[Self-adhesive composites - Do they keep what they promise?]

Self-adhesive composites promise simplified application and reliable adhesion to dental hard tissues without prior conditioning or application of an adhesive system. Their working principle is based on specific functional monomers. Although they may reach acceptable sealing capability in minimally invasive cavities, study results showed significantly reduced bond strength to enamel and dentin compared to conventional adhesive systems. Thus, the use of self-adhesive composites requires critical individual consideration.

Resin-Bonded Fixed Dental Prostheses with Zirconia Ceramic Single Retainers Show High Survival Rates and Minimal Tissue Changes After a Mean of 10 Years of Service

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical outcomes of single-retainer resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) and the profilometric changes of pontic sites after a mean of 10 years in function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients (mean age 32.4 years) who had received an RBFDP replacing a single anterior tooth were recalled after 10 years. Five patients had received a subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) at the pontic site. The clinical assessment comprised the following parameters: probing depth, bleeding on probing, modified plaque control record, gingival recession, measurement of the width of keratinized mucosa, and intraoral photographs and radiographs. The modified criteria of the United States Public Health Services evaluation system were applied. Additionally, patient satisfaction was recorded. Data were analyzed descriptively, and the 10-year RBFDP survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

The RBFDP survival rate after a mean follow-up of 10.0 years (range 7.4 to 13.3 years) was 100%. Neither technical failures nor biologic complications were observed. All abutment teeth remained vital, and no secondary caries were detected. Between baseline and follow-up examinations, the profilometric changes at the pontic sites were minimal, exhibiting a loss of -0.03 ± 0.10 mm (no SCTG) and 0.00 ± 0.37 mm (SCTG).

CONCLUSION

The present study exhibited high survival rates and low complication rates of the restorations, as well as excellent profilometric stability of the pontic sites over 10 years. The use of an RBFDP is a viable long-term treatment option for replacing a single anterior tooth.

Silane Effect of Universal Adhesive on the Composite-Composite Repair Bond Strength after Different Surface Pretreatments

This study investigated the impact of a separate silanization step on the repair bond strength of composite substrates using a universal adhesive after various mechanical surface treatments. Composite specimens were aged and exposed to the following mechanical roughening treatments: diamond bur abrasion, aluminum oxide sandblasting, or silica coating. The specimens were then either left untreated or conditioned with universal adhesive (Scotchbond Universal), or a silane coupling agent was applied before the use of the universal adhesive or a conventional adhesive (Optibond FL). The conditioned surfaces and fresh substrate (positive control group) were covered with repair composite, and microtensile bond strength testing was performed. The significantly highest bond strength was obtained in the positive control group. Repair bond strength of the universal adhesive applied after a separate silanization step was similar to that without prior silanization, independent of the mechanical surface treatment. Moreover, after silica coating, no significant differences in the repair bond strength were detected among the different adhesive treatments. In conclusion, a separate silanization step before surface conditioning with the universal adhesive does not enhance the repair bond strength. On silica-coated composite substrates, repair bond strength values of the universal adhesive were similar to those of the conventional adhesive.

The far upstream element-binding proteins comprise an ancient family of single-strand DNA-binding transactivators

The cloning and expression of two new human cDNAs encoding proteins highly related to the far upstream element-binding protein (FBP) are described. FBP, FBP2, and FBP3 comprise a family of single-strand DNA- binding proteins that possess all of the general features of more conventional transcription factors. The FBPs each bind sequence specifically to only one strand of the far upstream element (FUSE; originally identified upstream of c-myc), and each possesses potent activation domains when fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain and assayed by transient transfection. Typical of transcription factors, the proteins are most highly related in their central, DNA-binding domains, but extensive homology is also shared within the tyrosine-rich, carboxyl-terminal activation domains. Comparison with GenBank sequences revealed a fourth FBP family member encoded by Caenorhabditis elegans chromosome III, illustrating the high degree of homology in this evolutionarily ancient and conserved family.

A sequence-specific, single-strand binding protein activates the far upstream element of c-myc and defines a new DNA-binding motif

The far upstream element (FUSE) of the human c-myc proto-oncogene stimulates expression in undifferentiated cells. A FUSE-binding protein (FBP) is present in undifferentiated but not differentiated cells. Peptide sequences from the purified protein allowed cloning of cDNAs encoding FBP. Expression of FBP mRNA declined upon differentiation, suggesting transcriptional regulation of FBP. Features in the FBP cDNA suggest that FBP is also regulated by RNA processing, translation, and post-translational mechanisms. Both cellular and recombinant FBP form sequence-specific complexes with a single strand of FUSE. Transfection of FBP into human leukemia cells stimulated c-myc-promoter-driven expression from a reporter plasmid in a FUSE-dependent manner. Deletion and insertion mutagenesis of FBP defined a novel single-strand DNA-binding domain. Analysis of the primary and predicted secondary structure of the amino acid sequence reveals four copies of a reiterated unit comprised of a 30-residue direct repeat and an amphipathic alpha-helix separated by an 18- to 21-residue spacer. The third and fourth copies of this repeat-helix unit constitute the minimum single-stranded DNA-binding domain. To determine whether the FUSE site, in vivo, possesses single-strand conformation, and therefore could be bound by FBP, cells were treated with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to modify unpaired bases. Modification of genomic DNA in vivo revealed hyperreactivity associated with single-stranded DNA in the FUSE sequence and protection on the strand that binds FBP in vitro. The role of single-stranded DNA and single-strand binding proteins in c-myc regulation is discussed.