Atomic force microscopy of removal of dentin smear layers

Scanning electron microscopy comparison of the cleaning efficacy of a root canal system by Nd:YAG laser and rotary instruments

This study evaluated the cleaning efficacy of a root canal system by Nd:YAG laser and rotary instruments. Sixty single-rooted human teeth were divided into four experimental groups (n=15). In the first group the teeth were prepared with a step-back technique using conventional K-files. In the second and third groups, tooth preparation was carried out using Nd:YAG laser and rotary NiTi instruments, respectively. Teeth in the fourth group were prepared by combined laser and rotary methods. The smear layer remaining on canal walls was then assessed by scanning electron microscopy in the coronal, middle, and apical portions. The comparison of smear layer removal efficacy between groups was carried out by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The mean grades of smear layer removal in rotary-laser, rotary, laser and step-back techniques were 1.34 ± 0.18, 2.2 ± 0.28, 1.91 ± 0.25, and 2.42 ± 0.19, respectively. On the whole, differences between rotary-laser and rotary groups, step-back, and the three other techniques (rotary, laser, and rotary-laser) were significant at p=0.034. Based on the findings of this study, the cleaning efficacy of rotary, laser, and rotary-laser techniques were better than the step-back technique and the combined laser and rotary technique was the most efficient method.

Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy evaluation of efficacy of scaling and root planing using magnification: A randomized controlled clinical study

Aim:

A randomized controlled clinical study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of scaling and root planing (SRP) by using Magnifying Loupes (ML) and dental operating microscope (DOM).

Materials and Methods:

A total of 90 human teeth scheduled for extraction from 18 patients aged between 25 and 65 years suffering from generalized chronic severe periodontitis were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Group 1 consisted SRP performed without using magnification (unaided), Group 2-SRP with ML and Group 3-SRP with DOM. Following extractions, samples were prepared for (i) evaluation of surface topography by atomic force microscopy, (ii) presence of smear layer, debris by scanning electron microscopy (iii) elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Data was subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance, post-hoc (Tukey-HSD) and Chi-square test.

Results:

Statistically significant (P < 0.001) difference was found among the different treatment groups. Group 3 was the best while Group 1 was the least effective technique for SRP. Order of efficacy in terms of the surface was found to be - Palatal < Lingual < Distal ≃ Mesial < Buccal. Efficiency in mandibular to maxillary teeth was found to be significant (P < 0.05), also anterior to posterior teeth (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Magnification tools significantly enhance the efficacy of supragingival and subgingival SRP.

Influence of thicknesses of smear layer on the transdentinal cytotoxicity and bond strength of a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement

This study evaluated the transdentinal cytotoxicity (TC) and the bond strength (BS) of a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC) applied to dentin covered with smear layer (SL) of different thicknesses. Forty dentin discs had thick (TSL) or thin (THSL) smear layer created on their occlusal side. In artificial pulp chambers, MDPC-23 cells were seeded on the pulpal side of the dentin discs and divided into five groups: G1TC: no treatment (control); G2TC: TSL + RMGIC; G3TC: THSL + RMGIC; G4TC: TSL removal + RMGIC; G5TC: THSL removal + RMGIC. After 24 h, cell metabolism and morphology were evaluated by the methyltetrazolium (MTT) assay and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. For BS, the following groups were determined: G1BS: TSL removal + RMGIC; G2BS: THSL removal + RMGIC; G3BS: TSL + RMGIC; G4BS: THSL + RMGIC. Shear bond strength was tested to failure in a mechanical testing machine MTS (0.5 mm/min). Statistically significant difference was observed only between the control and experimental groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.05). The metabolic activity of the viable MDPC-23 cells in G2TC, G3TC, G4TC and G5TC decreased by 54.85%, 60.79%, 64.12% and 62.51%, respectively. Mean shear bond strength values for G1BS, G2BS, G3BS and G4BS were 7.5, 7.4, 6.4 and 6.7 MPa, respectively, without significant difference among them (ANOVA, p>0.05). RMGIC presented moderate transdentinal cytotoxic effects. Maintenance or removal of smear layer did not affect the bond strength of RMGIC to dentin substrate.

Analysis of roughness and surface hardness of a dental composite using atomic force microscopy and microhardness testing

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a cola soft drink (CSD) and coffee on the microhardness and surface roughness of composite resin. Fifty cavities were prepared on the vestibular surface of bovine incisors and restored with nanoparticulate resin. The teeth were divided into five groups (n = 10): group A (control), immersion in artificial saliva (AS) for 14 days; group B, immersion in coffee for 15 min (3×/day) for 7 days followed by immersion in AS for another 7 days; group C, immersion in CSD for 15 min (3×/day) for 7 days followed by immersion in AS for another 7 days; group D, immersion in AS for 7 days, immersion in coffee for 15 min (3×/day) for 7 days; group E, immersion in AS for 7 days, immersion in CSD for 15 min (3×/day) for 7 days. After the immersion periods the specimens were analyzed for their microhardness and surface roughness. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by t-test with 5% significance. Group A presented the highest average microhardness and lowest surface roughness, so it was possible to conclude that the consumption of CSD and coffee alters the microhardness and surface roughness of new restorations.

Early spreading and propagation of human bone marrow stem cells on isotropic and anisotropic topographies of silica thin films produced via microstamping

While there has been rapid development of microfabrication techniques to produce high-resolution surface modifications on a variety of materials in the last decade, there is still a strong need to produce novel alternatives to induce guided tissue regeneration on dental implants. High-resolution microscopy provides qualitative and quantitative techniques to study cellular guidance in the first stages of cell-material interactions. The purposes of this work were (1) to produce and characterize the surface topography of isotropic and anisotropic microfabricated silica thin films obtained by sol-gel processing, and (2) to compare the in vitro biological behavior of human bone marrow stem cells on these surfaces at early stages of adhesion and propagation. The results confirmed that a microstamping technique can be used to produce isotropic and anisotropic micropatterned silica coatings. Atomic force microscopy analysis was an adequate methodology to study in the same specimen the sintering derived contraction of the microfabricated coatings, using images obtained before and after thermal cycle. Hard micropatterned coatings induced a modulation in the early and late adhesion stages of cell-material and cell-cell interactions in a geometry-dependent manner (i.e., isotropic versus anisotropic), as it was clearly determined, using scanning electron and fluorescence microscopies.

Effect of the insertion and polymerization technique in composite resin restorations: analysis of marginal gap by atomic force microscopy

This in vitro study evaluated the marginal gap at the composite tooth/resin interface in class V cavities under the influence of two insertion techniques and a curing system by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Forty enamel and dentin cavities were prepared on the buccal surface in bovine teeth with quadratic forms measuring 2 mm × 2 mm and depth of 1.5 mm. The teeth were then divided into four groups: group A, 10 cavities were restored in one increment, light cured by halogen light; group B, 10 cavities filled with bulk filling, light cured by the light emitting diodes (LED); group C, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by halogen light; group D, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by the LED. The teeth underwent the polishing procedure and were analyzed by AFM for tooth/restoration interface evaluation. The data were compared between groups using the nonparametric Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05). The results showed a statistically significant difference between groups A and B and groups A and C. It was concluded that no insertion and polymerization technique was able to completely seal the cavity.