The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of xylitol, from some oral hygiene products and chewing gums, on salivary parameters variation in patients with carious disease. The study was performed on 30 patients with a medium level of carious disease, randomly divided in two groups as follows: group 1 (study group), using xylitol-based products for 30 days, and group 2 (control group), using products without xylitol. The way of administration, dose, and frequency of use were as follows: toothpaste (normal daily brushing, 3 times daily); mouthwashing (5 ml, twice daily); chewing gums (two tablets, 5 times daily), for 30 days. The assessment targeted the salivary parameters as follow: saliva microcrystallisation index (IMK), resting salivary flow rate (RSF), stimulated salivary flow rate(SSF). The results of our study confirm the improvement of salivary parameters due to the use of xylitol-based products, by the positive influence on the remineralisation capacity of saliva. The assessment method of saliva IMK represents a noninvasive, simple, informational indicator for the assessment of the remineralisation capacity of saliva.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the compression behavior under identical mechanical tests, of three different composite resins, by determining Young�s modulus for compression, ultimate compressive strength and ultimate compressive strain. The studied materials were: Filtek Z250 Universal Restorative, Filtek Z550 and Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). Fifteen cylindrical samples, having 6 mm in height and 5 mm in diameter, were made from each material, using plastic molds. The samples were subjected to quantitative analysis of the compression behavior after mechanical tests. The fractured fragments of the samples were subjected to qualitative surface evaluation by scanning electron microscopy. Results were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey�s post hoc test. Filtek Z250 had the lowest value of Young�s modulus for compression and the results were statistically significant (p[0.05) when compared to Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative and Filtek Z550. There were no statistically significant differences between all three materials regarding ultimate compressive strength (p]0.05). The lowest value for ultimate compressive strain was recorded for Filtek Bulk Fill.

The aim of the study was to compare the marginal adaptation of three different resin-based materials used for direct restoration: hybrid composite resin (Gaenial Posterio, GC Corporation), a compomer (Dyract eXtra, Dentsply Sirona), and a giomer (Beautifil II, Shofu Dental) applied at room temperature or after preheated at preheating 50 and 60oC. Class II cavities were prepared on proximal surfaces of extracted teeth and randomly divided in 3 groups according to the material used for restoration. In each group five cavities were restored using the materials at room temperature (subgroup 1), five cavities were restored using preheated materials at 50şC (subgroup 2), and five cavities were restored using preheated materials at 60şC (subgroup 3). The teeth were stored in distilled water for 14 days and then were immersed in 2% methylene blue buffered dye solution (pH = 7) for 4 hours. The teeth were transversally cut and the sections were examined using optical microscope (Carl-Zeiss AXIO Imager A1m) at 50x magnification and the dye penetration was evaluated according to 4 scores. Decreased microleakage and fewer gap formation were recorded for all filling materials after they have been heated at 50 or 60oC. Pre-warming of resin-based materials improves the adaptation of these materials to tooth structures.

The aim of this in vitro study was to to evaluate the impact of finishing procedures on the enamel adjacent to composite restorations and to assess if the resistance of the enamel-resin junction to leakage is affected by the use of these instruments. The surfaces of enamel at the joint with composite were observed by scanning electron microscopy, then the microleakages at the enamel margin was assessed using an optical microscope. Finishing with extra-/ ultra-fine carbide burs and extra-fine diamond burs produced a superficial abrasion to the adjacent enamel and did not seem to have a significant influence on the sealing ability of composite resin.

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