ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of human saliva decontamination protocols on bond strength of resin cement to zirconia (Y‐PSZ), wettability, and microbial decontamination.Materials and methodsZirconia plates were sandblasted and divided into (a) not contaminated, (b) contaminated with human saliva and: (c) not cleaned, (d) cleaned with air‐water spray, (e) cleaned with 70% ethanol, (f) cleaned with Ivoclean, or (g) cleaned with nonthermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP). The wettability and microbial decontamination of the surfaces were determined after saliva contamination or cleaning. Monobond Plus (Ivoclar Vivadent) was applied after cleaning, followed by Variolink LC (Ivoclar Vivadent). The samples were stored 1 week before shear bond strength (SBS) testing, and data (SBS and wettability) were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey test (α = .05).ResultsSaliva contamination reduced SBS to zirconia compared to not contaminated. Both Ivoclean and NTAP produced higher SBS compared to not cleaned and were not significantly different from the not contaminated. Ivoclean produced the highest contact angle, and NTAP the lowest. With the exception of using just water‐spray, all cleaning protocols decontaminated the specimens.ConclusionsBoth Ivoclean and NTAP overcame the effects of saliva contamination, producing an SBS to zirconia comparable to the positive control.Clinical significanceDental ceramics should be cleaned prior to resin cementation to eliminate the effects of human saliva contamination, and Ivoclean and NTAP are considered suitable materials for this purpose.

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Oral mucositis (OM) is the most common debilitating complication among patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) has shown beneficial effects in the treatment of OM, but few studies have evaluated its biological effects. This study evaluated the effect of PBM on the reduction of OM severity in patients undergoing HSCT and its relation to the modulation of the inflammatory response. Fifty-one patients were randomly assigned to two groups: PBM [submitted to PBM from admission (AD) to D+7] (n = 27) and control (n = 24) [received oral hygiene]. OM severity was assessed daily using the WHO scale. Saliva samples were collected on AD, D+7, and hospital discharge (HD) to measure CXCL8/interleukin 8, using cytometric bead array analysis and nitrite (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) using colorimetric methods. PBM significantly reduced the severity of OM from D+7 to D+11 (p < 0.05). All non-interventional patients (controls) who developed grade 2 or higher OM induced an increase of CXCL8 in saliva (n = 14) on D+7. PBM led to a decrease in CXCL8 on D+7 in 85% of patients, while 70.8% of patients in the control group presented an increase in this chemokine (p = 0.007). NO decreased from AD to D+7 in the PBM group (p > 0.05). MPO significantly decreased on D+7 in both groups (p < 0.05). PBM brought about a reduction in the severity of OM in patients undergoing HSCT, and this reduction was associated with a decrease in CXCL8 salivary levels.

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Objective To evaluate the influence of surface treatment on roughness (SA), topography, and shear bond strength (SBS) of computer‐aided designer and manufacture (CAD/CAM) zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) and feldspathic (FEL) glass–ceramics. Materials and methods FEL and ZLS specimens were submitted to 5% or 10% hydrofluoric acid (HF) or self‐etching ceramic primer (MEP) and different application times (20, 40, and 60 s), or to sandblasting (Control, 20 s). Resin cement cylinders were bonded to the specimens and tested in shear (n = 10) after 24 h and 16‐months of water storage. SA and topography were evaluated by atomic force (AFM, n = 10) and scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni test (α = 0.05). Results Sandblasting promoted the highest SA for ZLS, but 10% HF (40, 60 s) promoted higher SBS at 16 months. 10% HF produced the highest SA for FEL, but sandblasting and 5% HF (20 s) maintained SBS after 16 months, without differences from 10% HF (20 s) (p > 0.05). Overall, MEP produced lower SA and SBS among groups (p < 0.05). HF displayed greater morphological changes on FEL. Conclusion 10% HF (40 s) provided better results for ZLS, while 5% or 10% HF (20 s) was suitable for FEL. Clinical significance Surface treatments influenced SA, topography, and SBS of materials. HF etching is the surface treatment of choice for both CAD/CAM glass–ceramics.

Background: Bulk-fill materials can facilitate the restorative procedure mainly for deep and wide posterior cavities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate flexural strength (biaxial flexural strength [BFS]) and microhardness (Knoop microhardness [KHN]) at different depths of bulk-fill materials.Methods: Five bulk-fill materials were tested: two light-curable composite resins, one dualcure composite, one bioactive restorative, and a high-viscosity glass ionomer. A conventional composite was used as control. BFS and KHN were tested at different depths. Data was analyzed by two-and one-way ANOVAs, respectively and Tukey's post-hoc (α=0.05). Results:The high-viscosity glass ionomer material presented the lowest BFS at all depths. KHN for the two light-curable and the dual-cure bulk-fill resin composites was reduced following an increase in restoration depth, while the conventional composite, the bioactive material, and the high-viscosity glass ionomer were not affected. Conclusion:There are differences in the properties of the tested materials at 4 mm depth, showing that the studied properties of some materials vary according to the cavity depth, although the results are material dependent.Clinical Significance: Mechanical properties of light-cured, bulk-fill materials may be affected by inadequate polymerization. Clinicians should consider complementary strategies to achieve adequate polymerization at high-increment depths.

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