Increasing the number of increments and high post-gel shrinkage and/or elastic modulus values caused higher stresses in the remaining tooth structure and tooth/restoration interface. Cuspal deformation measured with the strain gauge method validated the finite element analyses.

Measurement of interfacial fracture toughness (iFT) is considered a more valid method to assess bonding effectiveness as compared with conventional bond strength testing. Common fracture toughness tests are, however, laborious and require a relatively bulky specimen size. This study aimed to evaluate a new simplified and miniaturized iFT (mini-iFT) test. Four dentin adhesives, representing the main adhesive classes, and 1 glass ionomer cement were applied onto flat dentin. Mini-iFT (1.5 × 2.0 × 16 to 18 mm) and microtensile bond strength (µTBS; 1.5 × 1.5 × 16 to 18 mm) specimens were prepared from the same tooth. For the mini-iFT specimens, a single notch was cut at the adhesive-dentin interface with a 150-µm diamond blade under water cooling; the specimens were loaded until failure in a 4-point bending test setup. Finite element analysis was used to analyze stress distribution during mini-iFT testing. The correlation between the mean mini-iFT and µTBS was examined and found to be significant; a strong positive correlation was found (r(2) = 0.94, P = 0.004). Weibull data analysis suggested the mini-iFT to vary less than the µTBS. Both the mini-iFT and the µTBS revealed the same performance order, with the 3-step etch-and-rinse adhesive outperforming the 2-step self-etch and 2-step etch-and-rinse adhesive, followed by the 1-step SE adhesive and, finally, the glass ionomer cement. Scanning electron microscopy failure analysis revealed the adhesive-dentin interface to fail more at the actual interface with the mini-iFT test, while µTBS specimens failed more within dentin and composite. This finding was corroborated by finite element analysis showing stress to concentrate at the interface during mini-iFT loading and crack propagation. In conclusion, the new mini-iFT test appeared more discriminative and valid than the µTBS to assess bonding effectiveness; the latter test nevertheless remains more versatile. Specimen size and workload were alike, making the mini-iFT test a valid alternative for the popular µTBS test.

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Objective: The aim of his study was to evaluate the stress on tooth and alveolar bone caused by orthodontic intrusion forces in a supraerupted upper molar, by using a three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM). Methods: A superior maxillary segment was modeled in the software SolidWorks 2010 (SolidWorks Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA) containing: cortical and cancellous bone, supraerupted first molar, periodontal tissue and orthodontic components. A finite element model has simulated intrusion forces of 4N onto a tooth, directed to different mini-screw locations. Three different intrusion mechanics vectors were simulated: anchoring on a buccal mini-implant; anchoring on a palatal mini-implant and the association of both anchorage systems. All analyses were performed considering the minimum principal stress and total deformation. Qualitative analyses exhibited stress distribution by color maps. Quantitative analysis was performed with a specific software for reading and solving numerical equations (ANSYS Workbench 14, Ansys, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA). Results: Intrusion forces applied from both sides (buccal and palatal) resulted in a more homogeneous stress distribution; no high peak of stress was detected and it has allowed a vertical resultant movement. Buccal or palatal single-sided forces resulted in concentrated stress zones with higher values and tooth tipping to respective force side. Conclusion: Unilateral forces promoted higher stress in root apex and higher dental tipping. The bilateral forces promoted better distribution without evidence of dental tipping. Bilateral intrusion technique suggested lower probability of root apex resorption.

The restoration of extensive cavities in posterior tooth is a challenge for the clinicians and the choice of the material that increases the fracture strength of tooth-restoration complex is required.