Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes protocolos de polimento sobre a rugosidade e morfologia superficial de uma cerâmica à base de dissilicato de lítio (IPS e.max CAD). Foram confeccionadas 50 barras cerâmicas (2,0x3,0x2,5 mm), separadas aleatoriamente em cinco grupos (n=10), conforme os tratamentos de superfície: C: Controle; BC: Borracha Ceramaster (60 s); RP: Roda de pano impregnado granulação grossa (30 s) + Roda de pano impregnado granulação fina (30 s); BE: Borracha Exa-Cerapol cinza (20 s) + Borracha Exa-Cerapol rosa (20 s) + Borracha Cerapol Super (20 s); RF: Roda de feltro com pasta diamantada grossa (30 s) + roda de feltro com pasta diamantada fina (30 s). As amostras foram avaliadas quantitativamente quanto à rugosidade superficial (Ra) e qualitativamente em MEV, em diferentes momentos: inicialmente (antes da asperização), após asperização e após os polimentos. As médias de Ra foram submetidas aos testes estatísticos ANOVA (two-way) e Tukey (p<0,05). Após os diferentes protocolos de polimento, não foi possível observar diferenças significativas entre os grupos BC e BE (p=0,6347), entre BE e RP (p=0,1366) e RP e RF (p=0,5433). Comparando as diferentes etapas de um mesmo grupo foi possível observar que os grupos RP (p<0,0001) e RF (p<0,0001) apresentaram diferenças significativas. Em MEV, os grupos BC e BE apresentam um padrão morfológico superficial semelhante ao grupo controle. Todos os sistemas de polimento foram efetivos na redução da rugosidade de superfície para o mesmo padrão de cerâmica.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different polishing protocols on surface roughness and morphology of lithium disilicate ceramics (IPS e.max CAD). Fifty ceramic bars (2.0x3.0x2.5 mm) were produced and randomly divided into five groups (n=10), according to surface treatments: C: Control; Cer: Ceramaster (60 s); CW: cloth wheel with large-grit diamond (30 s) + cloth wheel with fine-grit diamond paste (30 s); E: grey Exa-Cerapol (20 s) + pink Exa-Cerapol (20 s) + Cerapol Super (20 s); F: Felt wheel with large-grit diamond paste (30 s) + Felt wheel with fine-grit diamond paste (30 s). The samples were evaluated quantitatively for surface roughness (Ra) and qualitatively by SEM, at different moments: initial (prior to roughening), after roughening and after polishing procedures. Ra means were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (p<0.05). After the different polishing protocols, no statistically significant differences were observed between the Cer and E groups (p=0.6347), E and CW groups (p=0.1366), and CW and FW groups (p=0.5433). Comparing different stages in the same group, it was possible to observe that CW (p<0.0001) and FW groups (p<0.0001) showed significant differences. SEM analysis revealed that both Cer and E groups exhibited a surface morphological pattern similar to that of control group. All polishing systems were effective in reducing the surface roughness of the studied ceramic type.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to evaluate a prefabricated intraradicular threaded pure titanium post, designed and developed at the São José dos Campos School of Dentistry - UNESP, Brazil. This new post was designed to minimize stresses observed with prefabricated post systems and to improve cost-benefits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fracture resistance testing of the post/core/root complex, fracture analysis by microscopy and stress analysis by the finite element method were used for post evaluation. The following four prefabricated metal post systems were analyzed: group 1, experimental post; group 2, modification of the experimental post; group 3, Flexi Post, and group 4, Para Post. For the analysis of fracture resistance, 40 bovine teeth were randomly assigned to the four groups (n=10) and used for the fabrication of test specimens simulating the situation in the mouth. The test specimens were subjected to compressive strength testing until fracture in an EMIC universal testing machine. After fracture of the test specimens, their roots were sectioned and analyzed by microscopy. For the finite element method, specimens of the fracture resistance test were simulated by computer modeling to determine the stress distribution pattern in the post systems studied. RESULTS: The fracture test presented the following averages and standard deviation: G1 (45.63±8.77), G2 (49.98±7.08), G3 (43.84±5.52), G4 (47.61±7.23). Stress was homogenously distributed along the body of the intraradicular post in group 1, whereas high stress concentrations in certain regions were observed in the other groups. These stress concentrations in the body of the post induced the same stress concentration in root dentin. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental post (original and modified versions) presented similar fracture resistance and better results in the stress analysis when compared with the commercial post systems tested (08/2008-PA/CEP).