Aim The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of a bulk fill composite on dentin surfaces prepared with the Er: YAG laser. Methods Twenty-four permanent third molars were selected and divided into 2 groups: CP - Conventional preparation with high-speed handpiece (control) and LA (laser) - Preparation with Er: YAG laser. The occlusal surface was removed to expose coronal dentin, which was subsequently prepared with a high-speed handpiece or Er: YAG laser (350mJ, 4Hz, 1.5 ml/min water flow). Both groups were restored with Filtek One Bulk Fill (3M ESPE) composite resin. After 24 hours, the samples were evaluated for microtensile bond strength (µTBS), fracture pattern, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results The data obtained in the µTBS test were submitted to t-test (α=0.05). The results showed no difference in µTBS when the different types of cavity preparation were compared (ρ=0.091). Fracture patterns revealed the prevalence of cohesive fracture in composite resin in CP (83.3%) and adhesive fracture in LA (92.1%). In the SEM analysis, the LA group demonstrated the presence of gaps between the composite resin and the irradiated dentin surface. The hybrid layer exhibited more regularity with the presence of longer and uniform resin tags in the CP group. Conclusion The type of cavity preparation did not influence the values of bulk fill composite resin µTBS to dentin. Fracture patterns and scanning electron microscopy analyses suggested less interference at the adhesive interface in preparations performed using CP.

Aim Resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) is class of material that can be used as sealant for preventing and arresting the progression of caries in pits and fissures. As these are hybrid materials, their properties can be affected by factors related to the polymerization process. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different generations of LED curing units (Elipar DeepCure-L and VALO Grand) on Knoop microhardness values (KHN) of RMGI sealants (Clinpro XT and Vitremer). Methods Forty cylindrical specimens (6mm ø x 1 mm high) were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions and divided into four groups (n=10) according to the type of RMGI and LED used. The KHN of the top surface of each sample was calculated 7 days after light-curing. Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results Vitremer had higher KHN values than Clinpro XT after using both LEDs (p<0.0001), but especially when light-cured with the use of VALO Grand (p<0.0001). Whereas the KHN value of Clinpro was not influenced by the LED device (p>0.05). Conclusions Top surface microhardness values of RGMI sealants were affected by both material composition and generations of LED curing units used. Third generation LED curing units seemed to be more efficient for the polymerization of RMGI-based sealants.

Abstract Bleaching gel thickeners induce important changes in tooth enamel and these changes are reversed by saliva. Objective This in situ study aimed to evaluate the effect of bleaching gels with different thickeners on tooth enamel under normal and hyposalivation conditions. Methodology Of 28 participants, 14 had normal salivary flow and 14 had low salivary flow. For each salivary flow, four types of treatment were performed with different thickeners: no bleaching (negative control), bleaching with a commercial 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) gel with carbopol (positive control) and bleaching with experimental 10% CP gels with natrosol and aristoflex. Participants used a palatal appliance containing bovine enamel/dentin specimens for 15 days. From day 2 to day 15, specimens were bleached extraorally. The bleaching gel was applied according to the groups for four hours. When the bleaching gel was removed, the palatal appliance was inserted again in the participants’ mouth until the next day for another bleaching application. This procedure was repeated for 14 days and on day 15, surface microhardness (SMH), color (ΔE*ab and ΔE00), surface roughness (Ra), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analyses were performed and data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results Neither salivary flow nor thickeners influenced ΔE*ab and ΔE00 results. Carbopol had the lowest SMH, the highest Ra, and the lowest Ca% among all groups. For normal flow, natrosol and aristoflex had higher SMH. For low flow, aristoflex had higher SMH and natrosol and aristoflex had lower Ra. Aristoflex had higher Ca% and Ca/P and differed from carbopol for normal flow. Conclusion For normal flow, 10% CP gels with natrosol and aristoflex caused fewer surface changes, and for low flow, only the 10% CP gel with aristoflex.

Abstract: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of different toothpastes on dental enamel subjected to an erosive cycle with and without exposure to cigarette smoke. Bovine enamel specimens were randomly allocated into 12 groups (n = 12). For the in vitro simulation of smoking, half the groups underwent an exposure cycle of 20 cigarettes per day for 5 days. Subsequently, all groups were subjected to a 5-day erosion cycle intercalating demineralization (1 min; 1% citric acid; pH = 3.5) and treatment with toothpaste slurries (2 min) of NaF, SnF2, F/Sn/Chitosan, F/CaSiO3/Na3PO4, and F/bioactive glass. The control group was immersed in distilled water. Surface microhardness (SMH) was measured initially, after exposure to smoke, and after the erosive cycle, and %SMH was calculated. At the end of the experimental cycle, surface roughness, profilometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were performed. SMH increased after exposure to cigarette smoke (p < 0.05). After the erosive cycle, there were no differences between the presence and absence of cigarette smoke exposure in SMH and roughness (p > 0.05). Besides increasing enamel SMH, cigarette smoke did not prevent enamel loss after the erosion cycle (p < 0.05). In profilometry, roughness and surface loss had the lowest values in the groups treated with SnF2 and F/Sn/Chitosan (p < 0.05). AFM showed lower mineral loss with F/CaSiO3/Na3PO4 and F/Sn/Chitosan. For all groups, except F/CaSiO3/Na3PO4, cigarette smoke resulted in higher enamel wear. F/Sn/Chitosan showed the best results against erosion.