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Background: The use of effective, low-cost, and easy-to-use products for early caries management will avoid loss of dental vitality and impairment in oral function. The ability of fluoride to re-mineralize dental surfaces has been widely reported as well as vitamin D demonstrated to have significant potential in improving the remineralization of early lesions on enamel surfaces. The aim of the present ex vivo study was to evaluate the effect of a fluoride and vitamin D solution in terms of formation of mineral crystals on the enamel of primary teeth, and their permanence over time on dental surfaces. Methods: Sixteen extracted deciduous teeth were cut to obtain 64 specimens that were divided into two groups. The first consisted of immersion of specimens for 4 days in a fluoride solution (T1); in the second group, the specimens were immersed for 4 days (T1) in fluoride and Vitamin D solution, and for a further 2 (T2) and 4 days (T3) in saline solution. Then, samples were morphologically analyzed by using Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (VPSEM) and underwent 3D surface reconstruction. Results: After a 4-day immersion in both solutions, octahedral-shaped crystals were formed on the enamel surface of primary teeth, demonstrating any statistically significant differences in terms of number, size, and shape. Moreover, the binding of the same crystals seemed to be strong enough to be maintained until 4 days in saline solution. However, a partial dissolution was observed in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: A topical application of fluoride and Vitamin D promoted the formation of persistent mineral crystals on enamel surfaces of deciduous teeth and should be further studied to be potentially used as an alternative strategy in preventive dentistry.

Since there are no data in the literature regarding the comparison of the marginal adaptation of hydraulic sealers when used with a single-cone technique or through thermomechanical compaction, this study aimed to evaluate the behavior of four different endodontic sealers used with the two above-mentioned obturation techniques by evaluating the marginal gap existing between the obturation materials and the dentinal walls through scanning electron microscopy. Given this objective, a total of 104 single-rooted, straight canal teeth were selected and divided into four subgroups according to the selected endodontic sealer ((AH) Plus Bioceramic Sealer (AHP), EndoSequence BC Sealer HiFlow (ES), C-Root SP (CR), and GuttaFlow Bioseal (GF)). Each tooth was decoronated and instrumented with the HyFlex EDM/CM systematics up to 30.04. After irrigation procedures, the teeth of each subgroup were divided into two groups and obturated according to two different obturation techniques: the single-cone technique (SC) and the thermomechanical compaction technique (TC). After the required sealer setting time, each tooth was sectioned in three parts at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex, and each section was observed with a scanning electron microscope. The marginal gap of each sample was measured using G* Power Software v3.1, and the statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a post hoc Dunn’s test. Results showed that there were not any statistically significant differences in terms of the marginal gap between the two different above-mentioned obturation techniques for each sealer, except for the middle third of root canals, where a statistically significant difference was found for AHP, ES, and GF sealers. In conclusion, the thermomechanical compaction of hydraulic sealers and gutta-percha guarantees better sealing than the single-cone technique when the root canal shape is not rounded.

Objective: Aim of the present study is to evaluate mechanical properties of a newly developed rotary file, AF Rotary (Fanta Dental, Shanghai, China), and to compare these features with a worldwide spread rotary file, Protaper Gold F2 (PTG F2; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). Material and Methods: 60 AF Rotary 25.06 and 60 PTG F2 were divided in three groups of 20 files each. A group underwent to cyclic fatigue resistance tests, second group underwent to torsional resistance tests, third group underwent to bending tests. The statistical analysis was performed using t student test with significance level set at 95% (p < 0.05). Results: AF Rotary showed significantly higher torsional resistance and cyclic fatigue resistance (p < 0.05) when compared to the PTG F2. AF Rotary also showed significantly lower bending resistance (p < 0.05) when compared to the PTG F2. Conclusion: Therefore, within the limitations of this study, the results show better performances for AF Rotary compared to PTG F2 regarding the cyclic fatigue test, the torsional test and the bending test. Since the PTG F2 is a commonly used and widely investigated instrument it could be possible to state that the AF Rotary exhibits remarkable in vitro performances. Keywords AF Rotary; Protaper gold; NiTi rotary instruments; Cyclic fatigue; Torsional resistance.

The present study aims to evaluate the difference in torsional resistance of two reciprocating nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary files: WaveOne Gold and EdgeOne Fire.A total of 40 nickel-titanium rotary instruments (Statistical analysis of TtF found significant differences between the two groups (According to the results of this study, it is reasonable to assert that EOFS instruments showed a higher torsional resistance if compared to the WOGS.As evidenced by this study, EOFS should be considered as a safer solution, in terms of torsional resistance, if compared to WOGS, reducing the risk of intracanal separation due to excessive torsional load.

Cone-beam computed tomography-based three-dimensional analysis of root canal trajectories and shapes have clearly shown that root canals are more complex in 3D, compared to traditional 2D visualization,1-4 and consequently, these findings affect properties of the nickel-titanium (NiTi) files requiring the following factors.

Aim and objective The present study aims to evaluate the difference in torsional resistance of two reciprocating nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary files: WaveOne Gold and EdgeOne Fire. Materials and methods A total of 40 nickel-titanium rotary instruments (n = 40): 20 WaveOne Gold Small (WOGS) and 20 EdgeOne Fire Small (EOFS) were divided into two groups. Each instrument was tested using a torsional resistance device already validated in previous studies to evaluate and compare torsional resistance. The static torsional test was implemented by blocking each instrument at 3 mm from the tip and rotating it until fracture with a reciprocating motion. Torque to fracture (TtF) and fragment length (FL) were measured and statistically analyzed. Results Statistical analysis of TtF found significant differences between the two groups (p 0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion According to the results of this study, it is reasonable to assert that EOFS instruments showed a higher torsional resistance if compared to the WOGS. Clinical significance As evidenced by this study, EOFS should be considered as a safer solution, in terms of torsional resistance, if compared to WOGS, reducing the risk of intracanal separation due to excessive torsional load.

Simple Summary Bacterial biofilms cause infections that are often resistant to antibiotic treatments. Research about the formation and elimination of biofilms cannot be undertaken without detailed imaging techniques. In this review, traditional and cutting-edge microscopy methods to study biofilm structure, ultrastructure, and 3-D architecture, with particular emphasis on conventional scanning electron microscopy and variable pressure scanning electron microscopy, are addressed, with the respective advantages and disadvantages. When ultrastructural characterization of biofilm matrix and its embedded bacterial cells is needed, as in studies on the effects of drug treatments on biofilm, scanning electron microscopy with customized protocols such as the osmium tetroxide (OsO4), ruthenium red (RR), tannic acid (TA), and ionic liquid (IL) must be preferred over other methods for the following: unparalleled image quality, magnification and resolution, minimal sample loss, and actual sample structure preservation. The first step to make a morphological assessment of the effect of the various pharmacological treatments on clinical biofilms is the production of images that faithfully reflect the structure of the sample. The extraction of quantitative parameters from images, possible using specific software, will allow for the scanning electron microscopy morphological evaluation to no longer be considered as an accessory technique, but a quantitative method to all effects. Abstract Several imaging methodologies have been used in biofilm studies, contributing to deepening the knowledge on their structure. This review illustrates the most widely used microscopy techniques in biofilm investigations, focusing on traditional and innovative scanning electron microscopy techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), variable pressure SEM (VP-SEM), environmental SEM (ESEM), and the more recent ambiental SEM (ASEM), ending with the cutting edge Cryo-SEM and focused ion beam SEM (FIB SEM), highlighting the pros and cons of several methods with particular emphasis on conventional SEM and VP-SEM. As each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages, the choice of the most appropriate method must be done carefully, based on the specific aim of the study. The evaluation of the drug effects on biofilm requires imaging methods that show the most detailed ultrastructural features of the biofilm. In this kind of research, the use of scanning electron microscopy with customized protocols such as osmium tetroxide (OsO4), ruthenium red (RR), tannic acid (TA) staining, and ionic liquid (IL) treatment is unrivalled for its image quality, magnification, resolution, minimal sample loss, and actual sample structure preservation. The combined use of innovative SEM protocols and 3-D image analysis software will allow for quantitative data from SEM images to be extracted; in this way, data from images of samples that have undergone different antibiofilm treatments can be compared.

Laboratory-synthesized CaCO3 nanoparticles and their nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol as a working medium have been first characterized and then tested on the surface of Pietraforte stone that forms the cladding of the bell tower of San Lorenzo. Both CaCO3 nanoparticles and their nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol were characterized in the church in Florence, Italy by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy/EDX spectroscopy. The Pietraforte sample surface, before and after CaCO3 nanodispersion treatments, was characterized by comparison of the porosity and specific surface area, capillary absorption, and surface hardness. An ultrastructural morphological investigation by SEM was also carried out, confirming and implementing the effective dynamics of the nanodispersion action. Lastly, differences in stone optical appearance before and after treatment were evaluated by colorimetric measurements. Considering the obtained results of the study, we conclude that CaCO3 nanodispersion in 1,4-butanediol is an effective restorative agent that prevents water infiltration in the stone, reduces stone disruption, and promotes its consolidation without altering its appearance. Finally, the long-lasting stability of the CaCO3 nanodispersion at ambient conditions makes it suitable for production and commercialization.

Over the last forty years, many trials have been performed using mammalian embryo cultures with reduced oxygen tension (O2) to encourage proper embryo development and increase the success rate for ...

Bacterial biofilm plays a pivotal role in chronic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection and its inhibition may represent an important strategy to develop novel therapeutic agents. The scientific community is continuously searching for natural and &ldquo, green alternatives&rdquo, to chemotherapeutic drugs, including essential oils (EOs), assuming the latter not able to select resistant strains, likely due to their multicomponent nature and, hence, multitarget action. Here it is reported the biofilm production modulation exerted by 61 EOs, also investigated for their antibacterial activity on S. aureus strains, including reference and cystic fibrosis patients&rsquo, isolated strains. The EOs biofilm modulation was assessed by Christensen method on five S. aureus strains. Chemical composition, investigated by GC/MS analysis, of the tested EOs allowed a correlation between biofilm modulation potency and putative active components by means of machine learning algorithms application. Some EOs inhibited biofilm growth at 1.00% concentration, although lower concentrations revealed different biological profile. Experimental data led to select antibiofilm EOs based on their ability to inhibit S. aureus biofilm growth, which were characterized for their ability to alter the biofilm organization by means of SEM studies.

Introduction: The introduction of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and bioceramic sealers increased the success rate of endodontic surgery and perforation repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the marginal adaptation at different times of endosequence root repair material (ERMM) in order to evaluate its dimensional stability using variable pressure-scanning electron microscope (VP-SEM). Material And Methods: Fourty-eight teeth were selected shaped up to a master apical size of 25. Then a 3 mm cut perpendicular to the long axis and a retrograde cavity preparation were performed. In order to obtain 2 mm thick sample a second cut was done and, in this disk, ERMM was inserted. The samples were stored at 37°. The samples were divided into four time-depending groups observed with VP-SEM at time 0 (Group 1) and after 2 (Group 2), 7 (Group 3) and 30 days (Group 4) after ERRM setting. Statistical analysis with one way-ANOVA test was performed (95%). Results: None of the four groups analyzed showed a complete marginal adaptation between dentin and ERRM. Instead, in all groups ERRM exhibited a completely preserved marginal adaptation to the dentin wall in all time-dependent groups. The mean (±SD) gap value was for time 0, 3.91 (±2.55) µm after 2 days, 4.32 (±2.69), after 7 days 4.49 (±2.53), and after 30 days 4.81 (±2.85) µm. No statistically significant difference was found between the four groups. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate the dimensional stability over time of ERMM.

Bone erosion is considered a typical characteristic of advanced or complicated cholesteatoma (CHO), although it is still a matter of debate if bone erosion is due to osteoclast action, being the specific literature controversial. The purpose of this study was to apply a novel scanning characterization approach, the BSE 3D image analysis, to study the pathological erosion on the surface of human incus bone involved by CHO, in order to definitely assess the eventual osteoclastic resorptive action. To do this, a comparison of BSE 3D image of resorption lacunae (resorption pits) from osteoporotic human femur neck (indubitably of osteoclastic origin) with that of the incus was performed. Surface parameters (area, mean depth, and volume) were calculated by the software Hitachi MountainsMap© from BSE 3D-reconstructed images; results were then statistically analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Our findings showed that no significant differences exist between the two groups. This quantitative approach implements the morphological characterization, allowing us to state that surface erosion of the incus is due to osteoclast action. Moreover, our observation and processing image workflow are the first in the literature showing the presence not only of bone erosion but also of matrix vesicles releasing their content on collagen bundles and self-immuring osteocytes, all markers of new bone formation on incus bone surface. On the basis of recent literature, it has been hypothesized that inflammatory environment induced by CHO may trigger the osteoclast activity, eliciting bone erosion. The observed new bone formation probably takes place at a slower rate in respect to the normal bone turnover, and the process is uncoupled (as recently demonstrated for several inflammatory diseases that promote bone loss) thus resulting in an overall bone loss. Novel scanning characterization approaches used in this study allowed for the first time the 3D imaging of incus bone erosion and its quantitative measurement, opening a new era of quantitative SEM morphology.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the flat-designed surface in improving the resistance to cyclic fatigue by comparing heat-treated F-One (Fanta Dental, Shanghai, China) nickel&ndash, titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments and similar prototypes, differing only by the absence of the flat side. The null hypothesis was that there were no differences between the two tested instruments in terms of cyclic fatigue lifespan. A total of 40 new NiTi instruments (20 F-One and 20 prototypes) were tested in the present study. The instruments were rotated with the same speed (500 rpm) and torque (2 N) using an endodontic motor (Elements Motor, Kerr, Orange, CA, USA) in the same stainless steel, artificial canal (90&deg, angle of curvature and 5 mm radius). A Wilcoxon&ndash, Mann&ndash, Whitney test was performed to assess the differences in terms of time to fracture and the length of the fractured segment between the flat- and non-flat-sided instruments. Significance was set at p = 0.05. The differences in terms of time to fracture between non-flat and flat were statistically significant (p &lt, 0.001). In addition, the differences in terms of fractured segment length were statistically significant (p = 0.034). The results of this study highlight the importance of flat-sided design in increasing the cyclic fatigue lifespan of NiTi rotary instruments.

Previously published studies have investigated the influence of instrument access on cyclic fatigue resistance. However, no studies have evaluated the relationship between angulated access and torsional resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the angle of access on the torsional resistance of endodontic instruments. One hundred and eighty instruments were selected: 90 F-One Blue 25/04 and 90 HeroShaper 25/04 instruments. Three subgroups (n = 30) for each instrument type (A and B) were established according to the angle of insertion of the instruments inside the artificial canal (0°, 10° and 20°). The tests were performed using a custom-made device consisting of the following: a motor that can record torque values of 0.1 s, interchangeable stainless-steel canals with different curvature (0°, 10° and 20°) that allow the instrument’s angulated insertion and keep it flexed during testing procedures, and a vise used to secure the instrument at 3 mm from the tip. Torque limit was set to 5.5 Ncm, and each instrument was rotated at 500 rpm until fracture occurred. Torque to fracture (TtF) was registered by the endodontic motor, and the fragment length (FL) was measured with a digital caliper. Fractographic analysis was performed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation to confirm the cause of failure. TtF values and fragment length (FL) values were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons across the groups with significance set to a 95% confidence level. Regarding the F-One Blue instruments, the results showed a higher TtF for group A3 (20°) than for group A1 (0°) and group A2 (10°), with a statistically significant difference between group A3 and the other two groups (p &lt, 0.05), whereas no statistically significant difference was found between group A1 and group A2 (p &gt, 0.05). Regarding the HeroShaper instrument, the results showed the highest TtF for group B3, with a statistically significant difference between the three subgroups B1, B2 and B3 (p &lt, 0.05). The results showed that the torsional resistance increases as the angle of instrument access increases with a varying intensity, according to the crystallographic phase of the instrument selected.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the setting and sealant ability of two different bioceramic sealers in two different environmental conditions: humid and wet environment. Ex vivo root canal treatment was performed on 24 freshly extracted teeth. Irrigation was performed with Niclor NaOCl 5% and EDTA 17%, then obturated with a bioceramic sealer in the two different environmental conditions listed above. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation was performed to verify the presence of gaps and the setting ability of the two sealers in two different environmental conditions was evaluated. While presence of gaps was found mainly in the wet specimens, on the other hand, regarding the setting ability, there is no statistically significant difference between the two different samples. Therefore, even if humid conditions represent the gold standard in terms of lower gaps dimension, since there is no methodology standardizing the drying procedure of the root canal, it is compulsory to investigate the sealing ability of the bioceramic sealers, even in wet conditions. Thanks to the findings shown in the present study, it is demonstrated that even in wet conditions the ability of the sealer to set does not change and such clinical situation could affect the bioceramic sealer protocol.

Background Aim of this study is to investigate the cyclic fatigue resistance of the Gold treated WaveOne Gold and the Firewire treated EdgeOne Fire instruments. The null hypotesis was that there were no differences between the lifespan of Gold treated and FireWire treated instruments when subjected to cyclic fatigue tests. Material and Methods 40 new NiTi instruments with a length of 25 mm were tested: 20 Wave One Gold Medium (WOG), tip size 35 and variable taper (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and 20 Edge One Fire (EOF) (EdgeEndo, Albuquerque, New Mexico) tip size 35 and the same variable taper. A mobile support for the electric handpiece and a stainless-steel block containing the artificial canals were used. The same artificial root canal with a 90 degrees angle of curvature and 2 mm radius of curvature was used for all the tested instruments and the WOG counter-clock wise reciprocating motion with an engaging angle of 150° and a disengaging angle of 30° at 300 rpm, was selected for the test. All instruments were inserted at the same length (18mm) and then rotated in the same reciprocating motion until fracture occurred: the time was stopped as soon as the fracture was visible and video-recorded with a 1/100 sec chronometer. Differences among groups were statistically evaluated with an analysis of variance test ANOVA (significance level was set at p