This study evaluated the efficacy of S-PRG vanishes on preventing enamel demineralization. Bovine enamel specimens were obtained, polished and the baseline Knoop microhardness was evaluated. Specimens were stratified into six groups (n = 15), according to the varnish applied: S10—experimental varnish containing 10% of S-PRG fillers, S20—20% of S-PRG fillers, S30—30% of S-PRG fillers; S40—40% of S-PRG fillers; PC (positive control)—5% of NaF; NC (negative control)—no treatment was performed. Half of enamel surfaces were protected to work as a control and varnishes were applied over the unprotected area. A demineralizing pH-cycling was performed, and surface and cross-sectional microhardness were measured. The percentage of microhardness of the treated area was calculated comparing with the untreated area. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p = 5%). All experimental S-PRG varnishes protected against demineralization in relation to no treatment, but S40 was the most effective on the surface. For all depths, S30 and S40 were superior in enamel demineralization prevention than other S-PRG filler concentrations and 5% NaF. It was concluded that S-RPG filler containing varnishes were effective to prevent enamel demineralization. The higher concentrated products were more effective than 5% sodium fluoride on surface demineralization prevention.

Aim:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of silane (Si) application and different adhesive systems on the bond strength of composite resin repair. Materials and methods: One hundred composite truncated cone-shaped specimens were prepared and submitted to 5,000 thermal cycles to simulate existing restorations. Their top surfaces were airborne particle abraded with aluminum oxide, etched with phosphoric acid, and divided into two groups (n = 50) with or without Si application. Each group was divided into five subgroups (n = 10) according to the adhesive system applied: Solobond Plus Primer and Adhesive (SPA)-two-bottle, Solobond Plus adhesive (SA), Admira Bond (A)-one bottle, Futurabond DC (FDC)-self-etch, and Futurabond M (FM)-self-etch. New composite resin was applied over the bonded area. A control group was prepared to evaluate the cohesive strength of the composite resin. Specimens were submitted to tensile stress. Data were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Tukey and Dunnett tests. Results: Si application reduced the bond strength of all adhesives (p = 0.001). Groups SA and SPA showed higher bond strengths in relation to other groups (p = 0.01). Groups FDC + Si, FM, FM + Si, and A + Si showed smaller mean bond strength values than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion:Previous Si application reduced bond strength values. The two-bottle adhesive showed better results than one-bottle or selfetching systems for composite resin repairs. Clinical significance: The kind of adhesive system applied for composite resin repairs has a great influence on bond strength values. The use of Si in this situation is not recommended.

Objectives: To characterize the mechanical properties of different resin-composites for dental application. Methods: Thirteen universal dentin shade composites (n = 10) from different manufacturers were evaluated (4 Seasons, Grandio, Venus, Amelogen Plus, P90, Z350, Esthet-X, Amaris, Vita-l-escence, Natural-Look, Charisma, Z250 and Opallis). The polymerization shrinkage percentage was calculated using a video-image recording device (ACUVOL—Bisco Dental) and the hygroscopic expansion was measured after thermocycling aging in the same equipment. Equal volumes of material were used and, after 5 min of relaxation, baseline measurements were calculated with 18 J of energy delivered from the light-curing unit. Specimens were stored in a dry-dark environment for 24 h then thermocycled in distilled water (5–55 °C for 20,000 cycles) with volume measurement at each 5000 cycles. In addition, the pulse-excitatory method was applied to calculate the elastic modulus and Poisson ratio for each resin material and the degree of conversion was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results: The ANOVA showed that all composite volumes were influenced by the number of cycles (α = 0.05). Volumes at 5 min post-polymerization (12.47 ± 0.08 cm3) were significantly lower than those at baseline (12.80 ± 0.09 cm3). With regard to the impact of aging, all resin materials showed a statistically significant increase in volume after 5000 cycles (13.04 ± 0.22 cm3). There was no statistical difference between volumes measured at the other cycle steps. The elastic modulus ranged from 22.15 to 10.06 GPa and the Poisson ratio from 0.54 to 0.22 with a significant difference between the evaluated materials (α = 0.05). The degree of conversion was higher than 60% for all evaluated resin composites.

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the optical property changes after staining of precured (PC) and light-cured (LC) composites. Materials and Methods. Specimens were prepared using different LC composites (GrandioSO—Voco, Filtek Z350-3M/ESPE, Opallis—FGM, and Kalore—GC) and four PC blocks (Grandio Blocs—Voco, Lava Ultimate—3M ESPE, Brava Block—FGM, and Cerasmart—GC) from the same manufacturers (n = 20). Baseline color, gloss, translucency, and fluorescence were evaluated. The staining protocol was performed for 15 days, and the final optical properties were reevaluated. Results. The changes in each property were calculated (ΔGloss, ΔTranslucency, ΔFluorescency, ΔE  ∗  00). Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α = 5%). Changes in all properties were observed after staining for all materials, with darkening and reduction of gloss, fluorescence, and translucency. Nonsignificant differences were observed between the light-cured and precured materials of the same manufacturer for ΔG and ΔT, but significant differences existed for ΔF and ΔE  ∗  00. For ΔF, the only significant differences were observed between Brava Block and Opallis (smaller). For ΔE  ∗  00, only the light-cured composites GrandioSO and Z350 showed significantly less change than the corresponding blocks. Precured composites were affected the same way as light-cured ones by the staining in relation to the reduction of gloss and translucency. Conclusion. A higher reduction in fluorescence was observed for only one brand of block and was similar for the others. The two brands of light-cured materials showed less staining, while for the others, the staining was similar. The effects of staining vary according to the composite formulation.

Objective. This study aims to analyze the fluorescence-aided identification technique efficacy on adhesive remnant removal from the enamel surface after orthodontic bracket debonding. Materials and Methods. Forty-five extracted human upper central incisors were divided into 3 groups (n = 15) according to the kind of adhesive for bracket bonding and the use or absence of near UV light for remnant removal: BF/UV- fluorescent adhesive/UV light, BF/0-fluorescent adhesive/no UV light, and TB/0-nonfluorescent adhesive/no UV light. For all teeth, 100% of the adhesive used remained on the enamel surface after debonding. Fifteen dentists performed adhesive removal on the enamel surface using a carbide bur. The specimens were analyzed by a stereomicroscope, and the adhesive remnant percentage from each specimen was calculated. The time used by each dentist to perform the removal was recorded. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Results. Significant differences were observed among groups for adhesive remnant ( p = 0.0008 ) and for time ( p = 0.0001 ). The means of adhesive remnant were BF/UV (5.84), BF/0 (34.37), and TB/0 (37.02). The mean times necessary to remove adhesive were BF/UV (1 min 40 s), BF/0 (3 min 03 s), and TB/0 (2 min 46 s). For the BF/UV group, significantly lower values of adhesive remnants and time for debonding were found ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The fluorescence-aided identification technique significantly reduced the amount of adhesive remnant, and the time necessary to perform this clinical procedure.