Abstract The demands for dental materials continue to grow, driven by the desire to reach a better performance than currently achieved by the available materials. In the dental restorative ceramic field, the structures evolved from the metal-ceramic systems to highly translucent multilayered zirconia, aiming not only for tailored mechanical properties but also for the aesthetics to mimic natural teeth. Ceramics are widely used in prosthetic dentistry due to their attractive clinical properties, including high strength, biocompatibility, chemical stability, and a good combination of optical properties. Metal-ceramics type has always been the golden standard of dental reconstruction. However, this system lacks aesthetic aspects. For this reason, efforts are made to develop materials that met both the mechanical features necessary for the safe performance of the restoration as well as the aesthetic aspects, aiming for a beautiful smile. In this field, glass and high-strength core ceramics have been highly investigated for applications in dental restoration due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and translucency. However, since these are recent materials when compared with the metal-ceramic system, many studies are still required to guarantee the quality and longevity of these systems. Therefore, a background on available dental materials properties is a starting point to provoke a discussion on the development of potential alternatives to rehabilitate lost hard and soft tissue structures with ceramic-based tooth and implant-supported reconstructions. This review aims to bring the most recent materials research of the two major categories of ceramic restorations: ceramic-metal system and all-ceramic restorations. The practical aspects are herein presented regarding the evolution and development of materials, technologies applications, strength, color, and aesthetics. A trend was observed to use high-strength core ceramics type due to their ability to be manufactured by CAD/CAM technology. In addition, the impacts of COVID-19 on the market of dental restorative ceramics are presented.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou a influência dos acabamentos superficiais da zircônia no desgaste de um análogo de esmalte. 40 discos de zircônia foram divididos em quatro grupos: controle (sem acabamento); glazeado; polido; polido e glazeado. Todas as amostras foram submetidas ao desgaste contra antagonistas de esteatita. Os espécimes foram submetidos à análise de rugosidade, topografia, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise de molhabilidade. Medidas quantitativas de desgaste foram realizadas nos antagonistas e nos discos de zircônia. Para medir o desgaste das esteatitas, foi mensurado o peso antes e depois do desgaste e o diâmetro após o teste. A análise de perfilometria mensurou o desgaste dos discos. Rugosidade, desgaste volumétrico e perda de massa foram analisados pelos testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Dunn (5%), enquanto os valores de ângulo de contato foram analisados com os testes One-way ANOVA e Tukey (5%). O grupo polido apresentou as menores médias de rugosidade, sendo estatisticamente diferente dos demais grupos (p-valor=0,0001). O grupo glazeado apresentou o menor desgaste volumétrico do antagonista (p-valor=0,0001), mas não foi estatisticamente diferente do grupo polido e glazeado, enquanto que esses grupos apresentaram o maior desgaste volumétrico da zircônia, com diferença estatisticamente diferente (p-valor=0,0002) em comparação com os outros. MEV mostrou irregularidades na superfície do grupo controle, sulcos no grupo polido e uma superfície homogênea para o grupo glazeado, com poucos poros. Todos os grupos apresentaram ângulos de contato menores que 90 graus, caracterizando superfícies hidrofílicas. Dentro das limitações deste estudo in vitro, é possível concluir que zircônia glazeada causou menos desgaste ao antagonista quando comparada a zircônia sem tratamento ou polida. Além disso, não foi encontrada diferença no desgaste do antagonista para os grupos de zirconia polida e controle.

Abstract This study evaluated the influence of zirconia surface finishes on the wear of an enamel analogue. 40 zirconia discs were divided into four groups: control (without finish); glazed; polished; polished and glazed. All samples were subjected to wear against steatite antagonists. The specimens underwent roughness, topographic, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wettability analyses. Quantitative wear measurements were performed on both steatites and discs. To measure wear of steatites the weight before and after the test and the diameter after the test were used. Profilometer measurements were performed to determine the wear on discs. Roughness, volumetric wear and mass loss were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (5%), while contact angle values were analyzed with One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (5%). The polished group had the lowest roughness means, being statistically different from the other groups (p-value=0.0001). The glazed group presented the lowest steatite volumetric wear (p-value=0.0001), but not statistically different from the polished and glazed group, whereas these groups presented the highest zirconia volumetric wear, with statistically different (p-value=0.0002) compared to the others. SEM showed irregularities on the control groups surface, grooves on the polished group, and a homogeneous surface for the glazed group with a few pores. All groups presented contact angles lower than 90 degrees, characterizing hydrophilic surfaces. It can be concluded that just glazed zirconia caused less wear on the antagonist when compared to no finish and polished zirconia.

Resumo O poli-éter-éter-cetona (PEEK) é um material indicado para as estruturas de próteses parciais fixas. O efeito de diferentes tratamentos de superfície na resistência de união entre PEEK e dentina humana foi avaliado. Cem cilindros de PEEK (3 mm×3 mm) foram divididos em cinco grupos de acordo com tratamento de superfície: silicatização, jateamento com partículas de Al2O3 45 µm, condicionamento com ácido sulfúrico 98% por 5, 30 e 60 s. Esses cilindros foram cimentados com cimento resinoso em cinquenta molares humanos. Primeiro, cada dente foi incluído em resina epóxica e a superfície dentinária vestibular foi exposta. Depois, duas áreas (Æ:3 mm) em dentina/por dente foram delimitadas, condicionadas com ácido fosfórico a 35% e receberam aplicação de um sistema adesivo de dois passos. Após o procedimento de cimentação, as amostras foram armazenadas em água (24 h/37 °C). A resistência da união ao cisalhamento (SBS) foi testada em uma máquina universal de ensaios (velocidade 0,5 mm/min; célula de carga 50 kgf), e foram avaliados os tipos de falha. Os dados de tensão (MPa) foram analisados pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis. A comparação das percentagens de diferentes tipos de falha foi realizada utilizando o método de Bonferroni (p<0,05). O teste de Kruskal-Wallis demonstrou que as diferenças entre os grupos não foram significantes (p=0,187). As médias de SBS foram: silicatização, 2,12±1,12 MPa; jateamento, 2,37±0,86 MPa; ácido sulfúrico por 5 s, de 2,28±1,75 MPa; ácido sulfúrico por 30 s, 1,80±0,85 MPa, ácido sulfúrico por 60 s, 1,67±0,94 MPa. Falhas adesivas e mistas foram predominantes em todos os grupos. Ambos tratamentos de superfície, físicos e químicos, promoveram adesão entre PEEK, cimento resinoso e dentina.

Abstract Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a material suitable for frameworks of fixed dental prostheses. The effect of different surface treatments on the bond strength of PEEK bonded to human dentin was evaluated. One hundred PEEK cylinders (3 mm×3 mm) were divided into five groups according to surface treatment: silica coating, sandblasting with 45 μm Al2O3 particles, etching with 98% sulfuric acid for 5, 30 and for 60 s. These cylinders were luted with resin cement onto 50 human molars. First, each tooth was embedded in epoxy resin and the buccal dentin surface was exposed. Then, two delimited dentin areas (Æ:3 mm) per tooth were etched with 35% phosphoric acid and bonded with a two-step self-priming adhesive system. After the luting procedure the specimens were stored in water (24 h/37 °C). Shear bond strength (SBS) was tested using a universal testing machine (crosshead speed 0.5 mm/min; load cell 50 kgf) and failure types were assessed. Stress data (MPa) were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of the proportions of different failure types was performed using the Bonferroni method (p<0.05). Kruskal-Wallis demonstrated that differences among groups were not significant (p=0.187). Mean SBS were as follows: silica coating, 2.12±1.12 MPa; sandblasting, 2.37±0.86 MPa; sulfuric acid 5 s, 2.28±1.75 MPa; sulfuric acid 30 s, 1.80±0.85 MPa; sulfuric acid 60 s, 1.67±0.94 MPa. Adhesive and mixed failures were predominant in all groups. Both physical and chemical surface treatments produced adhesion between PEEK, resin cement and dentin.

The thermal decomposition of silicon carbide (SiC), with the subsequent formation of graphene, can be achieved by heating treatment. Several heating processes have been applied for this purpose by using SiC, either in form of powder particles or monocrystalline substrate. In this work, instead of using an expensive commercially available SiC wafer, a polycrystalline SiC substrate was obtained, based on powder metallurgy process, in order to explore the synthesis of graphene layers on its surface by using a CO2 laser beam as heating source. Different levels of energy density (fluence) were applied and Raman spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that graphene layers were formed on the polycrystalline SiC surface. The ratio of the integrated intensity of the D and G bands, and the crystallite size were calculated. The FWHM of the 2D band peaks are in excellent agreement with the range of values found in the literature. The samples irradiated with energy density of 138.4 J/cm2 presented lower concentration of defects and higher crystallite size, while the lowest FWHM was obtained for energy density of 188 J/cm2. The process occurred at room conditions and no gas flow was used. The results reveal a simple and cost-effective alternative for synthesis of graphene-based structures on SiC.

In this work thin films of silicon carbide (SiC) were deposited on silicon wafers by High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) technique varying the average power of the discharge on a stoichiometric SiC target. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and profilometry were used to analyze the films. It was observed that high values of the average electric power favors the formation of C-C bonds, while low values of the power promote the formation of Si-C bonds. At high power, we have also observed higher deposition rates, but the samples present surface imperfections, causing increase in the roughness and decrease in the film uniformity.

ABSTRACT: Mullite is an excellent structural material due to its high temperature stability, high electrical insulation capabilities and creep resistance. This material has a number of technological applications, such as rocket nozzles used in the aerospace industry. In this work, mullite was obtained by sol-gel process, using silicic sol, aluminum nitrate and ethylene glycol, besides the following volume ratios of silica sol dispersion to ethylene glycol: 1/0; 1/1; 1/2; and 1/3. After drying, the samples were thermal treated at temperatures of 1,000; 1,100; 1,200 and 1,250°C. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and specific surface area (Bruner-Emmett-Teller - BET). SEM showed that mullite particles are fine and nearly equiaxed. The sample without ethylene glycol showed 3/2 mullite after heat treatment at 1,250°C. The sample with intermediate ethylene glycol concentration presented two crystallization processes: the first at 1,000°C forming mullite and spinel phases, and the second at 1,250°C forming only 3/2 mullite. However, the sample with the highest ethylene glycol concentration crystallized directly to mullite at 1,000°C with the highest yield. There is a strong dependence on the specific surface area with temperature. The Rietveld refinement showed that the a cell lattice of mullite and the Al/Si molar ratio in the mullite formula depend on the ethylene glycol presence and on the calcination temperature. The lattice parameters b and c are not dependent on the alumina content, but the parameter a increases with the increase in the alumina content. Samples prepared with higher ethylene glycol concentrations reached higher mullite yields at lower temperatures.