The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability of composites subjected to different periods of accelerated artificial aging (AAA). A polytetrafluorethylene matrix (10 x 2 mm) was used to fabricate 24 test specimens of three different composites (n=8): Tetric Ceram (Ivoclar/Vivadent); Filtek P90 and Z250 (3M ESPE), shade A3. After light activation for 20 s (FlashLite 1401), polishing and initial color readout (Spectrophotometer PCB 687; BYK Gardner), the test specimens were subjected to AAA (C-UV; Comexim), in 8-h cycles: 4 h exposure to UV-B rays at 50°C and 4 h condensation at 50°C. At the end of each cycle, color readouts were taken and the test ended when the mean value of ΔE attained a level ≥3.30. Tetric Ceram presented alteration in ΔE equal to 3.33 in the first aging cycle. For Filtek P90 and Z250, two (ΔE=3.60) and four (ΔE=3.42) AAA cycles were necessary. After each cycle, there was a reduction of luminosity in all the samples (ΔL). It was concluded that a short period of AAA was sufficient to promote clinically unacceptable color alteration in composites, and that this alteration was material-dependent.

This study compares the retention and penetration of a conventional resin-based sealant (Fluroshield) and a photochromatic flowable composite resin (Tetric Flow Chroma) placed on occlusal pits and fissures and submitted to thermal or chemical cycling regimens. Penetration assessment--ten premolars were sealed with each material, isolated (except for the sealed surface) and immersed in 0.2% Rhodamine B. The teeth were serially sectioned in a mesiodistal direction. The images of the sections were digitized and analyzed (ImageLab). The distance between the most superficial and the deepest points on the occlusal central groove was calculated to determine the groove's total depth. The length of the central groove filled with the sealant was divided by its total depth to obtain the percentage of sealing of the occlusal groove. Retention assessment--30 premolars were sealed, their occlusal surfaces were photographed and the area occupied by the sealing materials was demarcated (ImageLab). The teeth were submitted to different treatments: thermocycled, stored in artificial saliva and immersed in acetic acid and saliva (10 cycles/day protocol for 30 days). New photographs were taken to assess the final area occupied by the materials. The difference between the final and initial area was calculated to obtain the material loss. The data was analyzed (two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test P<0.05). Both materials presented similar penetration of the occlusal central groove. After thermal and chemical cycling, the materials did not differ with respect to retention, except for immersion in acetic acid. In this case, Tetric Flow Chroma presented greater retention than Fluoroshield.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-etching on the bond strength of silorane-based composite specific adhesive system to dentin.Materials and MethodsThirty human molars were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the different bonding strategies. For teeth restored with silorane-based composite (Filtek Silorane, 3M ESPE), the specific self-etching adhesive system (Adhesive System P90, 3M ESPE) was used with and without pre-etching (Pre-etching/Silorane and Silorane groups). Teeth restored with methacrylate based-composite (Filtek Z250, 3M ESPE) were hybridized with the two-step self-etching system (Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray), with and without pre-etching (Pre-etching/Methacrylate and Methacrylate groups), or three-step adhesive system (Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, 3M ESPE) (Three-step/Methacrylate group) (n = 6). The restored teeth were sectioned into stick-shaped test specimens (1.0 × 1.0 mm), and coupled to a universal test machine (0.5 mm/min) to perform microtensile testing.ResultsPre-etching/Methacrylate group presented the highest bond strength values, with significant difference from Silorane and Three-step/Methacrylate groups (p < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different from Preetching/Silorane and Methacrylate groups.ConclusionsPre-etching increased bond strength of silorane-based composite specific adhesive system to dentin.

The purpose of this study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) and the adhesive remnant index (ARI) after Accelerated Artificial Aging (AAA) of metal orthodontic brackets bonded with self-polymerizing (Concise Ortodôntico - CS, 3M Unitek) and light activated (Transbond Plus Color Change - TPCC, 3M Unitek) composites to enamel after different surface treatments. Methodology: 60 human premolars were separated into 5 groups (n=12): Group I - 37% phosphoric acid (PA Dental Gel, Dentsply) and CS; Group II – PA + Primer and CS; Group III - PA and TPCC; Group IV - PA + XT Primer (3M Unitek) and TPCC; and Group V – Transbond Plus Self Etching Primer - SEP (3M Unitek) and TPCC. Twenty-four hours after bracket bonding, half of the specimens from each group were submitted to AAA for 960 hours. The samples were submitted to the shear bond strength (SBS) test in a universal test machine (0.5mm/min). ARI was evaluated under a loupe (10X) and quantified using a score (0-3). Data were submitted to 2-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s test (????a=5%). Results: Group II without AAA showed the highest mean value of SBS (p<0.05) in comparison with Groups III and V, which showed the lowest mean of SBS, when comparing the adhesive systems used. All groups without AAA presented a greater frequency of score 3, regarding the ARI. There was an increase in the frequency of scores 1 and 2 when specimens were submitted to AAA, Conclusion: AAA did not influence the SBS of brackets, but reduced the area of ARI.