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Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the residual stresses in a zirconia-based bilayer dental composite system can be tailored through heat treatment above and below the glass transition temperature of glass veneers., Methods: Ceramic bilayer disc specimens were prepared from a zirconia core and a glass veneer. Each bilayer ceramic group was heat treated 40 degrees C below, 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C above and at the glass transition temperature of the glass veneer, and cooled using a fast or a slow cooling rate. Specimens were tested for flexure strength using a biaxial bending fixture. Residual stresses were calculated using a fracture mechanics approach., Results: Heat treatments produced significant differences (p < or =0.05) between the mean flexural strengths of the heat treatment groups when the specimens were cooled using a fast cooling rate. However, there was not a significant difference (p >0.05) between the mean flexural strengths of the heat treatment groups when a slow cooling rate was used. Fractures initiated from the veneer surfaces of the specimens., Significance: Heat treatment above and below the glass transition temperature of the veneer layer, and the cooling rate have a significant effect on the flexural strength of the bilayer ceramic laminates. The existence of residual compressive stress is the most likely reason for the observed strength increases. Residual stresses can be modified using the elastic-viscoelastic relaxation behavior of a glass veneer.

Objectives: This study evaluated the influence of water on the volumetric dimensional change of six direct placement core build-up materials by using Archimedes' principle., Methods: The effect on dimensional change due to the setting reaction was determined through the use of a silicone oil storage medium. The materials used were two dual-cured resin composites (CoreStore and Build-It FR), two chemically activated resin composites (CorePaste and Ti-Core), one metal-reinforced glass ionomer cement (Ketac-Silver), and one resin-modified glass ionomer (Fuji II LC Core). Using the manufacturers' instructions for each material, cylindrical specimens were prepared with dimensions of 7+/-0.1 mm in diameter and 2+/-0.1 mm in height. Each material had four groups (n = 5) based on storage conditions; silicone oil at 23 and 37 degrees C and distilled water at 23 and 37 degrees C. A 0.01 mg resolution balance was used to determine volumetric dimensional change using an Archimedean equation. Measurements were made 30 min after mixing, and at the time intervals of 1, 14, and 56 days., Results: All materials exhibited dimensional change. Ketac-Silver had the most shrinkage in silicone oil and Fuji II LC showed the highest expansion in distilled water. The glass ionomer materials showed more change than did any of the resin composite materials., Significance: Current direct placement core materials show variation in the amount of volumetric dimensional change seen over a period of 56 days.

Objectives: Adhesion of resin-bonding agents to dentin is currently believed to result from impregnation of adhesive resin into superficially demineralized dentin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of the resin-impregnated dentin (hybrid) layer using a micro-Raman spectroscopy., Methods: Resin composites were bonded to bovine dentin with the two-step bonding systems, and specimens were sectioned parallel to dentinal tubules. These surfaces were then polished down to 1 microm diamond pastes. Raman spectra were successively recorded along a line perpendicular to the dentin-adhesive interface by steps of 0.2 microm on a computer controlled X-Y stage. The relative amounts of hydroxyapatite (960 cm(-1), P-O), adhesive resin (640 cm(-1), aromatic ring), and organic substrate (1450 cm(-1), C-H) in the dentin-adhesive bonding area were calculated., Results: From the Raman spectroscopy results, the hybrid layer represents a gradual transition in the relative amount of adhesive from the resin side to dentin side. Evidence of poor saturation of the adhesive resin in the demineralized dentin with the one-bottle adhesive system was detected., Significance: From the results of this study, inhomogeneity of the hybrid layer composition was detected, and the degree of resin impregnation was found to be different between the bonding systems tested.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the curing characteristics of light-cured composites and their related mechanical properties., Methods: Single-edge notch specimens [25 mm x 2.5 mm x 5 mm with a 5 mm notch (a/W = 0.5)] were prepared for fracture toughness measurements. For flexural strength testing, a stainless steel mold (25 mm x 2 mm x 2 mm) was used. Light-cured composites were condensed into the mold, and the middle third of the specimen was first activated for 30 s with 400 mW/cm2, for 60 s with 200 mW/cm2, or for 120 s with 100 mW/cm2. Then the remaining thirds were activated at the same intensity and curing time as the middle third. After 24 h storage in 37 degrees C water, three-point bending tests were performed with a span length of 20 mm at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. A one-way ANOVA, followed by a Newman-Keuls test (p < 0.05), were used to compare the data obtained from each group to test the effect of the curing conditions., Results: Fracture toughness, flexural strength, and flexural modulus varied with resin composites. Among the three curing conditions for each material, there were no significant differences in fracture toughness, flexural strength, or flexural modulus., Significance: The fracture toughness and the flexural strength were the same when irradiations with the same amount of energy (light intensity multiplied by curing time) were used. It was found that, at lower light intensity, longer curing was required to provide comparable mechanical properties. An accumulated irradiation energy obtained through a product of the light intensity and curing time may serve as a guideline to produce samples exhibiting equivalent fracture toughness as well as flexural strengths.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of adding filler particles to a bonding agent on dentin bond strength and of the temperature change during curing in order to determine the optimum filler level for an experimental bonding agent., Methods: Experimental light-cured bonding agents with microfiller (average size: 0.05 micrometers) content of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 wt% were used with the Imperva Bond / Lite-Fil II A (Shofu) restorative material. Bovine incisors were mounted in self-cured resin, and the facial surfaces were prepared with 600-grit SiC paper. After dentin surface pretreatment with dentin primer, experimental bonding agents were applied to the dentin surface and bonded with resin composite. Ten samples per test group were stored in 37 degrees C water for 24 h, then shear tested at 1.0 mm/min. The temperature change of the bonding agent was monitored during the exthothermic polymerization reaction according to the method of ISO standard #4049. The peak temperature and the time required to reach peak temperature were recorded., Results: Bond strength to dentin and the temperature change were greatly affected by the filler level. Maximum dentin bond strength (14.3 +/- 2.3 MPa) was obtained with a filler level of 10 wt% and decreased with filler level higher than 30 wt% (10.4 +/- 1.7 MPa - 5.3 +/- 2.6 MPa). Peak temperature decreased and the time required to reach peak temperature increased with the higher filler levels. There were strong correlations between the bond strength and temperature change of experimental bonding agents., Significance: The initial setting behavior of bonding agents containing filler particles may be one of the important factors influencing dentin bond strength. When bonding agents with filler particles are used, it is important to determine if optimum filler levels exist in order to optimize the dentin bond strength.

Objectives: The correlation between shear bond strength and surface roughness was investigated using new surface measurement methods., Methods: Bonding agents and associated resin composites were applied to set amalgam after mechanically roughening its surface. Surface treatments were noe (as set against glass), 80 grit, and 600 grit abrasive paper. Surface roughness (R(a) as measured parallel and perpendicular (+) to the direction of the polishing scratches and true profile length were measured. A knife-edge was applied (rate = 2.54 mm/min) at the bonding agent/amalgam interface of each sample until failure., Results: Coefficients of determination for mean bond strength vs either roughness (R(a), of profile length were significantly higher for measurements in parallel directions than for those measurements in (+) directions. The shear bond strength to set amalgam for a PENTA-containing adhesives system (L.D. Caulk Division) was not significantly different from that of a PENTA-free adhesive (3M Dental Products Division), even though PENTA has been reported to increase bond strength to nonprecious metals., Significance: The shear bond strength of resin composite to amalgam is correlated to surface roughness when it is measured parallel to the polishing scratches. This correlation is significantly lower when surface roughness is measured in the typical manner, perpendicular to the polishing scratches.

A gallium-based alloy (GA) that was developed as a substitute for dental amalgam was investigated for anodic polarization behavior in deoxygenated Ringers solution, 37 degrees C. The related microstructures were examined and microanalyses were conducted. Four polarization tests were conducted by scanning from -300mV to +1,000 mV (vs. SCE) at 2 mV/s. Polarization of the first sample (GA-1) was stopped after the first anodic dissolution peak (-100 mV, 1.5-2.0 x 10(-3) A/cm2). The fourth sample (GA-4) was interrupted at the secondary peak (+1000 mV, 0.3 A/cm2). It was found that (1) the early stage of the first peak is related to selective dissolution of divalent tin ions, followed by a dissolution of Ga. Transmission electron diffraction (TED) identified the brown corrosion product as Ga2O3; (2) the GA-4 sample was covered with the white corrosion product of mainly Sn+4, identified as SnO2. In addition, the current density of the GA sample when coupled with a high-copper dental amalgam was 0.03 A/cm2 (with +1,000 mV) at the second peak which was about a ten times lower value than for the uncoupled sample; (3) the uncoupled gallium alloy and gallium alloy coupled with a high-copper dental amalgam showed 10(3)-10(4) times higher anodic current density than that of an uncoupled high-copper dental amalgam, suggesting that the gallium alloy is more corrosion prone.

Three variables associated with adhesion testing were examined: (1) the test mode, shear and tension; (2) design of the tensile apparatus; and (3) tooth substrate, human and bovine. Findings revealed no significant differences in bond strength by one tensile test and a shear test. However, the shear test produced more true adhesive failures; thus it may be preferable to use a shear test for adhesion testing. Bond strengths with some adhesive systems differed significantly when tested by two different tensile apparatus. Design of the test apparatus appeared to affect values. Bond strength measurements obtained with human and bovine enamel were essentially comparable. Values with dentin varied. There appeared to be a trend for higher bond strength values with bovine than with human dentin.