaction and reaction kinetics. The aim of this study was to measure the Ep value of a dental bonding containing camphorquinone/amine photoinitiator which were cured by LED and QTH using DSC.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 2.5 mg of bonding material were placed in DSC aluminum pans. Two different light cures, LED & QTH (Coltene Company Coltolux ®75 LED Curing Light), were used in this study. The light guide was positioned at a distance of 9mm from the base of the sample chamber. Each sample was photopolymerized for 30 seconds, and the DSC curves were obtained after 100 seconds from initiation of photopolimerization of each sample, at both 23^oC and 37^oC. The heat of photopolymerization (DH) was calculated from the area under the peak of the differential temperature curve. Five samples were used for each condition. The data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA.

Results: There was highly significant difference between two temperatures in the experimental bonding (pvalue<0.001). Representative DSC curves showed the same kinetic behavior for LED and QTH.

Conclusion: The results revealed that the Ep generated by high power density QTH was the same as that of produced by second generation of LED.

Background and Aims: Polymerization shrinkage in Methacrylate-based composite is one of the most important factors in composite restorations failure. Silorane-based composite is introduced to compensate this drawback and claimed to have low shrinkage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the polymerization shrinkage of these two composites.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 5 disk shape samples for each resin composites were placed in the centre of metallic ring bonded to microscopic glass slab. Top surface of ring was covered by a glass cover slip. Glass slab and sample were placed on a special LVDT holder in order to light cure from bottom surface and to measure the polymerization shrinkage. In this study, Deflecting Disk method and LVDT (linear variable differential transducer) was used for dimensional change measurement of resin composites. In this study, two LED curing units were used for composite polymerization.

Results: The mean of polymerization shrinkage in Z250 cured with LED and High Power LED was 11.15±0.08µm and 11.51±0.17µm, respectively (P=0.094), and in P90 cured with LED and High Power LED was 1.08±0.06µm and 1.16±0.12µm, respectively (P=0.019).

Conclusion: Silorane-based composite (P90) showed significantly less polymerization shrinkage than that of methacrylate-based composite (Z250). For the two types of composite, there was no significant difference between the two curing units in polymerization shrinkage.