The effects of aging on the tensile fatigue strength of bovine dentin were investigated. Tensile tests and tensile fatigue tests were performed in 37•Ž water with the bovine dentin specimens of

Background/purpose The haptic 3D virtual reality dental training simulator has been drawn attention as a educational strategy in Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feature of the haptics simulator in comparison with a conventional mannequin simulator by analyzing the assessment of products prepared by dental students using these two kinds of simulator. Materials and methods The subjects were 30 students in the sixth-year classes of the faculty of dentistry. Abutments for a full cast crown were prepared by each subject using two kinds of simulator; one is the haptics simulator and the other is a mannequin simulator. For the resulted products, occlusal surface form, margin design, surface smoothness, taper angle, total cut volume and overall impression were rated by 3 evaluators. Score differences between two simulators were statistically analyzed. Results The kinds of simulator affected subject performance for margin design and total cut volume. The differences in cutting feeling between the simulators as well as variation of stereoscopic ability in subjects were considerable reasons. Evaluators’ rating was affected by difference in simulators for occlusal surface form, total cut volume, and overall impression. This may have been due to variation of stereoscopic ability in evaluators. Conclusion The unique characteristics of virtual reality, such as the simulated cutting sensation and the simulated three-dimensional images created by stereo viewers, affect operators’ performance and evaluators’ rating. It was suggested that educational programs need to be constructed taking account of the characteristics of virtual reality to make the best use of the haptics simulator.

Bovine teeth are used for dental research as a substitute for human teeth.In the present study, the effects of storage on the tensile strength of bovine dentin were investigated. Storage conditions selected were frozen storage for 1 week, 4 weeks, and 1 year. Boiling in water for 45 minutes was also employed to clarify the effect of heat.Dumbbell-shaped specimens were prepared from teeth of each condition and tensile tests were performed immediately.The same tests were also performed on specimens, as a control, prepared from bovine teeth within 8 hours of extraction.The tensile strength of the control was 76.1MPa; 1 week frozen storage, 78.7MPa; 4 weeks, 79.9MPa; 1 year, 79.0MPa. The tensile strength of bovine dentin remained unchanged during one year frozen storage. On the other hand, the tensile strength of bovine dentin after boiling was 70.3MPa, showing that tensile strength had decreased.

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The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of digital image analysis of pit-and-fissure discoloration in order to diagnose caries. Digital images showing pit-and-fissure discoloration in 100 teeth of 19 patients were analyzed to obtain the fractal dimension (FD) and the proportion of the area of pit-and-fissure discoloration to the area of occlusal surface (PA). DIAGNOdent values were measured (DD), and dentists' diagnoses were also obtained. The sensitivity and specificity of FD, PA, DD, and the combination of FD and PA compared to the dentists' diagnoses were calculated. The sensitivities of FD, PA, DD, and the combination of FD and PA were 0.89, 0.47, 0.69, and 0.86, respectively, and the specificities were 0.84, 0.95, 0.91, and 0.86, respectively. Although further research is needed for the practical use, it is possible to use the analysis of digital images of pit-and-fissure molar discoloration as a diagnostic tool.