OBJECTIVE: To compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of nickel-titanium files made by 3 new heat treatment in simulated S-shaped root canals at different temperatures. METHODS: Gold heat-treated nickel-titanium files TruNatomy (25 mm, tip size 26#/0.04) and ProTaper Gold (25 mm, tip size 25#/0.08) were selected as the experimental group, M wire technique nickel-titanium file ProTaper Next (25 mm, tip size 25#/0.06) was selected as the control group. It was speculated that the Gold technique used in TruNatomy nickel-titanium file was R phase separation technique, which included a complete intermediate R-phase, increasing its flexibility. ProTaper Gold was a CM wire nickel-titanium file and the increased phase transformation temperature by heat treatment introduced martensite at room temperature, while it underwent gold heat treatment on the surface, generating an intermediate R phase during phase transformation, providing hyperelastic. ProTaper Next used M wire technique, M wire included austenite at room temperature, where heat mechanical processing introduced hardened martensite, which was incapable of participating phase transformation. Because of the lower elastic modulus of hardened martensite than austenite, the flexibility of the file was increased. Twenty instruments of each nickel-titanium file were submitted to the cyclic fatigue test by using a simulated canal with double curvatures at room tem-perature (24 ℃) and 65 ℃, 10 instruments of each nickel-titanium file were selected at each temperature (n=10). At the same temperature, the number of cyclic fatigue (NCF) and fragment length were analyzed by using One-Way analysis of variance at a significance level of P < 0.05. NCF and fragment length of the same nickel-titanium file at room temperature and 65 ℃ were compared by paired sample t test and the significance level was α=0.05. Fractured surfaces were analyzed by using scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: In double-curved canals, all the failure of the files due to cyclic fatigue was first seen in the apical curvature before the coronal curvature. At room temperature, in the apical curvature, NCF of TruNatomy was 344.4±96.6, ProTaper Gold was 175.0±56.1, ProTaper Next was 133.3±39.7, NCF of Tru Natomy was the highest (P < 0.05). In the coronal curvature, NCF of TruNatomy was 618.3± 75.3, ProTaper Gold was 327.5±111.8, ProTaper Next was 376.6±67.9, NCF of TruNatomy was also the highest (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the apical and coronal fragment length of the 3 nickel-titanium files (P>0.05). At 65 ℃, in the apical curvature, NCF of TruNatomy was 289.6±65.8, ProTaper Gold was 187.5±75.4, ProTaper Next was 103.0±38.5, NCF of TruNatomy was the highest (P < 0.05). In the coronal curvature, NCF of TruNatomy was 454.2±45.4, ProTaper Gold was 268.3±31.4, ProTaper Next was 283.8±31.7, NCF of TruNatomy was also the highest (P < 0.05). The apical fragment length of ProTaper Next was the highest (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among coronal fragment length of the 3 nickel-titanium files (P>0.05). Compared with room temperature, at 65 ℃, in the coronal curvature, NCF of TruNatomy decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The fractured surfaces of the three nickel-titanium files demonstrated typical cyclic fatigue. CONCLUSION Gold heat-treated nickel-titanium file had better cyclic fatigue resistance than M wire nickel-titanium file in S-shaped root canals.
Nickel/chemistry* ; Titanium/chemistry* ; Hot Temperature ; Root Canal Preparation/methods* ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Gold/chemistry* ; Dental Alloys/chemistry* ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of cryogenic treatment and age-hardening heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of a dental casting Ag-Pd alloy.

METHODSA low gold content dental casting alloy composed of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au was prepared for this study. Corrosion test was performed according to ISO 10271:2001 dental metallie-corrosion test methods. Experimental specimens were casted according to a standard dental lost-wax casting procedure, treated with solution by heating the specimens to 900 degrees C, and immediately quenched in ice water. The specimens were then divided into four groups and subjected to heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, and heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment. The specimens after the solution treatment were taken as control. The metallographic structures of the specimens were observed. The electrochemical parameters and the quantity of non-precious metallic ions released were evaluated via electrochemical and static immersion tests.

RESULTSMetallographic observation revealed that all the treatments resulted in a change in the microstructure of the alloy. The treatments were effective in improving the electrochemical parameters, such as an increase in Eocp and Ecorr and a decrease in Icorr (P < 0.05). The amount of non-noble metal ions released showed no difference compared with the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAfter different treatments, the antierosion properties of the alloy satisfied the ISO requirements. Age-hardening heat treatment and cryogenic treatment improved the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

Alloys ; Copper ; Corrosion ; Dental Alloys ; Gold Alloys ; Hot Temperature ; Palladium ; Silver

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different surface conditioning methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) of metal brackets bonded directly to gold alloy with chemically cured resin. METHODS: Two hundred ten type III gold alloy specimens were randomly divided into six groups according to the combination of three different surface conditioning methods (aluminum oxide sandblasting only, application of a metal primer after aluminum oxide sandblasting, silica coating and silanation) and thermocycling (with thermocycling, without thermocycling). After performing surface conditioning of specimens in accordance with each experimental condition, metal brackets were bonded to all specimens using a chemically cured resin. The SBS was measured at the moment of bracket debonding, and the resin remnants on the specimen surface were evaluated using the adhesive remnant index. RESULTS: Application of metal primer after aluminum oxide sandblasting yielded a higher bond strength than that with aluminum oxide sandblasting alone (p < 0.001), and silica coating and silanation yielded a higher bond strength than that with metal primer after aluminum oxide sandblasting (p < 0.001). There was no significant change in SBS after thermocycling in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: With silica coating and silanation, clinically satisfactory bond strength can be attained when metal brackets are directly bonded to gold alloys using a chemically cured resin.
Adhesives ; Alloys* ; Aluminum Oxide ; Gold Alloys ; Silicon Dioxide*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of recasting on the mechanical properties of Au-Pt ceramic alloy.

METHODSAu-Pt ceramic alloy samples were prepared and recast for 3 times without adding any new Au-Pt ceramic alloy. The tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness of each specimen were measured.

RESULTSBeing cast for different times, the Au-Pt ceramic alloy showed no significant differences on their tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength or Vickers hardness. The flexural modulus of the Au-Pt alloys being cast for 2 or 3 times was significantly higher than that of the alloys being cast for 1 time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Au-Pt ceramic alloy can be recast for 3 times at least, without any decrease in the mechanical properties.

Alloys ; Ceramics ; Dental Alloys ; Gold Alloys ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cryogenic treatment and age-hardening heat treatment on the micro-Vicker's hardness of palladium-silver dental alloys.

METHODSA low-gold content dental casting alloy composed of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au was prepared for this study. Experimental specimens according to standard requirements were prepared following a standard dental laboratory casting procedure, cast specimens were heated to 900 degrees C and quenched in ice water. The specimens were then divided into 4 groups. They were subsequently subjected to different treatments, including age-hardening heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment. The non-treated group was used as control. The micro-Vicker's hardness value was examined. The significance of correlation was analyzed.

RESULTSThe micro-Vicker's hardness of specimens after age-hardening heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment increased by 129%, 13% and 141%, respectively, compared with that of the non-treated control group. Conclusion Age-hardening heat treatment and cryogenic treatment were effective in elevating the hardness of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy.

Copper ; Dental Alloys ; Gold Alloys ; Hardness ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Palladium ; Silver

This study evaluated the adhesion of zirconia core ceramics with their corresponding veneering ceramics, having different thermal expansion coefficients (TECs), when zirconia ceramics were coloured at green stage. Zirconia blocks (N=240; 6 mm×7 mm×7 mm) were manufactured from two materials namely, ICE Zirconia (Group 1) and Prettau Zirconia (Group 2). In their green stage, they were randomly divided into two groups. Half of the specimens were coloured with colouring liquid (shade A2). Three different veneering ceramics with different TEC (ICE Ceramic, GC Initial Zr and IPS e.max Ceram) were fired on both coloured and non-coloured zirconia cores. Specimens of high noble alloys (Esteticor Plus) veneered with ceramic (VM 13) (n=16) acted as the control group. Core-veneer interface of the specimens were subjected to shear force in the Universal Testing Machine (0.5 mm⋅min(-1)). Neither the zirconia core material (P=0.318) nor colouring (P=0.188) significantly affected the results (three-way analysis of variance, Tukey's test). But the results were significantly affected by the veneering ceramic (P=0.000). Control group exhibited significantly higher mean bond strength values (45.7±8) MPa than all other tested groups ((27.1±4.1)-(39.7±4.7) and (27.4±5.6)-(35.9±4.7) MPa with and without colouring, respectively) (P<0.001). While in zirconia-veneer test groups, predominantly mixed type of failures were observed with the veneering ceramic covering <1/3 of the substrate surface, in the metal-ceramic group, veneering ceramic was left adhered >1/3 of the metal surface. Colouring zirconia did not impair adhesion of veneering ceramic, but veneering ceramic had a significant influence on the core-veneer adhesion. Metal-ceramic adhesion was more reliable than all zirconia-veneer ceramics tested.
Adhesiveness ; Ceramics ; chemistry ; Color ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Materials ; chemistry ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; instrumentation ; Dental Veneers ; Gold Alloys ; chemistry ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; chemistry ; Prosthesis Coloring ; Stress, Mechanical ; Surface Properties ; Thermodynamics ; Yttrium ; chemistry ; Zirconium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the long-term clinical effects of two kinds of crowns and bridges made of porcelain fused to Au-Pt alloy and Ni-Cr alloy.

METHODSA total of 131 teeth (64 patients) were rehabilitated using porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, among which 59 were rehabilitated with Au-Pt alloy metal ceramic crown and 72 with Ni-Cr alloy metal ceramic crown.The porcelain fracture, shade, marginal adaptation, gingival discoloration, and gingival status after finishing restoration and 36 months of follow-up were evaluated.

RESULTSAfter 36 months of restoration, porcelain fused to Au-Pt alloy crown showed better clinical effects than porcelain fused to Ni-Cr alloy crown in shade, marginal adaptation, gingival discoloration, as well as gingival status (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Au-Pt alloy ceramic crown is superior to Ni-Cr alloy ceramic crown in long-term clinical effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromium Alloys ; Crowns ; Female ; Gold Alloys ; Humans ; Male ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of alloy leaching liquor of four different types of base metal alloy on the expression of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and cyclo-oxygenase-2(COX-2) by human gingival fibroblast(HGF) in vitro.

METHODSNi-Cr, Co-Cr, pure Ti and Au ceramic alloys were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) to prepare alloy leaching liquor, and then added in HGF medium. DMEM was prepared as negative control. Aliquots were taken from exposed media after 1, 6, 12, 24 h. Assays for PGE(2) were carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSIn 6, 12, 24 h, the expression of PGE(2) in Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloy groups (Ni-Cr: 45.568 ± 0.926, 60.538 ± 0.988, 73.754 ± 0.507; Co-Cr: 40.496 ± 0.693, 53.216 ± 0.327, 65.470 ± 1.086) were significantly higher than those in other experimental groups (Ti: 31.564 ± 0.719, 31.998 ± 0.856, 32.066 ± 0.513; Au alloy: 31.540 ± 0.821, 31.136 ± 0.518, 31.340 ± 0.443) and control group (31.122 ± 0.642, 31.230 ± 0.634, 30.980 ± 0.746) (P < 0.05). No significant difference were found in the expression of PGE(2) among pure Ti, Au alloy groups and the control group (P > 0.05). Immunofluorescence showed dark and uniform COX-2 stain in Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloy groups, while in pure Ti group, Au alloy group, and negative control group shallow and uneven distribution of COX-2 stain were observed.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggested that pure Ti and Au alloy did not cause elevated PGE(2) and COX-2 release from HGF. However, Ni-Cr and Co-Cr alloy caused increase in PGE(2) and COX-2 levels.

Cells, Cultured ; Chromium Alloys ; adverse effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Dental Alloys ; adverse effects ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gingiva ; cytology ; Gold Alloys ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Titanium ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of sintering gold paste coating of pure titanium on the adhesion of three porcelains following the protocol ISO 9693, and to investigate the titanium-porcelains interfaces.

METHODSSixty machined pure titanium samples were prepared in a rectangular shape according to ISO 9693 and divided equally into six groups. Half of the strips were coated with gold paste (Deckgold) and sintered. Three ultra-low-fusing dental porcelains (I: Initial Ti, S: Super porcelain Ti-22, T: TitanKeramik) were fused onto the titanium surfaces. A thin layer of bonding agent was only applied on the surfaces of uncoated gold specimens. The interface of the porcelain and titanium was observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) after metallographic preparation and sputtered with a very thin carbon layer of the embedded titanium-porcelain interface. After three-point bending test was performed, optical stereomicroscope was used to characterize the titanium-porcelains adhesion and determine the mode of failure.

RESULTSFE-SEM illustrated intermetallic compounds of Au-Ti formed with some visible microcracks in the gold layer and the interface of gold layer and ceramic. All the uncoated gold titanium-porcelain system showed predominately adhesive fracture at the titanium oxidation, whereas the failure modes in all gold coated systems were cohesive and adhesive, mainly cohesive. The three-point-bending test showed that the bonding strength of GS and GI groups [(37.08 ± 4.32) and (36.20 ± 2.40) MPa] were higher than those in uncoated groups [(31.56 ± 3.74) and (30.88 ± 2.60) MPa, P < 0.05], while no significant difference was found between T group and GT group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe gold paste intermediate coatings can improve bond strengths of Super porcelain Ti-22 system and Initial Ti system, which have potential applications in clinical fields.

Dental Bonding ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Gold ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the influences of gold alloy metal crown and Ni-Cr alloy metal crown on gingival health.

METHODSTotally 20 patients requiring one metal crown restoration were divided into the gold alloy metal crown group (n=9) and Ni-Cr alloy metal crown group (n=11). The contra-lateral homonymy natural healthy teeth served as controls. Before the tooth preparation and 6 months after crown placement, the weight of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of each tooth (included the test teeth and the control teeth) was measured, and the probing depth and the sulcus bleeding index of each tooth were also recorded.

RESULTSIn the gold alloy metal crown group, the weight of GCF detected before the tooth preparation was significantly larger than that detected 6 months after restoration (P<0.05). In the Ni-Cr alloy metal crown group, the sulcus bleeding index recorded 6 months after restoration was significantly larger than that recorded before the tooth preparation (P<0.05). The other experimental indicators were not significantly different before and after restoration.

CONCLUSIONThe gold alloy metal crowns will not cause obvious harm to the periodontal tissues of the abutments shortly after restoration, while the Ni-Cr alloy metal crowns may increase the risk of sulcus bleeding.

Adult ; Chromium Alloys ; Crowns ; Female ; Gold Alloys ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontium