Abstract Aim: To investigate whether the removal and reseating of the abutment influences the retention of Morse taper implant system. Methods: Two Morse taper implant systems were selected: Bicon Dental ImplantTM system (Bicon, LLC, Boston, MA, USA) and Kopp Implant(r) system (Kopp(r), Curitiba, PR, Brazil). In both systems, the abutment is connected to the implant with a locking taper. To seat the abutment, the same vertical force was applied in both systems. It was measured the compressive force necessary to engage effectively the locking taper connection and the tensile force to displace it. Results: The compressive force was determined by four activations in each abutment-implant set, and the sum of these forces was 21 N and 17 N in the BiconTM and Kopp(r) systems, respectively. Next, a tensile test was performed, revealing that the BiconTM system presented a 208 N resistance, whereas it was 194 N in the Kopp(r) system. Other three rounds of compression and tensile loads were applied, removing and reseating the abutment. We obtained the following tensile values: 367 N, 500 N and 756 N in the BiconTM System and 336 N, 360 N and 420 N in the Kopp(r) system. Conclusions: When the sets were subjected to repeated rounds of compressive and tensile forces, displacing and reseating the abutment, the tensile value increased.

INTRODUCTION: Sliding mechanics is widely used during orthodontic treatment. One of the disadvantages of this mechanics is the friction generated at the bracket/archwire interface, which may reduce the amount of desired orthodontic movement obtained. Due to the application and great acceptance of this type of mechanics, the role of friction in Orthodontics has been of interest for both clinicians and scientists. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this article discussed how friction affects orthodontic tooth movement, with an approach to its clinical implications as well as the evolution of dental materials and its properties regarding resistance to sliding.

OBJECTIVES: In some clinical situations, dentists come across partially edentulous patients, and it might be necessary to connect teeth to implants. The aim of this study was to evaluate a metal-ceramic fixed tooth/implant-supported denture with a straight segment, located in the posterior region of the maxilla, when varying the number of teeth used as abutments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A three-element fixed denture composed of one tooth and one implant (Model 1), and a four-element fixed denture composed of two teeth and one implant (Model 2) were modeled. A 100 N load was applied, distributed uniformly on the entire set, simulating functional mastication, for further analysis of the SEQV (Von Mises) principal stresses, which were compared with the flow limit of the materials. RESULTS: In a quantitative analysis, it may be observed that in the denture with one tooth, the maximum SEQV stress was 47.84 MPa, whereas for the denture with two teeth the maximum SEQV stress was 35.82 MPa, both located in the region between the pontic and the tooth. CONCLUSION: Lower stresses were observed in the denture with an additional tooth. Based on the flow limit of the materials, porcelain showed values below the limit of functional mastication.

INTRODUÇÃO: o atrito gerado na interface braquete/fio durante a mecânica de deslizamento pode reduzir a eficiência da movimentação ortodôntica. O método de ligação do fio ao braquete exerce importante papel na determinação desse atrito. MÉTODOS: o presente estudo comparou a força de atrito gerada por quatro tipos de braquetes autoligáveis (Time®; Damon 2®; In-Ovation R® e Smart Clip®) com um grupo de braquetes ortodônticos convencionais (Dynalock®) associados a ligaduras elásticas tradicionais (Dispens-A-Stix®), que serviu como grupo controle. A força de atrito estático foi mensurada através da máquina universal de ensaios EMIC® DL 500 com dois fios de aço inoxidável com secção transversal 0,018" e 0,017" x 0,025". RESULTADOS: a análise de variância ANOVA e o teste de Tukey mostraram baixos níveis de atrito nos quatro braquetes autoligáveis associados ao fio 0,018" (P<0,05). Entretanto, os resultados observados quando os braquetes autoligáveis foram testados com fios 0,017" x 0,025" mostraram alta resistência ao deslizamento nos grupos de braquetes autoligáveis ativos.

INTRODUCTION: Friction generated at the bracket/archwire interface during sliding mechanics can reduce the efficiency of orthodontic movement. The ligation method employed to tie the archwire to the bracket plays an important role in determining this friction. METHODS: This study compared the frictional force generated by four different types of self-ligating brackets (Time™, Damon 2™, In-Ovation R™ and Smart Clip™) with a group of conventional orthodontic brackets (Dynalock™) that require the use of traditional elastomeric ligatures (ExDispens-A-Stix™), which served as the control group. Static friction force was measured using an EMIC DL™ 500 universal testing machine using stainless steel round 0.018-in and rectangular 0.017x0.025-in archwires. RESULTS: ANOVA and Tukey's test showed low levels of friction in the four self-ligating brackets in tests with the 0.018-in wire (P <0.05). However, the results noted when the self-ligating brackets were tested using 0.017x 0.025-in archwires showed high resistance to sliding in the self-ligating groups.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated by three-dimensional finite element analysis the tensions generated by different disocclusion patterns (canine guide and bilateral balanced occlusion) in an implant-supported mandibular complete denture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A three-dimensional model of implant-supported mandibular complete denture was fabricated according to the Brånemark protocol. A 5-element 3.75 x 13-mm screw-shape dental implant system was modeled for this study. The implants were located in the inter-mental foramen region with 3-mm-high prosthetic components joined by a nickel-chromium framework with 12-mm bilateral cantilever covered by acrylic resin and 12 acrylic denture teeth. SolidWorks® software was used before and after processing the simulations. The mechanical properties of the components were inserted in the model and a 15 N load was established in fixed points, in each one of the simulations. Data were collected in the entire nickel-chromium framework. The results were displayed three-dimensionally as color graphic scales. RESULTS: The canine guide generated greater tensions in the region of the first implant, while the bilateral balanced occlusion generated great tensions in the entire metallic framework. The maximum tension found in the simulation of the bilateral balanced occlusion was 3.22 fold higher than the one found in the simulation of the disocclusion in canine guide. CONCLUSION: The pattern of disocclusion in canine guide is the ideal for implant-supported mandibular complete denture.

A comparative and qualitative analysis of the tensions generated in the cantilever region of an implant-supported mandibular complete denture was conducted using the three-dimensional finite element method. The mechanical properties of the components were input in the model and a load of 15 N was applied in pre-determined points. In the first simulation, the load was applied on the occlusal surface of the first premolar. In the second simulation, it was applied on the first and second premolars. In the third simulation, it was applied on the first and second premolars and on the first molar. The different occlusion patterns produced similar tension distributions in the cantilever region, which followed a similar pattern in the three simulations. In all of the cases, the highest levels of tension were located in the region of the first implant. However, as the loads were dislocated distally, the tensions increased considerably. The more extensive the cantilever, the more compromised will be the infrastructure, the prosthetic components and the implants. Regardless of the length of the cantilever, the highest tensions will always be located in the region of the implant next to the load application point.

Buscando comparar o desempenho de 2 cimentos de ionômero de vidro (CIV) restauradores convencionais nacionais, mais acessíveis tanto financeiramente quanto por disponibilidade no mercado, ao desempenho de 2 CIV importados frente à microinfiltração, confeccionou-se preparos classe II com término cervical em esmalte em 40 molares decíduos hígidos. Vinte cavidades foram restauradas com os CIV nacionais (Vidrion® R e Vidrion® R Caps) e as demais com os importados (Fuji® IX e Fuji® IX GPFast), por um único operador. Os dentes foram impermeabilizados, imersos em azul de metileno 0,5% e seccionados mesio-distalmente. A microinfiltração foi avaliada por 3 examinadores calibrados, em microscópio estereoscópico, através de escores (0-3). Foram utilizados os testes estatísticos de Kruskall-Wallis e de Wilcoxon. Verificou-se altos índices de microinfiltração para todos os CIV: 59,5% das amostras restauradas com Vidrion® R ou Vidrion® R Caps e 83,4% das amostras restauradas com Fuji® IX ou Fuji® IX GPFast obtiveram o escore máximo (3). Os CIV nacionais apresentaram menos microinfiltração que os CIV importados, embora essa diferença só tenha sido significativa (p=0,003) entre os materiais encapsulados.

With the aim of assessing the performance of Brazilian and imported glass ionomer cements (GIC) with regard to microleakage, 40 primary molars received two standard class II cavity preparations with margins in enamel. Twenty cavities were filled with Brazilian materials (Vidrion® R and Vidrion® R Caps) and the other 20 cavities were filled with imported materials (Fuji® IX and Fuji® IX GPFast capsule). All fillings were performed by a single operator according to the manufacturer's instructions. Teeth were immersed in 0.5% methylene blue and half-sectioned. Three independent calibrated examiners assessed microleakage using scores (0-3). Data were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test and Wilcoxon analysis. High microleakage indexes were verified for all ionomer cements: 59.5% of the samples restored with Vidrion® R or Vidrion® R Caps and 83.4% of the samples restored with Fuji® IX or Fuji® IX GPFast capsule obtained the maximum score (3). The Brazilian ionomer cements presented less microleakage than imported cements, although this difference was only significant (p=0.003) among the encapsulated materials.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a correlação entre grau de conversão e microdureza em resinas compostas, e o efeito do conteúdo de partículas e do tipo de unidade fotoativadora sobre esses parâmetros. Três resinas compostas (Artglass®, Solidex® e Zeta LC®) foram polimerizadas em três diferentes unidades laboratoriais (UniXS®, Solidilite® e unidade Experimental). Para cada material, quinze corpos-de-prova foram confeccionados em uma matriz metálica, e submetidos às análises do grau de conversão, através de espectroscopia de infravermelho, e da microdureza. O conteúdo de partículas inorgânicas foi determinado por análise termogravimétrica (TGA). O comportamento conjunto das variáveis - grau de conversão e microdureza - foi medido através do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Para a resina Artglass®, o grau de conversão variou de 37,5% a 79,2%, com valores de microdureza de 32,4 a 50,3 (r = 0,904). Para a resina Solidex®, o grau de conversão variou de 41,2% a 60,4%, com valores de microdureza de 33,3 a 44,1 (r = 0,707). Para a resina Zeta LC®, os valores de conversão e microdureza foram, respectivamente, de 62,0% a 78,0% e de 22,6 a 33,6 (r = 0,710). Concluiu-se que o uso das diferentes unidades resultou em variações dos valores de conversão em função das características específicas de cada unidade. Para cada material, uma forte correlação entre conversão e microdureza foi observada. Além disso, quando materiais diferentes foram comparados, observou-se que o conteúdo de partículas inorgânicas afetou diretamente os valores de microdureza, não interferindo no grau de conversão.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between degree of conversion and microhardness in dental composites, as well as the effect of the inorganic content and type of photo-curing unit on these parameters. Three indirect composites (ArtglassTM, SolidexTM and Zeta LCTM) were polymerized by means of three different laboratorial units (UniXSTM, SolidiliteTM and an experimental device). For each material, fifteen samples were prepared using a metal matrix. The degree of conversion was analyzed by means of infrared spectroscopy, and microhardness was also assessed. The inorganic content was measured by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The Pearson’s test was carried out in order to determine correlations. The degree of conversion of ArtglassTM ranged from 37.5% to 79.2%, and its microhardness, from 32.4 to 50.3 (r = 0.904). The degree of conversion of SolidexTM ranged from 41.2% to 60.4%, and its microhardness, from 33.3 to 44.1 (r = 0.707). The degree of conversion and the microhardness of Zeta LCTM ranged from 62.0% to 78.0% and from 22.6 to 33.6, respectively (r = 0.710). It was concluded that the utilization of different photo-curing units caused variations on the degree of conversion, as a result of specific characteristics of each unit. For each material, there was strong correlation between the degree of conversion and microhardness. In addition, when different materials were compared, microhardness was more affected by filler content than by the degree of conversion.