STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Translucency and masking effect of provisional crown and fixed partial denture materials is an important esthetic consideration. But, provisional resin materials differ substantially in their ability to mask underlying colors. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the translucency differences of provisional resin materials at various thicknesses and the correlation between the translucency and the masking efficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two polymethyl methacrylate resins (Jet Tooth Shade, Alike) and three resin composites (Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp and Revotek LC) were used. Specimens (n=6) were fabricated from each material in 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mm thickness. The CIELAB parameters of each specimens were measured using a spectrophotometer. The translucency parameter (TP) values and the masking effect (delta ME*(ab)) values were computed and all data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the multiple comparisons Scheffe test. The correlation between the thickness and the TP values and the correlation between the thickness and the delta ME*(ab) values were also evaluated by correlation analysis and regression analysis. RESULTS: The TP values and the delta ME*(ab) values were significantly related to the thickness in all specimens. The TP values were more sensitive to the change of thickness than the delta ME*(ab) values. The order of the translucency by brand was different from the order of the masking effect by brand in all thickness groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the translucency and masking effect of the provisional resin materials investigated were significantly related to their thickness. The masking effect of provisional resin was correlated with the translucency parameter, but the order of the masking effect by brand was different from the order of the translucency parameter.
Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Masks* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Tooth

STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS: The heat produced during polymerization of polymer-based provisional materials may cause thermal damage to the vital pulp. PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the exotherm reaction of the polymerbased provisional materials during polymerization by differential scanning calorimetry and to compare the temperature changes of different types of resins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three dimethacrylate-based materials (Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Plus, Luxatemp Fluorescence) and five monomethacrylate-based material (Snap, Alike, Unifast TRAD, Duralay, Jet) were selected. Temperature changes of polymer-based provisional materials during polymerization in this study were evaluated by D.S.C Q-1000 (TA Instrument, Wilmington, DE, USA). The following three measurements were determined from the temperature versus time plot: (1) peak temperature, (2) time to reach peak temperature, (3) heat capacity. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and multiple comparison Bonferroni test at the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The mean peak temperature was 39.5 degrees C (+/- 1.0). The peak temperature of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Duralay > Unifast TRAD, Alike > Jet > Luxatemp Plus, Protemp 3 Garant, Snap, Luxatemp Fluorescence. The mean time to reach peak temperature was 95.95 sec (+/- 64.0). The mean time to reach peak temperature of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Snap, Jet > Duralay > Alike > Unifast TRAD > Luxatemp Plus, Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Fluorescence. The mean heat capacity was 287.2 J/g (+/- 107.68). The heat capacity of the polymer-based provisional materials decreased in the following order: Duralay > TRAD, Jet, Alike > Snap, Luxatemp Fluorescence, Protemp 3 Garant, Luxatemp Plus. CONCLUSION: The heat capacity of materials, determined by D.S.C., is a factor in determining the thermal insulating properties of restorative materials. The peak temperature of PMMA was significantly higher than others (PEMA, dimethacrylate). No significant differences were found among PEMA (Snap) and dimethacrylate (P > 0.05). The time to reach peak temperature was greatest with PEMA, followed by PMMA and dimethacrylate. The heat capacity of PMMA was significantly higher than others (PEMA, dimethacrylate). No significant differences were found among PEMA and dimethacrylate (P>0.05).
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning* ; Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Fluorescence ; Hot Temperature ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Polymethyl Methacrylate

Statement of problem. Although many studies have been carried out to investigate the correlation between the degree of conversion and the flexural strength of composite resins, there is minimal information in the literature attempting to compare degree of conversion, flexural strength and their correlation between restorative composite resins and flowable composite resins. Purpose. The purposes of this study were to measure the degree of conversion and flexural strength of composite resins with different rheological behavior and to correlate the two properties. Materials and methods. Four restorative (Vit-l-escence, Z-250, Tetric ceram, Esthet-X) and four flowable (Aeliteflo, Admiraflow, Permaflo, Revolution) light-curing composite resins were investigated. The degree of conversion(DC) was analyzed with Fourier transfer infra-red spectroscopy(FTIR) spectrum by a potassium bromide(KBr) pellet transmission method. The spectrum of the unpolymerized specimen had been measured before the specimen was irradiated for 60s with a visible light curing unit. The polymerized specimen was scanned for its FTIR spectrum. The flexural strength(FS) was measured with 3-point bending test according to ISO 4049 after storage in water at 37 degree C for 24 hours. The data were statistically analyzed by an independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA at the significance level of 0.05. The dependence of flexural strength on the degree of conversion was also analyzed by regression analysis. Results. Mean DC and FS values ranged from 43% to 61% and from 84.7MPa to 156.7MPa respectively. DC values of the flowable composite resins were significantly higher than those of restorative composite resins (P < 0.05). The FS values of restorative composite resins were greater than those of flowable composite resins. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the DC and the FS tested in any of the composites. The dependence of FS on DC in restorative or flowable composite resins was not significant. Conclusion. It can be concluded that radical polymerization of the organic matrix is not a major factor in determining flexural strength of the commercially available composite resins.
Composite Resins* ; Light ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Potassium ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Water

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rates of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses and compare the results obtained with graft materials, implant surfaces and timing of implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2005, 391 implants were placed in 161 patients who underwent sinus grafting treatment simultaneously or separately at Ewha Womans University Hospital. According to inclusion criteria, 272 implants were placed in 102 patients with 112 sinus grafts (30 females, 72 males), aged 26 to 88 years (mean age 49.0+/-9.7). The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 134 months (mean F/U 47+/-32). Survival rates were evaluated according to graft material, implant surface and timing of implant placement. The Kaplan-Meier procedure and the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test were used to estimate survival rates and test for equality of survival rates between different groups of patients. RESULTS: Ten-year cumulative survival rate for implants placed in the grafted sinuses was 90.1%. The survival rates for autogenous bone, combination and bone substitutes were 94.6%, 85.9% and 100%, respectively (p > 0.05). According to implant surface, survival rates were 84.8% in machined group and 97.5% in rough group (p < 0.05). The survival rates were 92.9% in delayed group and 86.0% in simultaneous group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ten-year cumulative survival rate for implants placed in the grafted sinuses was 90.1%. Rough-surfaced implants have a higher survival rate than machined-surfaced implants when placed in grafted sinuses (p < 0.05).
Aged ; Bone Substitutes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Post-menopausal women experience variable biological and psychological changes. The effect of reduced levels of estrogen can effect on post-menopausal depression. Estrogen triggers physiological responses by binding to the estrogen receptor (ER). Two subtypes of ER, ERa and ERb are now known. We investigated the significance of ERa and ERb polymorphisms and post-menopasal depression in this study. Forty three women with post-menopausal depression and 63 post-menopausal women without depression as normal controls were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to investigate genotypes of ERa and ERb polymorphisms. Genotypes of PvuII and XbaI polymorphism of ERa receptor were significantly different in patients with post-menopausal depression comparing with controls. Genotypes of ERb did not show association with post-menopausal depression. Our study showed that ERa receptor polymorphism had an association with depression in post-menopausal women. It suggests that investigation of ER genes and their functions might be important for understanding pathophysilogical mechanism of post-menopausal depression.
Depression ; Estrogens ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Menopause