This study ascertained whether under dental erosion models that closely mimics the real-life situation enamel and root dentin from bovine origin would be reliable substitutes for human counterparts. Through a 2x2 crossover design, in a first trial, 14 volunteers wore a palatal device containing slabs of bovine and human enamel. Half of the participants ingested (4x daily, for 10 days) orange juice first, crossing over to mineral water, while the remainder received the reverse sequence. In a second trial, volunteers wore devices with slabs of bovine and human root dentin. Except for the duration of each intraoral phase, which lasted 2 rather 10 days, the experiment with root dentin run exactly as for enamel. Dental substrates were analyzed for surface microhardness. Two-way ANOVAs (α=0.05) indicated no difference between the microhardness values recorded for human and bovine enamel (p=0.1350), but bovine root dentin had lower microhardness compared to its human counterpart (p=0.0432). While bovine enamel can reliably substitute its human counterpart in in situ dental erosion models, bovine root dentin does not seem to be a viable alternative to the corresponding human tissue.

This study evaluated the surface roughness change and wear provided by different dentifrices on root dentine previously exposed to erosive challenges. According to a randomized complete block design, 150 slabs of bovine root dentine (6 x 3 x 2 mm) were ground flat and polished. In an area of 4 x 3 mm on the dentine surface, specimens were submitted to five erosive/abrasive events, each one composed by: exposure to Sprite Diet or distilled water for 5 min, then to a remineralizing solution for 1 min, and simulation of 5,000 brushing strokes. Four dentifrices--regular (RE), baking soda (BS), whitening (WT) and tartar control (TC)--and distilled water (CO), used as control, were compared. Final texture and the wear depth were evaluated using a profilometer. ANOVA did not show significant interaction, indicating that the effect of dentifrices on both surface roughness change and wear did not depend on whether or not the dentine was eroded ( p>0.05). There was no difference between abrasion of eroded and sound dentine. The Tukey's test revealed that WT, BS and TC provided the highest increase in surface roughness differing from RE and CO. TC yielded the deepest wear of root dentine, whereas RE and CO, the shallowest. No significant difference in wear among BS, TC and WT were observed. Within the limitations of this study, the data showed that abrasion of both eroded and sound root dentine was dependent on the dentifrice used.

Dental erosion is a type of wear caused by non bacterial acids or chelation. There is evidence of a significant increase in the prevalence of dental wear in the deciduous and permanent teeth as a consequence of the frequent intake of acidic foods and drinks, or due to gastric acid which may reach the oral cavity following reflux or vomiting episodes. The presence of acids is a prerequisite for dental erosion, but the erosive wear is complex and depends on the interaction of biological, chemical and behavioral factors. Even though erosion may be defined or described as an isolated process, in clinical situations other wear phenomena are expected to occur concomitantly, such as abrasive wear (which occurs, e.g, due to tooth brushing or mastication). In order to control dental loss due to erosive wear it is crucial to take into account its multifactorial nature, which predisposes some individuals to the condition.

This study assessed the effect of bleaching protocols with 38% hydrogen peroxide (HP) and post-bleaching times on shear bond strength of a composite resin to dentin. One-hundred slabs of intracoronary dentin were included and randomly assigned into 2 groups according to the bleaching protocol: HP (2 applications of 10 min each) and HP activated by LED laser (2 applications of 10 min each/45 s of light activation). Groups were subdivided according to the post-bleaching time (n=10): 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 10 days and 14 days. The control group was unbleached and restored (n=10). The specimens were restored with Single Bond adhesive system/Filtek Z250 resin using a polytetrafluorethylene matrix and were submitted to the shear bond strength testa after 24 h,. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Unbleached group (0.283 ± 0.134) had the highest bond strength and was statistically similar (p>0.05) to HP/10 days (0.278 ± 0.064), HP + LED laser/10 days (0.280 ± 0.078), HP/14 days (0.281 ± 0.104), HP + LED laser/14 days (0.277 ± 0.093). Lower bond strength were verified in HP/1 day (0.082 ± 0.012), HP/3 days (0.079 ± 0.013), HP + LED laser/1 day (0.073 ± 0.018) and HP + LED laser/3 days (0.080 ± 0.015), which were statistically similar (p>0.05). HP/7 days (0.184 ± 0.154) and HP + LED laser/7 days (0.169 ± 0.102) had intermediate values (p<0.05). The restorative procedure of intracoronary dentin bleached with 38% HP with or without the use of light source should be performed after at least 10 days after the bleaching treatment.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of surface pretreatments of fiber-reinforced posts on flexural strength (FS), modulus of elasticity (ME) and morphology of these posts, as well as the bond strength (BS) between posts and core material. Fifty-two fiber posts (smooth and serrated) were assigned to 4 groups (n=13): no treatment (control), 10% hydrogen peroxide (HP) for 10 min (HP-10), 24% HP for 1 min (HP-24) and airborne-particle abrasion (Al(2)O(3)). To evaluate FS and ME, a 3-point bending test was performed. Three posts of each group were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Composite resin was used as the core build-up and samples were sectioned to obtain microtensile sticks. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). For FS, significant differences were observed between posts type and surface pretreatment (p<0.05), with the highest means for the smooth posts. Al2O3 provided higher FS than HP-24. Al(2)O(3) promoted higher ME than HP-24 and control. SEM images revealed partial dissolution of the resin matrix in all treated groups. The smooth posts had higher BS and FS than serrated posts (p<0.05). Mechanical properties of the glass fiber posts and the bond strength between posts and composite material were not altered by the surface treatments, except for airborne-particle abrasion that increased the post elastic modulus.

This study evaluated the effect of 980-nm diode laser on apical microleakage and intraradicular dentin morphology. Roots of 110 mandibular incisors were used in the study: 92 for microleakage test and 18 for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Roots were randomly assigned to 3 groups according to the irrigating solution (water, NaOCl and NaOCl/EDTA) and were divided into 3 subgroups according to the laser irradiation protocol (without irradiation, irradiated at 1.5 W and irradiated at 3.0 W). Two specimens of each subgroup were prepared for SEM. The remaining roots were filled with AH Plus and gutta-percha. Apical leakage was assessed by ink penetration and data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey-Krammer test (α=0.05). SEM analysis showed intensification of changes with increase of laser power as well as variations according to the irrigating solution. Modified smear layer was observed in specimens treated with water and irradiated with laser. Roots irrigated with NaOCl/EDTA had lower levels of infiltration (0.17 ± 0.18 mm) differing significantly (p<0.05) from those of roots irrigated with water (0.34 ± 0.30 mm), but similar (p>0.05) to those irrigated with NaOCl (0.28 ± 0.29 mm). Non-irradiated roots had lower levels of infiltration (0.10 ± 0.14 mm), differing (p<0.05) from those irradiated at 1.5 W (0.32 ± 0.22 mm) and 3.0 W (0.37 ± 0.32 mm). The 980 nm diode laser modified dentin morphology and increased apical microleakage.

This study evaluated the effect of restorative protocol with sodium ascorbate on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a universal adhesive to intracoronal bleached dentin. One hundred-and-twenty bovine dentin fragments were randomly divided into 12 groups (n=10), according to the bleaching procedure (unbleached and bleached) and restorative protocol (no treatment, 10% sodium ascorbate -10SA, 35% sodium ascorbate -35SA and two-step etch-and-rinse -ER or one-step self-etch -SE Scotchbond universal adhesive approaches). Four whitening sessions were performed using 35% hydrogen peroxide. The samples from control groups were kept in relative humidity at 37 °C. Immediately after bleaching procedures, the assigned antioxidant solution was applied on dentin and restorative procedures were performed following either the ER or the SE approach. After 24 h, the specimens were subjected to SBS test. Data (MPa) were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Lower SBS values were found for bleached specimens (8.54 MPa) compared with those unbleached (12.13 MPa) (p<0.05). The bond strength of the sodium ascorbate-treated groups was higher than those untreated, regardless of the strategy employed (p<0.05). Groups restored without sodium ascorbate showed lower bond strength values for both ER (8.32 MPa) and SE (8.28 MPa) adhesive strategies. The group treated with 10SA submitted to ER approach (10.14 MPa) was similar to untreated groups (p>0.05). It may be concluded that bond strength of composite resin to intracoronal dentin was affected by restorative protocol and reduced by bleaching.

Greater cervical wear using a #70/.12 file increased the root fracture susceptibility, and the tested filling materials were not able to restore resistance.