Browse Articles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of one in-office and two home bleaching agents on the surface roughness of a hybrid, microhybrid and nanohybrid composite resin. Three composite resins (Valux Plus, 3M ESPE, Filtek Z 250, 3M ESPE, and Herculite XRV Ultra, Kerr) and three bleaching agents (Opalescence PF, Ultradent Products, Perfect Bleach, Voco, and Perfect BleachOffice +, Voco) were chosen for this study. Twenty eight samples of each composite resin were prepared and were equally split in 4 groups: 7 samples were stored in distilled water (control group), 7 samples were subject to 17% carbamide peroxide gel (Perfect Bleach) action for 3 h a day, 7 days, 7 samples were subject to 15% carbamide peroxide gel (Opalescence PF) action for 3 h a day, 7 days and 7 samples were subject to 35% hydrogen peroxide gel (Perfect BleachOffice +) action two times for 15 min . After cleaning the samples were submitted to roughness evaluation using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Bleaching agents that contain 35% hydrogen peroxide and 17% or 15% carbamide peroxide increased the composite resins surface roughness. The hybrid resin recorded the highest roughness after bleaching, followed in descending order by microhybrid and nanohybrid composite resins. Keywords: bleaching agent, composite resin, roughness evaluation, carbamide peroxide, atomic force microscopy

The aim of the present paper was to investigate the chemical corrosion in various solutions, of a commercial resin based restorative nano-filled composite. 20 samples of a nanocomposite Filtek Supreme XT (3M ESPE) were immersed for 30 days in Ringer (physiological solution), Fusayama artificial saliva, and Afnor artificial saliva. After that, they were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It resulted that the corrosion is mainly due to the pitting, micrometric holes being observed. Also, preferred directions of corrosion resulted, as consequence of micro-scratches formation during the samples preparation. The oxygen content generally increased due to the oxides formation, while carbon, silicon and zirconium normalized atomic percents decreased, showing the corrosion both of the polymeric matrix and of the filler particles. Micro-holes size statistics revealed quantitatively the degree of corrosion and agrees well with the changes of chemical composition. Keywords: nanofilled composite, pitting corrosion, artificial saliva

The aesthetic composite inlay or ceramic ones are useful for restoring posterior teeth affected by decay processes. The choice of the inlay type can sometimes be a challenge for the dentist. The aim of this study is to identify the optimal type of an inlay used for second-class cavities that can assure a good long-term prognosis of dental restoration. In order to achieve this study, it was performed a 3D analysis of stresses recorded in a premolar restored with a composite inlay and a ceramic inlay, the simulation being done by finite elements method (FEM) using ANSYS program. The study results showed that stresses registered in the tooth restored through ceramic inlay are more favourable than those recorded in the case of the tooth restored with composite inlay. Keywords: dentistry, restoration, FEM, composite material, tooth-restoration

Facial epistasis represent facial prosthetic components made of acrylic or silicone plastics, which have no other function than to rebuild the lost region of the face in order to partially restore the physiognomy. A mandatory step in the manufacturing process of epistasis is represented by fingerprinting the tissue defect and the entire facial region and making a study model as basis for designing the epistasis . Keywords: facial episthesis, prosthetic components, acrylic or silicone plastics

Metal-composite crowns or metal-polymeric crown are an intermediary option from the mechanical and esthetical characteristics between acrylic resin and ceramic materials. Same as in the case of other types of fix partial dentures, the esthetic veneer may present fissures or fractures. The replacement of a fix partial denture is time consuming and involves high costs. In specific clinical cases, the metal-composite fix partial dentures can be repaired with plastic materials like diacrylic composite resin. Metal-acrylic and metal-ceramic fix partial dentures can also take advantage of the diacrylic composite resin in similar situations- fracture. The repairing maneuver can be considered temporary for a longer period of time. The key of reparation’s success is the interface integrity between the two materials. Imagistic investigation methods, like Atomic Force Microscopy gives important information about the surface roughness of different materials. The purpose of the present study is the investigation of the new interface obtained after the direct reparation of metal-composite crowns with diacrylic composite resins. Keywords: crown, acrylic resins, ceramic materilas

This paper is about obtaining polyolefin composites with antibacterial properties for the manufacture of hollow blown bodies (vials, bottles, jars) used for the packaging of medical products, cosmetics and food. As main polymer, it was used polypropylene, and as biocide active agent, it was used silver chloride deposited on a support of titanium dioxide or of silica. Antimicrobial silver was added as a premix, using for this purpose the co-polymer ethylene-1-octene. Hollow bodies were obtained by extrusion-blowing and were tested for their mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Keywords: polypropylene, co-(ethylene-1-octene), hollow blown bodies, extrusion

The utilization of waste rubber powder in polymer matrices provides an attractive strategy for polymer waste disposal. In this study lead free composite material samples for anti– radiation purposes were produced. To attain this goal, 15 wt. % of recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBRr) were added to Naturalrubber (NR) to prepare the composite’s matrix part. Then the matrix was incorporated with various hard materials wastes such as iron particulates, iron fillings and slags brought from different industry zones. The amounts of the added particulates were ranged from 15–75 wt%. All fabricated samples were assessed for their anti-radiation attenuation properties. The attenuation measurements were performed using gamma spectrometer of NaI (Tl) detector. The utilized radiation sources comprised 137Cs and 60Co radioactive elements with photon energies of 0.662 MeV for 137Cs and two energy levels of 1.17 and 1.33MeV for 60Co. Likewise theHalf-Value Layer (HVL) and the mean free paths (Mfp) for the tested samples were obtained. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of the waste loading rates, the particulate types and their dispersive manner within the rubber blends on the attenuation coefficients. The maximum linear attenuation coefficient (m)was attained for rubber incorporates iron particulates wastes of 65 wt. %. They were of 0.0510± 3.2123 ×10-3for 137Cs and 0.0346± 6.973×10-3and 0.0182±1.297×10-3 for 60Cofor the energies of 0.662, 1.17and 1.33 MeV respectively. A Significant improvement of attenuation performance was achieved by 25%–30% for rubber samples incorporate iron particulate. The tested samples were examined using different techniques, metallographic facilities, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and hardness and measurement facilities. The microstructure, homogeneity, particulate dispersion, porosity and structure defects, and the mechanical properties of the fabricated samples were studied and evaluated. Keywords: Attenuation coefficient, radioactive, wastes iron filings, NR/NBRr blends, SEM, NaI (Tl), steel slag

This paper is aimed to the identification of the plastics used in the insulation of the conductors and the electrical cables and depending on their characteristics , the influence exercised on power losses in the dielectric of the cables . Solid organic synthetic insulating materials that are used in electrotechnics , represents a sensitive group larger than natural materials . According to current statistics , it is clear that solid synthetic materials are implemented in a majority share in achieving equipment and electrical installations insulation being in the configuration of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity systems. Keywords: plastic , polyvinylchloride , insulation, electrical cable , thermal stability

During the daily activity the orthodontic systems are suffering various loadings which together with saliva lead to a depreciation of bonding material which is used to fix the brackets on the dental surfaces. For this study human incisive shaped bovine bone were used to simulate mastication in a media consisting in a mixture of sesame, poppy and sunflower seeds and water. The aim is to compare the shear resistance of the bond with the one evaluated for fresh mounted brackets. Also a qualitative analysis is aimed based on micro photos took before and after bracket debonding. There are not rare the cases when patients are returning to doctor immediately after orthodontic system installation despite the medical advice because it is almost impossible to inhibit natural habits developed. In the first period after the installation of the orthodontic systems the reflex of biting the food is present in all the cases and that produces the detachment of the incisive bonded brackets. However during the mastication components of the food are interacting with the brackets generating local loads over the brackets themselves and also over the bonding material which can be a polymer or a composite. These loadings together with the ones meant by the doctor are producing in time small fractures and cracks at the bonding level with consequences on shear resistance of brackets on the tooth. Keywords: orthodontics, adhesive, bracket, shear strength

To achieve a modeling of the epithesis as close as possible to the lost organ, information on its size and shape can be registered by using computed tomography and 3D reconstruction. This paper aims to investigate to what extent the recording geometry of facial regions using computed tomography and identify on the sections of computed tomography the contour of the region to be reconstructed for virtual modeling of future silicone epithelium can be achieved. The results were obtained by applying the algorithm described in C + + program and contour detection in computed tomography images recorded preoperatively in patients who were to receive resection surgery of a facial region followed by reconstruction of the defect by facial epithesis. Keywords: acrilic resins, contour detection