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Background: The analytical rubric serves as a permanent reference for guidelines on clinical performance for undergraduate dental students. This study aims to assess the rubric system used to evaluate clinical class II composite restorations performed by undergraduate dental students and to explore the impact of gender on overall student performance across two academic years. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between cumulative grade point averages (CGPAs) and students' clinical performance., Methods: An analytical rubric for the assessment of clinical class II composite restoration in the academic years of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 was used by two evaluators. These two evaluators were trained to use the rubric before doing the evaluations. The scores were based on a 4-point scale for the evaluation of five major parameters for pre-operative procedures (10 points), cavity preparation (20 points), restoration procedures (20 points), and time management (4 points). At the same time, chairside oral exam parameter was 15 points based on a 5-point scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the different analytical rubric parameters, and the independent t-test was used to compare the scores between the student groups and the evaluators. Other tests, such as the Kappa test and Pearson's correlation coefficient, were used to measure the association among CGPA, evaluators, and gender participants., Results: The overall score out of 69 slightly increased for females/males (61.28/59.42) and (61.18/59.49) in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years, respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the 2022/2023 academic year, female students scored significantly higher than male students in pre-operative procedures, as evaluated by both evaluators (p = 0.001), and in time management, as assessed by both evaluators (p = 0.031). The Kappa test demonstrated a moderate to substantial level of agreement between the two evaluators in both academic years. Strong and significant correlations were noted between students' CGPA and some tested parameters (p = 0.000)., Conclusion: The overall performance was very good and high among both genders, but it was marginally higher among females than among males. This study found some differences in performance between male and female students and variability in the evaluations by the two raters ranging from moderate to substantial agreement and similar performances for students with different CGPA., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate the fatigue behavior of teeth filled with a calcium silicate-based sealer (Bio-C Sealer, BC) or an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus, AH), in bulk or associated with gutta-percha as main core material., Methods: Seventy-two sound human maxillary anterior teeth were initially selected. Sixty of them, were randomly chosen, and had their root canals prepared using nickel-titanium reciprocating instruments, being again randomly assigned to five experimental groups ( n = 12): C+ (control + prepared but not filled); BC-B (BC in bulk); BC-GP (BC+ gutta-percha); AP-B (AH in bulk); AP-GP (AH+ gutta-percha). An additional negative control group (C-) was considered ( n = 12), consisting only on sound teeth, without preparation and filling. The specimens were submitted to a survival analysis after the cyclic fatigue test., Results: Sound teeth (C-) presented the best fatigue performance ( P < 0.05), being similar only to the AP-GP group ( P > 0.05). Despite that, all experimental groups showed similar fatigue behavior ( P > 0.05) to C+ (BC-B = BC-GP = AP-B = AP-GP = C+). Based on that, it can be seen that the use of gutta-percha, as a main core material, associated with the AH Plus sealer, reestablished the mechanical fatigue performance of endodontically treated teeth comparable to sound teeth, still consisting on the most promising approach to rehabilitate such scenario. Teeth filled in bulk, had discreetly higher risk of premature failures and inferior fatigue performance., Competing Interests: João Tribst is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (© 2024 Lena et al.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of multidirectional brushing on the surface roughness, morphology, and bonding interface of resin-repaired CAD-CAM ceramic and composite restorations., Materials and Methods: Twelve (N = 12) blocks (4 mm × 4 mm × 2 mm for parallel axis; 5 mm × 4 mm × 2 mm for perpendicular axis) of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar AG) and CAD-CAM resin composite (Tetric CAD, Ivoclar AG) were obtained and repaired with direct resin composite (Clearfil AP-X, Kuraray). An abrasive slurry was prepared and the brushing was performed according to each restorative material and axis of brushing (n = 6; perpendicular to repair interface and parallel to repair interface) during 3,650 cycles (240 strokes per minute) to simulate 3 years of brushing. The surface roughness (Ra) and the profile variation for each material (restoration and direct repair resin composite) were measured at the baseline condition and after brushing, and the mean roughness and presence of steps at the repair interface were evaluated through factorial analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images were taken to evaluate the surface topography of the repaired materials after brushing., Results: The mean roughness of the repaired CAD-CAM restorations was affected by the brushing (P < .05), mainly when evaluating the repair material and the interface (P < .05), while the restorative CAD-CAM materials presented more stable values. The profile evaluation showed higher steps at the interface when repairing lithium disilicate than for CAD-CAM resin composite., Conclusion: Repaired CAD-CAM restorations were susceptible to wear after brushing simulation. The surface roughness of the direct resin composite was the most affected leading to step development at the interface, particularly in the repaired lithium disilicate samples. Cinical maintenance recalls and polishing protocols must be considered to enhance the longevity of such restorations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: A variety of firing protocols are available for the IPS e.max lithium disilicate (LD) and can be used for new, 'advanced' LD (ALD). However, the impact of firing protocols on the optical properties of ALD is still unknown., Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the color difference (ΔE00), the translucency parameter (TP00) and the whiteness index for dentistry (WID) for both LD glass ceramics after the processes of firing/glazing., Material and Methods: Fifty disk-shaped specimens, with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 1.2 mm, were fabricated from IPS e.max CAD (LD; Ivoclar) and another 50 from CEREC Tessera™ (ALD; Dentsply Sirona). The specimens from each group were further divided into 5 subgroups (n = 10) according to the firing/glazing protocol applied: crystallization (c); one-step crystallization and glazing (cg); crystallization and refiring (c-r); two-step crystallization and glazing (c-g); or long-firing crystallization (lfc). The ΔE00, TP00 and WID were assessed. The statistical analysis of ΔE00 was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test, while TP00 and WID were analyzed with the two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at a statistical significance level of 0.05. The cg groups were designated as the reference., Results: The ANOVA showed that the firing procedures had no effect on ΔE00, TP00 and WID in the case of LD. In addition, LD exhibited greater translucency and brightness as compared to ALD. For ALD, all color changes observed in relation to the reference firing protocol were clinically unacceptable. The ALD specimens which underwent 1 standard firing cycle showed higher TP00 and WID values than other ALD groups., Conclusions: The choice of the firing protocol has no impact on the color, TP00 or WID of LD. Additionally, LD presents higher WID values than ALD, irrespective of the firing protocol used. Alternative firing protocols result in clinically unacceptable color variations when compared to the manufacturer-recommended protocol for ALD. Advanced LD is more sensitive to different firing protocols with regard to its optical properties, which makes the workflow less predictable in comparison with LD.

Background/Objectives : Limited research has been performed to assess the strength of resin-bonded 3D-printed restorations. Based on that, this study investigates the impact of different manufacturing methods on the fracture load of indirect composite restorations (ICRs) following an aging process. Methods : Three manufacturing techniques-conventional (CRC), milled (MRC), and printed (PRC)-were evaluated using 60 specimens, each with a diameter of 10 mm and a thickness of 1.0 mm. Sandblasting with Al 2 O 3 particles was employed to optimize the bonding process, significantly influencing surface roughness parameters (Ra, Rz, RSm). All specimens were bonded to the dentin analog using composite resin cement and subjected to either 10,000 thermocycles (TC) or storage (ST) at 37 °C in distilled water. Fracture load assessments were performed using a universal testing machine. A finite element analysis was conducted to assess stress distribution. Results : Two-way ANOVA results indicated that the manufacturing method significantly affected mean fracture load values ( p < 0.001), with PRC showing the highest mean fracture load (4185 ± 914 N), followed by MRC (2495 ± 941 N) and CRC (599 ± 292 N). The aging protocol did not have a significant impact on fracture load. Conclusions : This study revealed that 3D-printed resin composite exhibited comparable strength to milled resin composite when adhesively cemented, suggesting it is a promising option for indirect composite restorations based on its mechanical performance. However, further research is needed to evaluate its bond strength and optimal surface treatment methods to prevent early debonding.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of opaque stain application to the intaglio surface of lithium disilicate glass ceramics on the masking ability of discolored substrates and bond strength to a resin-based luting agent (depending on etching time); the stain film-thickness was also assessed., Materials and Methods: Ceramic specimens were produced with CAD-CAM blocks of lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD). Two opaque stains were tested at ceramic intaglio surface: opaque glassy stain for titanium frameworks (OP-ti) and low-fusion glassy stain for ceramic characterization (LFG-iv). Non-stained ceramic specimens served as controls. For optical and colorimetric analyses, A2-shaded ceramics of medium and low-translucencies were tested, in thicknesses of 1.0- and 1.5-mm (n = 10), with two coupling agents (non-shaded-glycerin and A2-shaded try-in paste). CIEDE2000 formula was used for calculation of translucency parameter (TP 00 ) and color differences (ΔE 00 ). Whiteness index for dentistry (WI D ) was also reported. ΔE 00 were assessed over discolored substrates (tooth-shaded A2-reference, A4, C3, and C4; coppery metal, silvery metal, white zirconia, and PEEK). Microshear bond strength of stained and non-stained ceramic specimens to a resin-based luting agent was evaluated. Film-thickness of stains was assessed by scanning electron microscopy., Results: The application of opaque stains to the intaglio surface of lithium disilicate ceramics resulted in significant reduction of TP 00 (p < 0.001) and WI D (p < 0.001) and differences in L*, C*, and h o color coordinates (especially with OP-ti) (p < 0.001). ΔE 00 was significantly reduced in stained ceramic groups in comparison with the control, for all discolored substrates (p < 0.001). Acceptable color matching was obtained with stained ceramic specimens for all discolored substrates, depending on the type of stain, ceramic thickness, ceramic translucency, and coupling agent. The application of stains to the ceramic intaglio surface was not detrimental to bond strength to a resin-based luting agent, but depended on the time of hydrofluoric acid-etching (20 s for OP-ti and 60 s for LFG-iv) (p < 0.001). Film-thickness of stains presented mean values <70 μm., Conclusion: The application of opaque stains to the intaglio surface of lithium disilicate glass ceramics was effective to mask severely discolored substrates, presenting adequate bond strength to the luting agent and thin film-thicknesses., Clinical Significance: For indirect restorations over severely discolored substrates, the application of opaque stain to the intaglio surface of lithium disilicate glass ceramic ensures acceptable color matching, with adequate bond strength to resin-based luting agents and clinically acceptable stain film-thickness., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study aimed to assess the fatigue resistance of molars lacking a coronary remnant, using zero, one, two, or three fiberglass posts. Forty caries/crack-free human molars with coronal portions removed at the pulp chamber floor were randomly allocated into four groups (n=10). Following endodontic treatment, posts (Whitepost DC/DC.E 0.5, 1.0, FGM) were silanized (silane agent, Angelus) and cemented with a resin cement (RelyX U200, 3M ESPE). Resin composite cores (Z350, 3M ESPE) were built, and metal crowns were fabricated and cemented using the same luting system. Samples underwent cyclic fatigue testing at 45°, applying load in the occlusal surface at 10 Hz and 100 N initial load for 10,000 cycles, with 50 N increments every 10,000 cycles until failure. Fatigue failure load and cycles for failure data were recorded and subjected to survival analysis through Kaplan-Meier and Mantel-Cox post hoc tests, and Weibull analysis. Fractography patterns of failed crowns were qualitatively analyzed. The group without posts exhibited the lowest fatigue performance (p < 0.05) for both fatigue failure load and cycles to failure. Superior fatigue performance was observed in the three-post group, followed by groups with one or two posts, corroborated by the Weibull characteristic strength parameter. Weibull moduli were similar among conditions. All specimens exhibited failure involving detachment of the restorative set (posts/core/crown) with a portion of the dental remnant, without tooth fracture. Thus, when restoring mandibular molars without crown remnants, the use of fiberglass posts promotes greater fatigue resistance to oblique loads.

This study aimed to evaluate the masking ability of different resin composite (RC) layering techniques over discolored substrates. Layering strategies were tested (n=10), using different RCs: flowable opaque, white dentin, A1 dentin, A1 body, and A1 enamel (Filtek Z350XT; 3M ESPE). Bilayer and trilayer RC combinations resulted in final thicknesses of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm. Substrates tested were: A1 (reference), A3, A4, B3, C2, and C4 (Filtek Z350XT Dentin; 3M ESPE). Color differences (∆E00) were measured for the RC layers over discolored substrates with the CIEDE2000 formula. The results were compared statistically (One-way ANOVA) and descriptively (acceptability=1.77 and perceptibility=0.81 thresholds). The layering strategy influenced the ∆E00 of RCs over all substrates (P<0.001). The 1 mm bilayer group combining 0.5 mm of dentin and 0.5 mm of enamel led to ∆E00 below AT for substrates A3 and B3; the 1.5 mm bilayer group combining A1 dentin (1 mm) and enamel (0.5 mm) provided ∆E00 below AT for substrates A3, A4, and C2 and ∆E00 below PT for B3; for substrate C4, the 2 mm trilayer group combining flowable opaque (0.2 mm), A1 dentin (1.3 mm) and enamel (0.5 mm) provided ∆E00 below PT, and the 1.5 mm trilayer groups (flowable opaque + 0.8 mm dentin or body + enamel) led to ∆E00 below AT. Resin Composites were effective in masking discolored substrates. The most adequate layering strategy depended on substrate shade.

This study assessed the monotonic and fatigue flexural strength (FS), elastic modulus (E), and surface characteristics of a 3D printed zirconia-containing resin composite compared to subtractive and conventional layering methods. Specimens, including discs (n = 15; Ø = 15 mm × 1.2 mm) and bars (n = 15; 14 × 4 × 1.2 mm), were prepared and categorized into three groups: 3D printing (3D printing - PriZma 3D Bio Crown, Makertech), Subtractive (Lava Ultimate blocks, 3M), and Layering (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M). Monotonic tests were performed on the discs using a piston-on-three-balls setup, while fatigue tests employed similar parameters with a frequency of 10 Hz, initial stress at 20 MPa, and stress increments every 5000 cycles. The E was determined through three-point-bending test using bars. Surface roughness, fractographic, and topographic analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses included One-way ANOVA for monotonic FS and roughness, Kruskal-Wallis for E, and Kaplan-Meier with post-hoc Mantel-Cox and Weibull analysis for fatigue strength. Results revealed higher monotonic strength in the Subtractive group compared to 3D printing (p = 0.02) and Layering (p = 0.04), while 3D Printing and Layering exhibited similarities (p = 0.88). Fatigue data indicated significant differences across all groups (3D Printing < Layering < Subtractive; p = 0.00 and p = 0.04, respectively). Mechanical reliability was comparable across groups. 3D printing and Subtractive demonstrated similar E, both surpassing Layering. Moreover, 3D printing exhibited higher surface roughness than Subtractive and Layering (p < 0.05). Fractographic analysis indicated that fractures initiated at surface defects located in the area subjected to tensile stress concentration. A porous surface was observed in the 3D Printing group and a more compact surface in Subtractive and Layering methods. This study distinguishes the unique properties of 3D printed resin when compared to conventional layering and subtractive methods for resin-based materials. 3D printed shows comparable monotonic strength to layering but lags behind in fatigue strength, with subtractive resin demonstrating superior performance. Both 3D printed and subtractive exhibit similar elastic moduli, surpassing layering. However, 3D printed resin displays higher surface roughness compared to subtractive and layering methods. The study suggests a need for improvement in the mechanical performance of 3D printed material., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Statement of Problem: Preheated composite resin and adhesive coating have been recommended as luting agents for ceramic veneers; however, information about the mechanical behavior of feldspathic porcelain veneers after using these methods is still limited., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of the use of preheated composite resin or an adhesive resin layer on the strengthening of a feldspathic porcelain., Material and Methods: Feldspathic porcelain disks were fabricated (N=210), etched (10% hydrofluoric acid for 90 seconds), and bonded according to resin-based luting agents (30 per group) for the biaxial flexural strength tests: photopolymerized resin cement, flowable composite resin, preheated composite resin, with or without previous adhesive coating. Characteristic strength and Weibull modulus were calculated. The viscosity of the luting agents was measured by using isothermal analyses. Finite element analysis simulated the flexural test. Fractographic and bonded interfaces were observed., Results: The use of preheated composite resin led to the lowest stress levels in the feldspathic porcelain veneers. However, it did not increase the ceramic strengthening compared with other luting agents, as higher values were observed with flowable composite resin (P<.05). The use of an adhesive resin layer had no significant effect on ceramic strengthening when associated with preheated composite resin or resin cement (P>.05). Preheated composite resin presented the highest viscosity and led to incomplete filling of the porcelain surface irregularities. Failures originated on the ceramic surface subjected to tensile stress and were typically associated with pores at the ceramic-luting agent interface., Conclusions: The use of preheated composite resin or an adhesive resin layer did not have a positive effect on strengthening feldspathic porcelain., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of the combinations of two different intraoral scanners (IOS), two milling machines, and two restorative materials on the marginal/internal fit and fatigue behavior of endocrowns produced by CAD-CAM. Eight groups (n= 10) were considered through the combination of TRIOS 3 (TR) or Primescan (PS) IOS; 4-axes (CR; CEREC MC XL) or 5-axes (PM; PrograMill PM7) milling machines; and lithium disilicate (LD; IPS e.max CAD) or resin composite (RC; Tetric CAD) restorative materials. Specific surface treatments were applied to each material, and the bonding to its corresponding Endocrown-shaped fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin preparations was performed (Variolink Esthetic DC). Computed microtomography (μCT) was performed to assess the marginal/internal fit, as well as a mechanical fatigue test (20 Hz, initial load = 100 N/5000 cycles; step-size = 50 N/10,000 cycles until a threshold of 1500 N, then, the step-size was increased if needed to 100 N/10,000 cycles until failure or a threshold of 2800 N) to evaluate the restorations long-term behavior. Complementary analysis of the fracture features and surface topography in scanning electron microscopy was performed. Three-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier test (α = 0.05) were performed for marginal/internal fit, and fatigue behavior data, respectively. PS scanner, CR milling machine, and RC endocrowns resulted in a better marginal fit compared to their counterparts. Still, the PM machine resulted in a better pulpal space fit compared to the CR milling machine. Regardless of the scanner and milling machine, RC endocrowns exhibited superior fatigue behavior than LD ones. LD endocrowns presented margin chipping regardless of the milling machine used. Despite minor differences in terms of fit, the 'IOS' and 'milling machine' factors did not impair the fatigue behavior of endocrowns. Resin-composite restorations resulted in a higher survival rate compared to glass-ceramic ones, independently of the digital devices used in the workflow., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study assessed the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of dental prosthetic acrylic resin fabricated by 3D printing, comparing it with subtractive, pressing, and molding techniques. Bar-shaped specimens (N= 90; 65 × 10 × 3.3 mm; ISO:207951) were prepared and assigned into six groups: PRINT (3D printing vis stereolithography with PriZma 3D Bio Denture, Makertech Labs); SUB (subtractive manufacturing with Vipiblock Trilux, Vipi); PRESS Base (pressing using muffle with Thermo Vipi Wave, Vipi for base); PRESS Tooth (pressing with Onda-cryl, Clássico for tooth); MOLD Base (molding using addition silicone with Vipi Flash, Vipi for base); and MOLD Tooth (molding with Dencor, Clássico for tooth). Monotonic flexural strength (FS) and elastic modulus (E) were measured using a three-point bending approach (n= 5) on a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. Fatigue testing (n= 10) followed similar geometry and settings, with a frequency of 2 Hz, initial stress level at 20 MPa, and stress increments of 5 MPa every 2,500 cycles. Surface roughness (n= 10) was assessed through profilometry, and fractographic and topographic analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses included One-Way ANOVA for monotonic FS, roughness, and E, along with Kaplan-Meier with Mantel-Cox post-hoc and Weibull analysis for fatigue strength. PRINT showed lower monotonic FS than the SUB and PRESS Tooth but comparable fatigue strength to these groups and superior to PRESS Base and MOLD (Base and Tooth) groups. All groups had similar Weibull moduli. Surface roughness of the PRINT group was comparable to most techniques but higher than the PRESS Tooth group. Fractographic analysis revealed fractures originating from surface defects under tensile stress, with SEM showing scratch patterns in all groups except PRINT, which had a more uniform surface. Despite its lower monotonic strength, 3D printed resin demonstrated comparable fatigue strength to subtractive and pressing methods and similar surface roughness to most methods, indicating its potential as a viable option for dental prosthesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Statement of the Problem: Biological complications of implant-supported prostheses remain a concern. Therefore, standardizing hygiene protocols to promote their maintenance is important., Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify available hygiene guidance for home care procedures, as well as periodicity and protocols for the professional maintenance of implant-supported prostheses., Material and Methods: This study was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the study protocol was made available at: https://osf.io/5jdeh/. The search was last performed in the PubMed database on March 15, 2022 and was undertaken by 2 independent researchers. Clinical studies and reviews that evaluated home care and maintenance protocols for dental implant-supported prostheses (fixed or removable), without language restriction or year of publication, were included. A descriptive analysis was performed considering study characteristics (study design, restorative assembly, maintenance strategies, eligibility criteria, number of included studies, quality/level of evidence, and main findings)., Results: The initial search yielded 3138 studies, of which 18 were included for descriptive analysis (6 critical reviews, 4 clinical trials, 3 systematic reviews, 2 guideline reports, 2 retrospective studies, and 1 transversal study). The main instrument recommended for home care was the use of a conventional toothbrush associated with triclosan-containing toothpaste in addition to interproximal aids (brushes or floss) for all types of restorations. The use of irrigation instruments was also frequently considered. For professional maintenance, almost all studies reported a positive effect of regular recalls every 3 months during the first year, followed by less regular recalls according to the motivation of the patient and home care efficacy. At each recall, the professional should evaluate the patient history, oral tissues, implant, abutments, and restorations, as well as perform professional cleaning of the prostheses with appropriate instruments so that the implants and abutments may be preserved., Conclusions: Establishing an adequate hygiene protocol is indispensable for implant-supported restorations. To do so, the professional must guide and support the patient's home care by taking into account the patient's motivation and efficacy during the hygiene procedures. Also, for professional maintenance, the periodicity of recalls should be constant and include an evaluation of the condition of the restoration and adjacent tissues, followed by professional cleaning of prostheses, implants, and abutments, in addition to new instructions to improve patient home care., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of radiotherapy and different endodontic treatment protocols on the bond strength to pulp chamber dentin. Eighty mandibular molars were randomly divided into two groups (n = 40): non-irradiated and irradiated (60 Gy). The pulp chambers were sectioned, and each group was subdivided (n = 8), according to the endodontic treatment protocol: no treatment (Control); Single-visit; Two-visits; Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) + single-visit; and IDS + two-visits. Each endodontic treatment visit was simulated through irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA and distilled water. IDS was performed by actively applying two coats of a universal adhesive to the lateral walls of the pulp chamber. After, the pulp chambers were restored with resin composite and four sticks were obtained for microtensile test. In addition, the dentin of the pulp chamber roof was assessed for surface roughness, chemical composition, and topography after each treatment protocol. Two-way ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post hoc were performed (α = 5%). The treatment protocol affected bond strength (p < 0.05), while the irradiation did not (p > 0.05). The control group presented the highest values (p < 0.05). The single-visit group demonstrated better performance compared to the other groups (p < 0.05), which did not differ from each other (p > 0.05) The use of IDS changed the surface roughness (p < 0.05), chemical composition (p < 0.05) and topography of the dentin. In conclusion, the treatment protocol influenced dentin adhesion, while irradiation did not., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Society of The Nippon Dental University.)

Statement of Problem: How best to restore endodontically treated teeth is still unclear because many types of material and techniques are involved., Purpose: The purpose of this overview of systematic reviews of clinical studies was to assess the available evidence-based literature on the influence of associated clinical factors on the clinical performance (survival, failure rate, or success) of restored endodontically treated teeth., Material and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception until September 27, 2021, to identify systematic reviews. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles, and each reviewer extracted the data of half of the included studies. A single reviewer with an independent verifier completed the quality appraisal. A descriptive analysis of the collected data was made., Results: A total of 36 systematic reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The factors most assessed were the type of coronal restorative technique (n=22) and type of post (n=22). The results indicated that metal and fiber posts seem to present similar clinical performance, 1-piece endodontic crowns could be a suitable restorative option, there is no evidence to confirm whether single crowns are better or worse than direct restoration, the maintenance of the coronal structure is a fundamental factor, and the ferrule effect is still a controversial topic. Most of the studies (n=30, 81%) presented a final Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) rating of "critically low.", Conclusions: The post type does not appear to influence the clinical performance of restored endodontically treated teeth. However, conclusive evidence to suggest how different materials or techniques for restoring coronal tooth structure affect the clinical performance of such restorations, as well as the impact of the ferrule effect, is still lacking., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Statement of Problem: The influence of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) parameters and settings on the outcomes of milled indirect restorations is poorly understood., Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the current CAM systems, parameters, and setting changes, and their effects on different outcomes of milled indirect restorations and aspects related to their manufacture., Material and Methods: The protocol of this review is available online (https://osf.io/x28ps/). Studies that used at least 2 different parameters (CAM units, number of axes, digital spacers, or protocols with different rotatory instruments, grit-sizes, milling speed, or others) for milling indirect restorations were included. A structured search up to July 2023 was performed by 2 independent reviewers for articles written in English in LILACS, MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus., Results: Of 1546 studies identified, 22 were included in the review. Discrepancies were found between the planned and actual measured cement space, with a decreasing linear relationship impacting restoration adaptation at different points. The CEREC MC XL milling machine was the most used system in the included studies, with variations in bur types, milling modes, and number of burs uses affecting internal fit and surface trueness. The results demonstrated the better adaptation of restorations made with 5-axis over 3-axis milling machines. Lithium disilicate and zirconia were the most commonly used materials, and crowns and inlays were popular designs. Marginal and internal adaptation were the primary outcomes assessed using the various techniques., Conclusions: The study presented a comprehensive exploration of CAM systems and parameters, and their influence on indirect restorations. The planned cement space was not properly reproduced by the milling. Bur characteristics can affect restoration fit and trueness. The 5-axis units seem to result in better-adapted restorations compared with 3- and 4-axis units., (Copyright © 2024 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This in vitro study assessed the effectiveness of three cleaning protocols (air-water spray, 37% phosphoric acid, or Ivoclean) on lithium disilicate restorations' fatigue behavior after try-in paste application, compared to a clean condition. Lithium disilicate discs (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar) with Ø-= 12 mm and 1 mm thickness were prepared from prefabricated CAD-CAM blocks, polished, subjected to CAD-CAM milling topography simulation and crystallization. After, etching with 5% hydrofluoric acid and the application of try-in paste (Variolink try-in paste shade white; load of 2.5 N for 5 min) was performed. Discs that received try-in paste were divided into three groups according to the removal protocol: SPRAY - air-water spray for 30 s; HPO - active application of 37% phosphoric acid for 60 s; IVOC - application of Ivoclean for 20 s. Control group (CTRL group) did not receive the try-in paste application. Half of the specimens (n= 15) were tested in the baseline condition (24 h up to 7 days), and the others underwent 25,000 thermal cycles (5 - 55 °C) + 210 days of distilled water storage (37 °C). Additional specimens (n= 3) underwent monotonic testing (1 mm/min). Fatigue testing involved a cyclic fatigue approach (20 Hz, initial load = 100 N - 5000 cycles, step size = 50 N - 10,000 cycles) until a visible crack appeared. Fractographic and topographic analyses were performed. Fatigue data were statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA, Kaplan-Meier log-rank (Mantel-Cox), and independent t-test (α= 0.05). In the baseline condition, the IVOC group resulted in a superior fatigue behavior compared to the CTRL and SPRAY groups, but similar to the HPO group. The HPO and SPRAY presented a similar fatigue behavior to the CTRL group. It was noticed a decrease in fatigue behavior after aging, which resulted in all the cleaning protocols leading to similar fatigue behavior compared to the CTRL group. On the SPRAY group surface, try-in pastes remnants were noticed. In summary, despite a detrimental impact at baseline conditions, all tested cleaning protocols seem proper to remove the try-in paste from the ceramic's surface in the long-term evaluation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to evaluate the fatigue performance of simplified ceramic restorations (leucite-reinforced glass ceramic) adhesively cemented onto substrates of different resin composites. Three options from the same commercial line were selected (Tetric N-Line, Ivoclar), classified as Conventional (CRC), Bulk-fill (BRC) and Flowable (FRC), which were used to make discs using a cylindrical metallic device (n = 19; Ø = 10 mm, thickness = 2.0 mm). A total of 57 discs (Ø = 10 mm, thickness = 1.0 mm) were made from CAD/CAM prefabricated blocks of a leucite reinforced glass-ceramic (Empress CAD, Ivoclar) to simulate a monolithic restoration, then were randomly distributed to be bonded on 19 discs of each three different resin composite substrates (CRC; BRC; or FRC) with a dual resin cement (Multilink N; Ivoclar). The samples were subjected to a compression test with a hemispherical stainless-steel piston (Ø = 40 mm) at a monotonic regimen (n = 4; 1 mm/min loading rate and 500 kgf loading cell until fracture). The cyclic fatigue test was performed underwater at a frequency of 20 Hz (n = 15). The first step was applied using 200N for 5000 cycles, followed by increments of 50N at each step of 10,000 until failure. The outcome considered for both tests was the occurrence of radial crack. Specific statistical tests (α = 0.05) were performed for monotonic (One-way ANOVA; Tukey's test) and fatigue data (Kaplan-Meier test; Log-rank test). Fractography of fractured samples were also performed. The FRC group had the lowest failure load in both test regimes (p < 0.05; monotonic: 726.64N; fatigue: 716.67N). There were no differences between the CRC and BRC groups (p > 0.05; monotonic: 989.30 and 990.11N; fatigue: 810.00 and 833.33N, respectively). The same result was obtained considering cycles for fatigue failure (FRC < CRC=BRC). Leucite glass-ceramic bonded to substrates made of flowable resin composite behaves worse mechanically than bonding to conventional or bulk-fill resin composite substrates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite the advancements in indirect monolithic restorations, technical complications may occur during function. To overcome this issues, intraoral repair using resin composite is a practical and low-cost procedure, being able to increase the restoration's longevity. This review aimed to evaluate the need for repair and suggest a standardized repair protocol to the main indirect restorative materials. For this, studies were surveyed from PubMed with no language or date restriction, to investigate the scientific evidence of indirect monolithic restoration repair with direct resin composite. A classification to guide clinical decisions was made based on the FDI World Dental Federation criteria about defective indirect restorations considering esthetic and functional standards, along with the patient's view, to decide when polishing, repairing or replacing a defective restoration. Based on 38 surveyed studies, different resin composite intraoral repair protocols, that included mechanical and chemical aspects, were defined depending on the substrate considering resin-based, glass-ceramic or zirconia restorations. The presented criteria and protocols were developed to guide the clinician's decision-making process regarding defective indirect monolithic restorations, prolonging longevity and increasing clinical success., Competing Interests: João Paulo Mendes Tribst is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (©2024 da Rosa et al.)

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the shear bond and flexural strength fatigue behavior of yttrium-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) repaired using different resin composites., Materials and Methods: Cylindric specimens of 4YSZ were obtained for the bond strength (Ø = 6 mm, 1.5 mm of thickness) and biaxial flexural strength (Ø = 15 mm, 1 mm of thickness) fatigue tests and divided into 3 groups according to the repair resin composite: EVO (nanohybrid), BULK (bulk-fill), and FLOW (flowable). The zirconia surface was air-abraded with alumina particles, a 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) primer was applied, and the resin composite was build-up over the zirconia. Fatigue shear bond strength and flexural fatigue strength tests were performed (n = 15). One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were carried out for both outcomes, besides scanning electron microscopy and finite element analysis., Results: The repair material affected the fatigue shear bond strength of zirconia ceramic. The BULK group (18.9 MPa) depicted higher bond strength values than FLOW (14.8 MPa) (p = 0.04), while EVO (18.0 MPa) showed similar results to both groups. No effect was observed for the mechanical behavior (p = 0.53). The stress distribution was similar for all groups., Conclusion: The repair of yttrium-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) ceramics with bulk-fill resin composites was the best option for high fatigue bond strength. However, the fatigue mechanical performance was similar regardless of the applied repair material., Clinical Relevance: The repair of yttrium-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) monolithic restorations may be performed with nanohybrid and bulk-fill resin composites in order to promote longevity in the treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to compare the fatigue performance of a lithium disilicate ceramic cemented on different substrates (human dentin and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin - GFRER), treated with different types of conditioning (CTR - without surface conditioning; HF5 - 5% hydrofluoric acid; HF10 - 10% hydrofluoric acid; H3PO4 - phosphoric acid 37%; SAND - sandblasting with aluminum oxide). The occlusal surface of human molars (DENT group) (n = 15) was ground for dentin exposure and the root portion was cut, then the dentin slice (2.0 mm thick) was conditioned with 37% phosphoric acid and a dual-curing dental adhesive was applied. The GFRER in a round-rod format was cut into discs (Ø = 10 mm, 2.0 mm thick). Lithium disilicate glass ceramic blocks (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were shaped into a cylinder format and cut, resulting in 90 discs (Ø = 10 mm, 1.5 mm thick). The substrate materials of each group were etched according to the groups and the ceramic was etched with 5% hydrofluoric acid for 30 s. A silane coupling agent was applied over the cementation surface in ceramic and GFRER surfaces and a dual cement was used for cementation (ceramic/GFRER or dentin). The disc/disc sets were submitted to thermocycling (25,000 cycles + storage for 6 months), and then tested in step-wise accelerated cyclic fatigue test. The failure pattern and topography were analyzed and the roughness and contact angle were measured before and after surface treatment. The DENT group presented the lowest load to failure values and number of cycles to failure in fatigue (637.33 N; 118.333), showing no statistical similarity with any of the other tested groups (p < 0.05). The topographic analysis showed that all proposed surface treatments modified the substrate surface when compared to the CTR group. All of the fractographical inspections demonstrated failure by radial crack. Considering the roughness analysis, the post-etched DENT group showed similar roughness to all groups of GFRER materials with their surface treated, except for SAND, which showed greater roughness and statistically different from the other groups. The DENT group (49.5) showed statistically different post-conditioning contact angle values from the HF10 group (96.5) and similar to the other groups. The glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin was not able to simulate the results presented by the human dentin substrate when cemented to lithium disilicate regarding fatigue failure load and number of cycles for failure, regardless of the surface treatment. Lithium disilicate cemented on dentin analogue overestimates the load values for fatigue failure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the existence of an abutment screw-access hole and the filling effects on the fatigue mechanical behavior of a luted lithium-disilicate glass-ceramic. Seventy-two discs (Ø = 10 mm, 1.0 mm in thickness) of lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar AG) were obtained from prefabricated blocks. Thirty-six abutment specimens of an opaque zirconia (Yz - IPS e.max ZirCAD, Ivoclar AG) and titanium (Ti - Luminesse Ti-Cam discs, Talladium Inc.) were confectioned, and allocated according to 6 groups: Yz and Ti rigid (without screw access hole); Yz unfilled, Yz filled, Ti unfilled and Ti filled (with the screw access (Ø = 2.5 mm) in the center). For the unfilled groups, only a polytetrafluoroethylene tape was used. Resin composite (Tetric N-Ceram, Ivoclar AG) was applied to the screw access hole for the filled groups (Yz and Ti). A cyclic fatigue test was carried out (load of 200 N, 10,000 cycles each; 20 Hz of frequency, step size of 100 N until failure detection (radial/cone crack). The fatigue failure load (FFL) and number of cycles until failure (CFF) were recorded for statistical purposes. The stress distribution (MPa) was evaluated by finite element analysis. A statistically positive effect of the abutment material and the presence of the screw access hole was observed (p ≤ 0.05). The rigid groups (without screw access holes) depicted almost 100% of survival after the fatigue tests. Among the other groups, the Yz-filled group showed the best performance (p ≤ 0.05), followed by the Yz unfilled group. The Ti groups depicted lower values of FFL and CFF, with the Ti unfilled group showing the most unfavorable fatigue behavior (p ≤ 0.05). The lowest tensile stress concentration in the restorative material was observed with the use of rigid abutments, the filled groups depicted intermediate values, while unfilled groups showed the highest stress concentration (Yz rigid = 306.3 MPa; Ti rigid = 310.4 MPa < Yz filled = 490.7 MPa; Ti filled = 498.9 MPa < Yz unfilled = 707.6 MPa; Ti unfilled = 719.7 MPa). Therefore, the presence of a screw-access hole decreases the mechanical performance of a lithium disilicate ceramic regardless of the abutment material. In the presence of a screw-access hole, zirconia abutments depicted a higher fatigue failure load when compared with titanium. The filling of the abutment screw-access hole with resin composite increased the mechanical performance of the simulated restoration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to mechanically characterize through flexural fatigue test two CAD-CAM glass-ceramics according to distinct surface etching protocols. To do so, feldspathic (FELD) and lithium disilicate (LD) glass ceramics were subjected to different surface treatments: (1) control - no treatment (Ctrl); (2) conventional protocol etching with 5% hydrofluoric acid followed by silane coupling agent application (HF + SIL; Monobond N, Ivoclar); or (3) using a self-etching ceramic primer (E&P; Monobond Etch & Prime, Ivoclar). Ceramic discs (N = 120; Ø = 12 mm; thickness = 1.2 mm) were produced from CAD-CAM blocks, with 60 being from FELD (VITABLOCS Mark II, Vita Zahnfabrik) and 60 from LD (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar). Next, 20 disks of each ceramic were allocated into three groups: Ctrl, HF + SIL, or E&P. Surface roughness data were collected on all samples before and after surface treatments (except for Ctrl). Cyclic fatigue (n = 15) biaxial flexural strength tests were performed by the piston-on-three-balls geometry (ISO 6872) considering the test parameters established from a monotonic test (n = 5). The monotonic test was carried out at a 1 mm/min loading rate and 500 kgf loading cell until fracture to obtain the failure data. The cyclic fatigue test was executed underwater at a frequency up to 20 Hz, with the first stress being 25% of the monotonic test for 5000 cycles, followed by increments of 5% of the monotonic test at each step of 10,000 cycles until failure (fracture). Complementary fractography, topography and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses were performed. Characteristic Fatigue Strength (CFS) and Weibull modulus were analyzed by Weibull analysis using the fatigue test data. Roughness and complementary analysis data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The statistical results exhibited similar CFS among Ctrl, HF + SIL and E&P for both glass-ceramics. The survival analysis corroborates the findings, however the Weibull modulus pointed out superior structural reliability of FELD treated with the E&P group compared to HF + SIL. According to the complementary analyses, HF + SIL exhibited a higher surface area than E&P and Ctrl for FELD (p = 0.001). Roughness showed statistically significant differences among conditions for FELD (E&P < Ctrl = HF + SIL; p < 0.05) and no difference for LD (p > 0.05). Therefore, the CFS were not influenced by any condition evaluated for FELD and LD glass-ceramics; however, superior structural reliability (higher Weibull modulus) for the feldspathic ceramic treated with the E&P was observed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)