INTRODUCTION:The porcelain veneer is a relatively conservative means of improving the appearance of teeth. As these restorations are usually highly visible it is essential to gain the approval of the patient before final cementation takes place. As a result a variety of trial pastes are available that match the shades of the resins that are used ultimately to finally cement the veneer in place. Such restorations, by virtue of their small size and fragility, are difficult to handle and position. It is therefore important that the application of trial paste does not impede placement and retention upon the tooth surface at try in whilst the patient assesses its appearance.OBJECTIVE:To determine the rheological properties of three makes of trial pastes (Calibra - Dentsply Caulk, USA; Nexus - Kerr, USA; Rely X - 3M Espe, USA) and assess if temperature affected these. Design In vitro rheological measurement.METHOD:For each product the rheological properties of three shades were determined at both 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C three times. Measurements of both the Initial Yield Stress and Shear Rate Index were undertaken using a controlled stress rheometer (Carri-med, Dorking, UK) in flow mode with a cone-and-plate test configuration.RESULTS:One way analyses of variance of the initial yield and shear rate index for each shade of material at 25 and 35 degrees C demonstrated no significant effects of temperature with the exception of the initial yield of Nexus (P = 0.0024) where the yield stress of the white shade was significantly (P <0.01) higher at 35 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. In all cases the yield stress for Nexus was of the order of ten times higher than the other materials. All materials demonstrated pseudoplastic behaviour.CONCLUSIONS:The variation in yield stress displayed by the materials will affect the handling of veneers and offers a potentially useful choice parameter to the clinician as to which paste bests suits their requirements.

Objectives. The purpose of this work was to discern, for elastomeric impression materials, the important rheological properties and importance of hydrophilicity for detail reproduction.Methods. Viscosity, modulus and tan delta were measured using a controlled-stress rheometer in cone/plate configuration. The flow of the materials, immediately after mixing and at the manufacturer's stated working time, was measured using a shark fin test and the interaction with moist surfaces was determined by taking impressions from two different sized grooves in moist gypsum casts.Results. Tan delta was found to be the parameter most indicative of the accuracy of the impression and the flow of the material. Impregum samples, a polyether material, exhibited the highest initial tan delta (7.4), the largest shark fins at both time periods and the most accurate impressions from both grooves. Aquasil, a polyvinylsiloxane material, had similar initial tan delta values (6.9) and impressions taken on the deep groove with this material closely matched the groove. The other two polyvinylsiloxane materials (Affinis and Flexitime) had significantly lower initial tan delta values (3.1 and 2.9, respectively), exhibited much smaller shark fins and a worse ability to accurately reproduce the deep groove.Significance. For large features, it is clear that the higher the initial tan delta of the impression material the better the ability to replicate larger features. However, with smaller features the relative hydrophobicity of the material becomes an important factor, with more hydrophilic materials better able to reproduce fine detail. (c) 2007 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This study investigated the effects of environmental temperature on the fluoride release and recharging ability of glass ionomers. Five disk specimens (15 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick) were made of each of the following materials: a conventional luting glass ionomer, two high viscosity restorative glass ionomers and a restorative resin-modified glass ionomer. The fluoride release of each material was measured at 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 55 degrees C. An additional three groups, which were made of the same materials, were stored in distilled and deionized water for 30 days and recharged in 250 ppm fluoride solution at 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 55 degrees C for five minutes. The fluoride rerelease was measured daily from two days prior to two days after the recharging process. At all temperatures, the luting glass ionomers showed the greatest fluoride release and recharging ability, followed by the resin-modified glass ionomer, then. the high viscosity glass ionomers. For each material, the fluoride release increased with increasing temperature and all glass ionomers showed greater recharging ability at higher temperatures. An increase in environmental temperature increased both the fluoride release and recharging of the glass ionomers. This may be important in developing regimes for improving the delivery of topical fluoride products.

Objectives. This study was designed to determine the dimensional changes of glass ionomers caused by thermal stimuli under both dry and wet conditions.Methods. Eight cylindrical specimens (6 mm x 4 mm) were made (using a stainless steel mold) of each of the following materials: a conventional luting glass ionomer, two high viscosity restorative glass ionomers, a resin-modified glass ionomer and a resin composite which was used as a control. The thermal expansion characteristics were determined by a thermal mechanical analyzer (TMA) under wet and dry conditions by heating the samples from 25 to 70 degrees C at 10 degrees C min(-1).Results. All materials showed contraction on heating in dry ambient conditions. In wet conditions, all glass ionomers maintained their original dimensions on heating, but the resin-modified glass ionomer expanded. The resin composite showed expansion in both wet and dry conditions. The results are explained in terms of the opposing effects of therrnal expansion and desiccation on heating.Significance. Under wet conditions glass ionomers maintain their original dimensions when heated. This kind of behavior may be considered as 'smart' behavior. (c) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to manufacture and test, in vitro, a novel modification to provide fluoride-releasing orthodontic brackets. Thirty-two orthodontic brackets were drilled to produce a recess (approximately 1.3 mm in diameter and 0.7 mm in depth) at the centre of the bracket base. Four materials, with and without the addition of sodium fluoride, a glass ionomer cement (Ketac Cem micro), a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC; GC Fuji Ortho LC), a zinc phosphate (Zinc Cement Improved), and a resin (Transbond XT) were used to fill the recess in the bracket base. Fluoride release was measured daily during the first week and then weekly for 10 weeks. An ion chromatograph with suppressed conductivity was used for free fluoride ion determination. Statistical analysis to determine the amount of flouride release was undertaken using analysis of variance and Tukey's test. During the first 2 weeks, the resin group, with the addition of 38 per cent sodium fluoride added, released significantly more free fluoride (P < 0.05), but after 2 weeks the fluoride release markedly decreased. After 5 weeks, the RMGIC group, with 15 per cent added sodium fluoride, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) daily fluoride release than the other groups. The findings demonstrated that an appropriate fluoridated material can be used as a fluoride-releasing reservoir in a modified orthodontic bracket to enable it to release fluoride over the period of fixed appliance treatment.

Objectives. This study aims to investigate the importance of ISO11405 recommended storage regime for extracted teeth in surface disinfectant chloramine T (chlT) prior to use in biofilm or in vitro caries studies involving microorganisms. ChlT may be absorbed into dentin and undergoes breakdown with organic material.Methods. Extracted roots were stored in ChlT (2 days), rinsed and transferred to distilled deionised water. HPLC at regular intervals determined chlT elution. At 4 weeks roots were boiled in water and eluent assessed with HPLC. ChlT breakdown ( organic material) over time was monitored with HPLC. ChlT minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) against Lactobacillus acidophilus was evaluated using L. acidophilus broth and ChlT serial dilutions.Results. No significant increase in chlT elution was detected between 2h and 4 weeks (ANOVA, Tukeys, p > 0.05), although levels tended to increasd with time. ChlT detected in water was 0.005%, corresponding to 0.05% in dentin. After boiling (4 weeks) ChlT breakdown products in water corresponded to 0.015% in dentin. MIC/MBC of ChlT against L. acidophilus was 0.031%.Significance. ChlT breakdown is accelerated by organic material. L. acidophilus is highly sensitive to chlT ChlT readily leaches from dentin but rinsing does not reduce chlT concentration below MIC/MBC. Low levels of ChlT may remain but will probably be in a less active form. Teeth disinfected in chlT for use in research involving bacteria must be stored in distilled water for at least 2 h to reduce chlT concentration below MBC, although longer will give greater elution and breakdown. (c) 2007 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The objective was to assess the ability to accurately record detail on moist surfaces for three elastomeric impression materials derived from different polymers. One polyvinylsiloxane, one polyether and one hybrid material containing a copolymer of siloxane and polyether polymers were used. Impressions were recorded of moist gypsum casts having both a shallow (approximately 20 microm) and deep (approximately 180 microm) groove reproduced on their surface. The grooves in the casts and in the impressions were profiled using a non-contacting laser profilometer Comparisons were made between the groove depths in the casts and impressions (paired t-test). The results indicated that all of the tested materials accurately recorded dimensions in the x-y plane. However, there was evidence that the polyether and hybrid materials were more accurate than the polyvinylsiloxane in recording the true depths of the deep grooves (z plane) under moist conditions. It was concluded that the more hydrophilic nature of the polyether and hybrid materials enabled them to record more accurate impressions of moist surfaces, particularly in areas of difficult access as modelled by the deep grooves.

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to examine the fluoride recharging and releasing abilities of resin-based materials containing fluoridated glass filler to determine whether the extent of the glass-ionomer matrix of the material affects these properties. METHODS:Three materials having a different proportion of the hydrogel matrix surrounding the glass filler, namely: Reactmer paste, Dyract AP and Xeno CF, were used for this study. Five disk specimens of each material were placed into distilled/deionized water and the fluoride release measured during 38 days. For fluoride recharge the disks were exposed to 250 ppm F solution for 1 h and the pre- and post-recharge fluoride release were determined using an ion-selective electrode (total fluoride ions) and ion chromatography (free fluoride ions). RESULTS:The amounts of total and free fluoride release from each material at the initial period in descending order were Reactmer paste > Dyract AP > Xeno CF (p < 0.05 ANOVA and Scheffe's test). After fluoride recharge, Reactmer paste showed a greater amount of fluoride release than the other materials. Dyract AP and Xeno CF showed a similar total level of fluoride release after recharging. For Xeno CF the amount of total fluoride released after recharging was significantly greater than that of free fluoride, but there was no significant difference between total and free fluoride released after recharging for Dyract AP (p = 0.05 paired t-test). SIGNIFICANCE:These results suggested that the extent of the glass-ionomer matrix of the glass filler played an important role for fluoride-releasing and recharging abilities of the resin-based materials.

The pressures applied to the bungs of glass and plastic dental local anaesthetic cartridges which were necessary to cause failure of the system were measured. Plastic cartridges did not fracture, but they failed due to leakage of solution around the bung at pressures less than those needed to break glass cartridges. At the peak injection pressures which may be obtained during intraligamentary injections, it was established that the theoretical incidence of failure was 1.4% for glass and 75.1% for plastic cartridges.