Synthetic materials in craniofacial regenerative medicine: A comprehensive overview

The state-of-the-art approach to regenerating different tissues and organs is tissue engineering which includes the three parts of stem cells (SCs), scaffolds, and growth factors. Cellular behaviors such as propagation, differentiation, and assembling the extracellular matrix (ECM) are influenced by the cell's microenvironment. Imitating the cell's natural environment, such as scaffolds, is vital to create appropriate tissue. Craniofacial tissue engineering refers to regenerating tissues found in the brain and the face parts such as bone, muscle, and artery. More biocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds are more commensurate with tissue remodeling and more appropriate for cell culture, signaling, and adhesion. Synthetic materials play significant roles and have become more prevalent in medical applications. They have also been used in different forms for producing a microenvironment as ECM for cells. Synthetic scaffolds may be comprised of polymers, bioceramics, or hybrids of natural/synthetic materials. Synthetic scaffolds have produced ECM-like materials that can properly mimic and regulate the tissue microenvironment's physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, manage adherence of biomolecules and adjust the material's degradability. The present review article is focused on synthetic materials used in craniofacial tissue engineering in recent decades.

Comparison of shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded with a universal adhesive using different etching methods

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three enamel etching modes - laser-etch, self-etch and acid-etch (5, 10 and 15 s) - on bracket bonding, using a universal adhesive.

Methods:

Eighty-four maxillary premolars were randomly divided into seven groups (n=12) based on the etching method and the adhesive used for bracket bonding. After water storage and thermocycling, shear bond strength was measured, and adhesive remnant index scores on debonded enamel were determined.

Results:

There were significant differences between the seven groups regarding bond strength values (p< 0.001). The highest values were observed in universal adhesive with laser etching group, while Transbond XT with acid or laser etching, and universal adhesive used in self-etch mode demonstrated the lowest bond strength. The universal adhesive with the three different etching times presented with statistically similar results, all showing an improvement in bond strength, compared with Scotchbond universal (SBU)/SE.

Conclusions:

The universal adhesive evaluated in the present study demonstrated statistically similar bond strengths to conventional orthodontic adhesive in self-etch mode. The bond strength can be improved by adding an initial acid etching or laser conditioning step, although enamel damage was observed in some cases.

Synergic effect of salivary pH baselines and low pH intakes on the force relaxation of orthodontic latex elastics

Background:

Latex elastics are still in common use due to their low cost and high flexibility to improve sagittal discrepancies or interdigitation of teeth. Mechanical properties of elastics are influenced by several environmental factors such as pH changes. This study evaluated similar latex elastics to define the influence of synergic effect of intermittent low pH and various baselines pH of saliva.

Materials and Methods:

Four groups of latex elastics (3-M Unitek, 3/16 inch) were tested (n = 15 in each group). Two groups of elastics were immersed in two tanks of artificial saliva with different pH levels of 7 and 5, and two groups were immersed in two tanks of artificial saliva with intermittent drop of pH to 4. The force was measured when the elastics were stretched to 25 mm. These measurements were taken in 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h for each group. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey's test were used to assess the findings. The level of significance was 0.05%.

Results:

The interaction between pH and time analyzed with RMANOVA showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) except in 36 h (P = 0.014). The Tukey's analysis showed that each comparison between any two groups did not indicate significant differences (P > 0.05) except between Groups 1 and 3 and between Groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

No significant correlation was seen between fluctuation of pH and force degradation in latex elastic band except in 36 h.