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Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), this study investigated the characteristics of smear layers after preparation of dentin surfaces using different methods. In addition, this study analyzed, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the interactions of smear layers with the various acidic agents used subsequently to treat the dentin surface. Mid‐coronal dentin surfaces were prepared according to one of five instrumentation methods: fracture; grinding with carbide bur; grinding with regular‐grit diamond bur; grinding with superfine‐grit diamond bur; or grinding with 600‐grit silicon carbide (SiC) abrasive paper. Then, each prepared dentin surface was further divided into control (no further treatment) or treatment with one of the following agents: phosphoric acid solution (PAS); phosphoric acid gel (PAG); Clearfil SE Bond 2 Primer (SE2); or Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SBU). Longitudinal ultra‐thin sections were made for TEM observations. Dentin discs, representing each surface preparation and treatment method described above, were created, and the morphology was examined by SEM. The TEM results revealed differences in thickness and denseness of the smear layer, according to the different methods of instrumentation used to prepare the dentin surface. The two forms of phosphoric acid completely removed the smear layer in all groups. Agglomerated silica particles were observed on the top of the collagen layer after etching with PAG. For all dentin surfaces, except for that prepared with SiC, SE2 demonstrated better etching efficacy on different smear layers, whereas SBU provided only superficial interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of topical fluoride application on enamel hardness after in-office bleaching. Twelve human incisors were cut along the long axis, resulting in 24 halves used in four treatment groups ( n = 6 in each group): (i) untreated group (C); (ii) in-office bleaching material (B); (iii) treatment with surface reaction-type prereacted glass-ionomer varnish after in-office bleaching (B+ PRG); and (iv) treatment with acidulated phosphate fluoride solution after bleaching (B+F). All specimens were subjected to pH-cycling for 4 wk. Knoop hardness was measured using a Cariotester. The decalcification of enamel was assessed quantitatively by measuring the integrated mineral loss (Δ IML). Games-Howell analysis was used to assess statistical significance of between-group differences. The Knoop hardness decreased significantly after bleaching for all groups. In treatment groups B+ PRG and B+F, the Knoop hardness returned to the original unbleached values after the first pH cycle and did not change afterwards. In treatment groups C and B there was a gradual decrease in the Knoop hardness until the fourth pH cycle. The integrated mineral loss, Δ IML, was significantly higher in treatment group B+F after 2 wk than in the other treatment groups. After 4 wk, the Δ IML in treatment group B was significantly higher than in treatment group B+ PRG. The application of fluoride-containing materials after bleaching results in recuperation of hardness to levels similar to those of unbleached enamel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buffering capacity and inhibitory effects on enamel demineralization of two commercially available dental sealants were evaluated in this study. The effects of filler particles were also examined. Disks of enamel and cured sealant materials of BeautiSealant (silica or S-PRG filler) or Teethmate F-1 were incubated in lactic acid solutions ( pH 4.0) for 1-6 d. The pH changes and amounts of ions released in the solutions were assessed, and enamel surfaces were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The pH of the solution with BeautiSealant (S-PRG filler) was neutralized from pH 4.0 to pH 6.1 (after incubation for 1 d) and from pH 4.0 to pH 6.7 (after incubation for 6 d). In addition, no release of calcium ions was detected and the enamel surface was morphologically intact in scanning electron microscopy images. However, the pH of the solution with Teethmate F-1 remained below pH 4.0 during incubation from days 1 to 6. Calcium release was increased in solutions up to and after 6 d of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the structures of hydroxyapatite rods were exposed at the specimen surfaces as a result of demineralization. Ions released from S-PRG filler-containing dental sealant rapidly buffered the lactic acid solution and inhibited enamel demineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soell M, Hemmerlé J, Hannig M, Haïkel Y, Sano H, Selimovic D. Molecular force probe measurement of antigen I/II-matrix protein interactions. Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 590-595. © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci Viridans streptococci possess a family of immunologically and structurally related cell-surface proteins, termed antigen I/II, which may function as adhesins and enable oral streptococci to adhere to saliva-coated surfaces and matrix proteins. Here we used atomic force microscopy in the molecular force mode to measure the specific interaction forces between antigen I/II and two matrix proteins, collagen and fibronectin. These matrix proteins provide important binding sites for adherence of oral streptococcal in dentinal caries and endocarditis, respectively. Antigen I/II-coated cantilever tips were brought into contact with collagen- or fibronectin-coated silica coverslips. For the protein I/II-fibronectin interaction experiments, the mean strength of the last ruptures was 216 pN, with most of the detachments located around 125 pN. In antigen I/II-collagen interaction experiments, the mean strength of the last rupture forces corresponded to 136 pN, with the most frequent unbinding force around 75 pN. Thus, our findings definitely suggest that, under the present experimental conditions, antigen I/II binds more strongly to fibronectin than to type I collagen. This might be of relevance for the attachment of viridians streptococci to surfaces exposed to strong hydrodynamic shearing forces under in vivo conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resin–dentin bonds are known to degrade in the relatively aggressive oral environment. In order to obtain greater insight into the interfacial degradation process, we examined, by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the interfacial ultrastructure of two adhesives bonded to dentin after 1 yr in vivo. Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 14 intact teeth of two monkeys and then restored by using either the two-step self-etch adhesive, Unifil Bond, or the two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive, Single Bond, in combination with the restorative microhybrid composite, Z250. After 1 yr, 10 other teeth were restored by using the same materials (controls). One day later, the monkeys were killed, following which the microtensile bond strength to dentin was determined and the interfacial ultrastructure was examined by TEM. Whereas no noticeable changes in the morphology of the resin–dentin interface were observed between the 1-d and 1-yr specimens for Unifil Bond, Single Bond exhibited signs of interfacial degradation, in particular at the bottom of the 3 µm-deep hybrid layer. In conclusion, the adhesive interface produced by the etch-and-rinse adhesive was less resistant to degradation than that produced by the self-etch system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ikeda T, Sidhu SK, Omata Y, Fujita M, Sano H. Colour and translucency of opaque-shades and body-shades of resin composites. Eur J Oral Sci 2005; 113: 170–173.© Eur J Oral Sci, 2005The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optical properties– not only the translucency but also the colours– of opaque-shade resin composites. The CIELAB parameters (L*, a* and b*) of disks of A2 and opaque A2 (OA2) shades of Charisma (Heraeus-Kulzer), Solare (GC) and Filtek Supreme (3M) were evaluated on backings of black, white and the material itself to calculate the translucency parameter (TP) and the colour differences (ΔE*) between A2 and OA2. A two-way analysis of variance (anova) for the TP indicated a less statistically significant TP value in the OA2 shade than the A2 shade for all products. As for the products, Charisma showed a statistically greater TP value than the other two products. Regarding theΔE* between A2 and OA2, all the products revealed clinically perceptible colour differences (ΔE* > 3.3). Hence, we must take the colour differences of opaque-shade resin composites into consideration, as well as the translucency of the materials, for a clinically acceptable colour match of the restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abo T, Uno S, Sano H. Comparison of bonding efficacy of an all-in-one adhesive with a self-etching primer system. Eur J Oral Sci 2004; 112: 286–292.© Eur J Oral Sci, 2004 The aim of this study was to compare the bonding efficacy of an all-in-one adhesive with that of a self-etching primer system by measuring microleakage after thermocycling and the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) to enamel and dentin. Circular class V cavities along cement–enamel junctions were prepared in 20 extracted human premolars. Each 10 teeth were bonded with either AD Bond (AD) or Clearfil SE Bond (SE), and filled with a resin composite (Charisma). After thermocycling and staining with 0.5% basic fuchsin, the microleakage at the coronal and apical walls was evaluated using longitudinal sections. In addition 20 premolars were used to measure μTBS at 24 h after bonding for these adhesives to enamel and dentin that corresponded to the coronal and apical walls of the class V cavities. AD showed more microleakage than SE in the coronal walls, but there was less microleakage in the apical walls and no difference in apical leakage between the two adhesives. μTBS (SD) in MPa to enamel and dentin were 25.2 (7.3) and 68.3 (9.4) for AD, and 35.8 (7.4) and 76.4 (7.8) for SE, respectively. AD gave a lower μTBS to enamel than did SE. The results suggested that the poor adaptation at the coronal wall in AD might be caused by the lower bond strength to enamel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-etching primer adhesives have recently been introduced to simplify bonding. However, the fundamental bonding mechanism of self-etching primers to enamel is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate resin–enamel bonds of self-etching primer adhesives on ground enamel. Two self-etching primer adhesives (Clearfil Liner Bond 2 V and Clearfil SE Bond) were used in this study. A total-etch adhesive (One-Step) was used as a control. Resin–enamel beams were subjected to the microtensile bond test. Subsequently, the failure modes of all specimens were quantified using image analysis. Undemineralized and demineralized ultrathin sections of the resin–enamel bonded specimens were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The bond strengths of Clearfil SE Bond (39.8 ± 11.9 MPa) and One-Step (46.2 ± 12.7 MPa) were significantly greater than that of Clearfil Liner Bond 2V (30.4 ± 6.2 MPa). Scanning electron microscopy of the fractured surfaces revealed the failure direction and weakest portion within each bond. Transmission electron microscopy showed a thin hybridized complex of resin in enamel produced by the self-etching primers without the usual micrometer-sized resin tags seen in resin–enamel bonds produced using the total-etch adhesive. The morphological features of the resin–enamel bonds produced by two self-etching primers tested were different from that created with the total-etch adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]