Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether experimental and commercial dental restorative materials with functional fillers can exert a protective anti-demineralizing effect on enamel ...that is not immediately adjacent to the restoration. Four experimental resin composites with bioactive glass and three commercial restorative materials were investigated. Enamel blocks were incubated in a lactic acid solution (pH = 4.0) at a standardized distance (5 mm) from cured specimens of restorative materials. The lactic acid solution was replenished every 4 days up to a total of 32 days. Surfaces of enamel blocks were periodically evaluated by Knoop microhardness measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The protective effect of restorative materials against acid was identified as enamel microhardness remaining unchanged for a certain number of 4-day acid addition cycles. Additionally, the pH of the immersion medium was measured. While enamel microhardness in the control group was maintained for 1 acid addition cycle (4 days), restorative materials postponed enamel softening for 2–5 cycles (8–20 days). The materials capable of exerting a stronger alkalizing effect provided longer-lasting enamel protection. The protective and alkalizing effects of experimental composites improved with higher amounts of bioactive glass and were better for conventional bioactive glass 45S5 compared to a fluoride-containing bioactive glass. Scanning electron micrographs evidenced the protective effect of restorative materials by showing a delayed appearance of an etching pattern on the enamel surface. A remotely-acting anti-demineralizing protective effect on enamel was identified in experimental composites functionalized with two types of bioactive glass, as well as in three commercial ion-releasing restorative materials.
Resin composites containing reinforcing inert glass fillers combined with bioactive glass (BG) can aid in the prevention of secondary caries, which is a major cause of failure of contemporary ...composite restorations. A series of previous studies on experimental resin composites filled with BG 45S5 has demonstrated that methacrylate resin polymerization can be impaired by the addition of unsilanized BG, leading to lower degrees of conversion (DC). In order to distinguish whether the polymerization inhibition is caused by a direct (temperature-independent) effect of BG or an indirect (temperature-dependent) effect of restricted mobility of reactive species, this study used Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the DC values of experimental composites post-cured at 37 °C and 150 °C. The potential of BG to adversely affect DC was highly dependent on the resin system. The highest DC reduction was observed in the resin system based on ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (Bis-EMA), followed by bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA). In contrast, the DC for urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) was not compromised by BG. Increasing the mobility of reactive species by heating at 150 °C showed limited potential for increasing the DC in the Bis-EMA and Bis-GMA resin systems, indicating a direct inhibitory effect of BG on polymerization.
To investigate the polymerization kinetics and the degree of conversion (DC) of experimental resin composites with varying amount of bioactive glass 45S5 (BG).
Experimental resin composites based on ...a photo-curable Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin system were prepared. The composite series contained 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 wt% of BG and reinforcing fillers up to the total filler amount of 70 wt%. Composite specimens were light cured with 1219 mW/cm2 for 20 or 40 s and their DC was monitored during 5 min at the data collection rate of 2 s−1 using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).
The 5-min DC values for experimental composites were in the range of 42.4–55.9% and 47.3–57.9% for curing times of 20 and 40 s, respectively. The differences in the 5-min DC between curing times of 20 s or 40 s became more pronounced in materials with higher BG amount. Within both curing times, a decreasing trend of the 5-min DC values was observed with the increasing percentage of BG fillers. The maximum polymerization rate also decreased consistently with the increasing BG amount.
Unsilanized BG fillers showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on polymerization rate and the DC. Extending the curing time from 20 to 40 s showed a limited potential to improve the DC of composites with higher BG amount.
The observed inhibitory effect of BG fillers on the polymerization of resin composites may have a negative influence on mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
This study aimed to investigate polymerization kinetics and curing light transmittance of two series of experimental dental resin composites filled with 0-40 wt% of either 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) ...or a customized low-Na F-containing BG. Polymerization kinetics in 0.1-mm and 2-mm thick layers were investigated through real-time degree of conversion measurements using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. FTIR spectra were continuously collected at a rate of 2 s
during light-curing (1340 mW/cm
). Light transmittance through 2-mm thick composite specimens was measured using a UV-Vis spectrometer at a rate of 20 s
. Unlike BG 45S5, which led to a dose-dependent reduction in the rate and extent of polymerization, the customized low-Na F-containing BG showed a negligible influence on polymerization. The reduction in light transmittance of experimental composites due to the addition of the low-Na F-containing BG did not translate into impaired polymerization kinetics. Additionally, the comparison of polymerization kinetics between 0.1-mm and 2-mm thick layers revealed that polymerization inhibition identified for BG 45S5 was not mediated by an impaired light transmittance, indicating a direct effect of BG 45S5 on polymerization reaction. A customized low-Na F-containing BG showed favourable behaviour for being used as a functional filler in light-curing dental resin composites.
The aim of this study was to evaluate water sorption and solubility of two series of experimental composites containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) or bioactive glass (BG). Water sorption and ...solubility were measured for up to 287 days. The surface precipitation of calcium phosphates was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The ACP-series showed higher water sorption (223–568 µg/mm3) than the BG-series (40–232 µg/mm3). In contrast, the ACP-series had generally lower solubility (37–106 µg/mm3) than the BG-series (1–506 µg/mm3). The constant specimen mass for the ACP-series was attained after 14 days of water immersion, while the mass decrease due to long-term solubility in the BG-series lasted beyond 287 days. Calcium phosphates precipitated in composites with the BG filler loading of 10 wt% or more, as well as in all of the ACP-containing composites. The experimental composite series showed water sorption and solubility considerably higher than commercial materials.
Abstract
Rapid high-intensity light-curing of dental resin composites is attractive from a clinical standpoint due to the prospect of time-savings. This study compared the effect of high-intensity ...(3 s with 3,440 mW/cm
2
) and conventional (10 s with 1,340 mW/cm
2
) light-curing on micromechanical properties of conventional and bulk-fill resin composites, including two composites specifically designed for high-intensity curing. Composite specimens were prepared in clinically realistic layer thicknesses. Microhardness (MH) was measured on the top and bottom surfaces of composite specimens 24 h after light-curing (initial MH), and after subsequent immersion for 24 h in absolute ethanol (ethanol MH). Bottom/top ratio for initial MH was calculated as a measure of depth-dependent curing effectiveness, whereas ethanol/initial MH ratio was calculated as a measure of crosslinking density. High-intensity light-curing showed a complex material-dependent effect on micromechanical properties. Most of the sculptable composites showed no effect of the curing protocol on initial MH, whereas flowable composites showed 11–48% lower initial MH for high-intensity curing. Ethanol/initial MH ratios were improved by high-intensity curing in flowable composites (up to 30%) but diminished in sculptable composites (up to 15%). Due to its mixed effect on MH and crosslinking density in flowable composites, high-intensity curing should be used with caution in clinical work.
This study evaluated the behavior of a new generation of bulk-fill resin composites after prolonged exposure to an aqueous environment and accelerated aging in ethanol. Six bulk-fill materials were ...tested (Tetric PowerFill, Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative, Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, Fill-Up!, Tetric PowerFlow, SDR Plus Bulk Fill Flowable) and compared to two conventional reference materials (Tetric EvoCeram and Tetric EvoFlow). Flexural strength, modulus, and Weibull parameters were examined at three time points: 1 day, 30 days, and 30 days followed by ethanol immersion. Degree of conversion after 30 days, water sorption, and solubility up to 90 days were also investigated. Filtek One Bulk Fill had the highest flexural strength and modulus among the tested materials, followed by Tetric PowerFill and SDR plus. Flexural strength and modulus of high-viscosity bulk-fill materials showed higher stability after accelerated aging in ethanol compared to their low-viscosity counterparts and reference materials. After 30 days, the degree of conversion was above 80% for all tested materials. Dual-cure material Fill-Up! was the best-cured material. The water sorption was highest for Fill-Up!, Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative, and Tetric EvoFlow, while solubility was highest for Tetric EvoCeram. After aging in water and ethanol, new generation high-viscosity bulk-fill materials showed better mechanical properties than low-viscosity bulk-fill and conventional composites under extended light curing conditions.
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of adhesive coating for hindering the reactivity of ion-releasing dental restorative materials. Experimental composites were prepared by replacing 10 or ...20 wt% of reinforcing fillers with two types of bioactive glass. A glass ionomer, a giomer, and an alkasite were used as representatives of commercial ion-releasing materials. Restorative material specimens were coated with an etch-and-rinse adhesive, 1-step self-etch adhesive, 2-step self-etch adhesive, or left uncoated. The specimens were immersed in a lactic acid solution and ion concentrations were measured in 4 days intervals for 32 days (atomic absorption spectrometry for calcium, UV–Vis spectrometry for phosphate, ion-selective electrode for fluoride, and pH-meter for pH values). The adhesive coating reduced ion release between 0.3 and 307 times, in a significantly material- and adhesive-dependent manner. Fluoride release was most highly impaired, with the reduction of up to 307 times, followed by phosphate and calcium release, which were reduced up to 90 and 45 times, respectively. The effect of different adhesive systems was most pronounced for phosphate release, with the following rankings: uncoated ≥ 2-step self-etch adhesive ≥ 1-step self-etch adhesive ≥ etch-and-rinse adhesive. The differences among adhesives were less pronounced for calcium and fluoride. It was concluded that the resinous adhesive layer can act as a barrier for ion release and diminish the beneficial effects of remineralizing restorative materials.
Abstract Objectives To investigate the influence of pre-heating of high-viscosity bulk-fill composite materials on their degree of conversion and shrinkage force formation. Methods Four bulk-fill ...composite materials (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill—TECBF, x-tra fil—XF, QuixFil—QF, SonicFill—SF) and one conventional nano-hybrid resin composite (Tetric EvoCeram—TEC) were used. The test materials were either kept at room temperature or pre-heated to 68 °C by means of a commercial heating device, before being photoactivated with a LED curing unit for 20 s at 1170 mW/cm2 . Shrinkage forces ( n = 5) of 1.5-mm-thick specimens were recorded in real-time for 15 min inside a temperature-controlled chamber at 25 °C (simulating intraoral temperature after rubber dam application) with a custom-made stress analyzer. Degree of conversion ( n = 5) was determined at the bottom of equally thick (1.5 mm) specimens using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with Student’s t -test, ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test ( α = 0.05). Results Composite pre-heating significantly increased the degree of conversion of TECBF, but had no effect on monomer conversion of the other materials investigated. For each of the test materials, pre-heated composite generated significantly lower shrinkage forces than room-temperature composite. At both temperature levels, TECBF created the significantly highest shrinkage forces, and QF caused significantly higher shrinkage forces than both XF and TEC. Conclusions Both the composite material and the pre-cure temperature affect shrinkage force formation. Pre-heating of bulk-fill and conventional restorative composites prior to photoactivation decreases polymerization-induced shrinkage forces without compromising the degree of conversion. Clinical significance Composite pre-heating significantly reduces shrinkage force formation of high-viscosity bulk-fill and conventional resin composites, while maintaining or increasing the degree of monomer conversion, dependent upon the specific composite material used.
Objectives
To evaluate light transmittance as a function of wavelength for eight composite materials and compare the transmittance for blue light produced from two curing units with different ...emission spectra.
Materials and methods
Light transmittance through 2- and 4-mm-thick composite specimens was recorded in real time during 30 s of curing using a broad-spectrum (peaks at 405 and 450 nm) and a narrow-spectrum (peak at 441 nm) LED-curing unit. The spectral resolution of 0.25 nm and temporal resolution of 0.05 s resulted in a large amount of light transmittance data, which was averaged over particular spectral ranges, for the whole measurement period. Statistical analysis was performed using Welch ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc test,
t
test, and Pearson correlation analysis. The level of significance was 0.05 and
n
= 5 specimens per experimental group were prepared.
Results
Light transmittance varied as a function of wavelength and time, revealing significantly different patterns among the tested materials. Light transmittance for different parts of curing unit spectra increased in the following order of emission peaks (nm): 405 < 441 < 450. Of particular interest was the difference in transmittance between 441 and 450 nm, as these peaks are relevant for the photoactivation of camphorquinone-containing composites. A high variability in light transmittance among materials was identified, ranging from statistically similar values for both peaks up to a fourfold higher transmittance for the peak at 450 nm.
Conclusion
Each material showed a unique pattern of wavelength-dependent light transmittance, leading to highly material-dependent differences in blue light transmittance between two curing units.
Clinical relevance
Minor differences in blue light emission of contemporary narrow-peak curing units may have a significant effect on the amount of light which reaches the composite layer bottom.
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