Dual-cured cements have been studied in terms of the hardness or degree of conversion achieved with different curing modes. However, little emphasis is given to the influence of the curing method on other mechanical properties. This study investigated the flexural strength, flexural modulus and hardness of four proprietary resin cements. Materials tested were: Enforce and Variolink II (light-, self- and dual-cured), RelyX ARC (self- and dual-cured) and C & B (self-cured). Specimens were fractured using a three-point bending test. Pre-failure loads corresponding to specific displacements of the cross-head were used for flexural modulus calculation. Knoop hardness (KHN) was measured on fragments obtained after the flexural test. Tests were performed after 24 h storage at 37 degrees C. RelyX ARC dual-cured showed higher flexural strength than the other groups. RelyX ARC and Variolink II depended upon photo-activation to achieve higher hardness values. Enforce showed similar hardness for dual- and self-curing modes. No correlation was found between flexural strength and hardness, indicating that other factors besides the degree of cure (e.g. filler content and monomer type) affect the flexural strength of composites. No statistical difference was detected in the flexural modulus among the different groups.

During the cementation of ceramic veneers the polymerization of resin cements may be jeopardized if the ceramics attenuate the irradiance of the light-curing device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different types and thicknesses of ceramic veneers on the degree of conversion of a light-cured resin-based cement (RelyX Veneer). The cement was light-cured after interposing ceramic veneers [IPS InLine, IPS Empress Esthetic, IPS e.max LT (low translucency) and IPS e.max HT (high translucency) - Ivoclar Vivadent] of four thicknesses (0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm). As control, the cement was light-cured without interposition of ceramics. The degree of conversion was evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy (n=5). Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Significant differences were observed among groups (p<0.001). The degree of conversion was similar to the control for all light-cured groups with interposition of ceramics of 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm (p>0.05). Among 1.5-mm-thick veneers, IPS e.max LT was the only one that showed different results from the control (p<0.05). At the thickness of 2.0 mm, only the IPS e.max LT and HT veneers were able to produce cements with degrees of conversion similar to the control (p>0.05). The degree of conversion of the evaluated light-cured resin cement depends on the thickness and type of ceramics employed when veneers thicker than 1.5 mm are cemented.

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This study provides a detailed microstructural and slow crack growth characterization of widely used dental ceramics. This is important from a clinical standpoint to assist the clinician in choosing the best ceramic material for each situation as well as predicting its clinical longevity. It also can be helpful in developing new materials for dental prostheses.

This study evaluated: I) the effect of photo-activation through ceramics on the degree of conversion (DC) and on the Knoop hardness (KHN) of light-and dual-cured resin cements; and II) two different protocols for obtaining the spectra of uncured materials, to determine the DC of a dual-cured resin cement. Thin films of cements were photoactivated through ceramics [feldspathic porcelain (FP); lithium disilicate glass-ceramics of low translucency (e.max-LT), medium opacity (e.max-MO) and high translucency (e.max-HT); glass-infiltrated alumina composite (IC) and polycrystalline zirconia (ZR)] with thicknesses of 1.5 and 2.0 mm. DC was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Two protocols were used to obtain the spectra of the uncured materials: I) base and catalyst pastes were mixed, and II) thin films of base and catalyst pastes were obtained separately, and an average was obtained. KHN assessment was performed with cylindrical specimens. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). The light-cured cement showed higher DC (61.9%) than the dual-cured cement (55.7%). The DC varied as follows: FP (65.4%), e.max-HT (65.1%), e.max-LT (61.8%), e.max-MO (60.9%), ZR (54.8%), and IC (44.9%). The light-cured cement showed lower KHN (22.0) than the dual-cured (25.6) cement. The cements cured under 1.5 mm spacers showed higher KHN (26.2) than when polymerized under 2.0 mm ceramics (21.3). Regarding the two protocols, there were significant differences only in three groups. Thus, both methods can be considered appropriate. The physical and mechanical properties of resin cements may be affected by the thickness and microstructure of the ceramic material interposed during photo-activation.

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The objective was to compare fracture toughness (K(Ic)), stress corrosion susceptibility coefficient (n), and stress intensity factor threshold for crack propagation (K(I0)) of two porcelains [VM7/Vita (V) and d.Sign/Ivoclar (D)], two glass-ceramics [Empress/Ivolcar (E1) and Empress2/Ivlocar (E2)] and a glass-infiltrated alumina composite [In-Ceram Alumina/Vita (IC)]. Disks were constructed according to each manufacturer's processing method, and polished before induction of cracks by a Vickers indenter. Crack lengths were measured under optical microscopy at times between 0.1 and 100 h. Specimens were stored in artificial saliva at 37 degrees C during the whole experiment. K(Ic) and n were determined using indentation fracture method. K(I0) was determined by plotting log crack velocity versus log K(I). Microstructure characterization was carried out under SEM, EDS, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. IC and E2 presented higher K(Ic) and K(I0) compared to E1, V, and D. IC presented the highest n value, followed by E2, D, E1, and V in a decreasing order. V and D presented similar K(Ic), but porcelain V showed higher K(I0) and lower n compared to D. Microstructure features (volume fraction, size, aspect ratio of crystalline phases and chemical composition of glassy matrix) determined K(Ic). The increase of K(Ic) value favored the increases of n and K(I0).

There is no consensus about the waiting time necessary for the patient to start consuming beverages containing colorants again after bleaching.Objective:To evaluate the influence of beverages with coloring agents on bleached bovine incisors considering the time elapsed after bleaching.Materials and methods:Sixty bovine incisors were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide for in-office use (Whiteness HP Max) and divided into 10 groups. The color was evaluated with a spectrophotometer (Spectro Shade MICRO) before and after bleaching, employing the CIE-Lab system. After bleaching, the teeth were exposed for 5 min to coffee or cola-based soft drink (CBSD) at different periods after bleaching: 10 min, 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Color (∆E) and lightness (∆L) variations were obtained from the CIE-Lab coordinates. Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (p<0.05).Results:Significant differences were observed between groups for both the ∆L and ∆E values (p<0.001). All specimens presented a decrease in brightness (negative ∆L). The highest ∆E values were observed for teeth stained with a CBSD at 10 min and 1 h (4.12 and 4.16, respectively). Teeth pigmented with coffee presented ∆E values below 3.3 units for all evaluation times.Conclusion:The exposure to coffee after bleaching causes less color changes than the exposure to a CBSD regardless of the time after bleaching.