Background and Objectives: There is evidence that melatonin could improve the periodontal status and also glycemic control of patients with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of scaling and root planing plus adjunctive systemic treatment with melatonin on periodontal parameters and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 54 subjects with periodontitis and diabetes mellitus randomly assigned to the study group (n = 27, subjects with scaling and root planing + melatonin) or control group (n = 27, subjects with scaling and root planing + placebo). Periodontal parameters (probing depth—PD; clinical attachment loss—CAL; bleeding on probing—BOP; and hygiene level) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after. Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups, but at the second evaluation 8 weeks later the association of melatonin with the non-surgical periodontal therapy exerted statistically significant improvements, both in periodontal parameters, with a significant decrease in periodontal disease severity, and glycated hemoglobin when compared to the control subjects. Conclusions: In our study, combined non-surgical periodontal treatment and systemic treatment with melatonin provided additional improvements to severe periodontal condition and the glycemic control of patients with diabetes type 2 when compared to non-surgical periodontal treatment alone.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index between two different brands of adhesive systems and brackets. The adhesive systems were represented by Opal Bond MV Composite and Opal Seal (Ultradent), respectively the fluoride releasing Transbond light cure adhesive paste and Transbond XT (3M). The utilised brackets were Avex metal bracket system (Ultradent), respectively Unitek™ Miniature Twin Metal Brackets (3M). The study was realized on 4 groups of extracted teeth: the first and second groups by using the products of the manufacturer Ultradent, respectively 3M, and the third and fourth groups by using the adhesive system of one manufacturer and the brackets of the other manufacturer. The study revealed that the use of adhesive system and brackets of the same manufacturer may increase the shear bond strength and decrease the adhesive remnant index.

According to titanium s much higher hardness and strength compared with the bone, if correctly applied, mini-screws will suffer no damage. Reusing orthodontic mini-screws would reduce treatment cost and lead to more use of mini-screws and improvement of orthodontic treatments. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess structural variations of retrieved orthodontic implants and to evaluate the mechanical properties that may adversely affect stability of orthodontic implants. For analisys 10 self-drilling mini-implants retrieved after treatment, made from commercially pure (CP) alpha-titanium from two brands Leone™, Italy and ForestaDent™, Germany were analised using SEM according to the degree of morphological deformation of the head, transmucosal neck, threaded body, and tip of the implant at up to 10,000 x light magnification. The mini-implants did not present any defects such as bubbles, imperfections or fissures in their internal microstructure. No significant marks resulting from the manufacturing process were observed. Surface irregularities in the threaded body and tip (fig. 5-7) were observed and significant tip deformation was evident in the majority (80%) of retrieved mini-implants.

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In this paper several aspects of profound modifications caused by high energy exposures are presented as possible candidates for the efficient adjusting processing of polymer materials. The class of hybrid composites receives special attention due to the large spectrum of formulations, where the interphase interaction decisively influences the material properties. They represent potential start points for the intimate uniformity of hybrid morphologies. Their radiation processing turns composites onto hybrid morphology with expected features, because the transferred energy is spent for the modification of components and for their compatibility. The essential changes achieved in radiation processed composites explain the new material behavior and durability based on the peculiar restructuring of polymer molecules that occurred in the polymer phase. During high energy irradiation, the interaction between intermediates born in the constitutive phases may convert the primary composites into hybrids, integrating them into large applicability spheres. During the radiation exposure, the resulting hybrids gain a continuous dispersion by means of new chemical bonds. This type of compounds achieves some specific structural modifications in the polymer phase, becoming stable hybrid composites. The functional properties of hybrids definitely influence the material behavior due to the molecular changes based on the structural reasons. The radiolysis of the vulnerable component becomes an appropriate opportunity for the creation of new material with improved stability. The radiation treatment is a proper conversion procedure by which common mixtures may become continuously reorganized. This review presents several examples for the radiation modifications induced by radiation exposure that allow the compatibilization and binding of components as well as the creation of new structures with improved properties. This approach provides the reference patterns for the extension of radiation processing over the well-conducted adjustments of polymer composites, when certain material features are compulsorily required. From this review, several solutions for the adjustment of regular polymer composites into hybrid systems may become conceivable by the extended radiation processing.

The aim of this study is to characterize (wettability, surface roughness and gloss) and test (microhardness and diametral compression) four types of light-cured composite resins, one of which is commercial. The first lab-made composite is the reference, obtained by mechanical mixing of three monomers, in equal concentrations. The following two lab-made materials can be considered nanocomposites because they were mechanically mixed in the base solution (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA/Bis-EMA) with α-Al2O3 nanopowders, with a concentration of 5 wt.% for one solution and 10 wt.% for the other. The benchmark material comparison for these lab-made composite and nanocomposite resins is the bioresin system, Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative. Results were promising, especially for the 10 wt.% Al2O3/Bis-GMA/TEGDMA/Bis-EMA system, characterized by mechanical improvment in comparison with the reference composite.

The study of the mechanical behavior of materials intended for dental restorations is of crucial importance in the production of a finished product. In the present work, two resins were used for the material matrix, Bisphenol A diglycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA), hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and a nanofiller (SiO2). This study focuses on the influence of nanoparticle size (30, 50, 100 and 150 nm) on the mechanical properties (flexural strenght and modulus, compression strenght and modulus and work of fracture) of the manufactured composite materials. The results showed improvements in the mechanical integrity of the samples, but differed depending on the size of the nanoparticles added. These differences are closely related to the active surface of the nanoparticles, leading to differences in filler-resin matrix compatibility.