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The impression materials utilized today in dental medicine offer a good reproducibility and are easily accepted by patients. However, because they are polymer-based, they have issues regarding their dimensional stability. In this respect, the present work proposes a new type of dental impression, which is reinforced with rigid mouthguards. The aim of the study is to test the performances of such new impressions by comparing them to conventional ones-from this critical point of view, of the dimensional stability. Three types of polymeric materials were considered for both types of impressions: alginate, condensation silicone, and addition silicone. In order to obtain the new type of impressions, a manufacturing technique was developed, comprising the following phases: (i) conventional impressions were made; (ii) a plaster model was duplicated, and 15 rigid mouthguards were obtained; (iii) they were inserted in the impression technique, with each mouthguard positioned on the cast before the high-consistency material was inserted in the tray and the practitioner took the impression; (iv) the mouthguard remained in the tray and the low-viscosity material was inserted over the mouthguard; (v) the impression was positioned on the model, and after the material hardened, the mouthguard-reinforced impression was analyzed. In the evaluation of the dimensional stability, rigorous statistical analysis was essential to discern the performance differences between conventional and mouthguard-reinforced dental impressions. Statistical analyses employed non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests because of the non-normal distribution of the data. They indicated a statistically significant improvement in the dimensional stability of addition silicone impressions when reinforced with mouthguards ( p < 0.05), showcasing superior performance over conventional methods. Conversely, alginate and condensation silicone reinforced impressions did not exhibit the same level of stability improvement, suggesting the need for further optimization of these materials. In conclusion, from the three considered elastomers, addition silicone was found to be the prime candidate for high-precision dental impressions, with the potential to improve their quality from conventional impressions by utilizing the proposed reinforcing technique.

Objectives: The goal of endodontic therapy is mechanically cleaning and shaping the root canal system, the removal of organic and inorganic debris followed by sealing with permanent filling materials., Materials and Methods: Therefore, the aim of this in vitro study was to engage three imagistic methods: (i) en face (ef) time domain (TD) optical coherence tomography (OCT), (ii) micro-computed tomography (μCT), and (iii) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in terms of their efficiency in assessing the quality of endodontic fillings. So far, is settled that efOCT images can identify defects∕voids in several of the investigated root canal fillings and identify gaps of 50 μm., Results: The results delivered by μCT technology also showed several imperfections of the endodontic filling but also at the interfaces formed by the sealer and the root canal walls. SEM investigations highlights the complex form of the interface formed the endodontic filling material and the walls of the root canal, as well as shortcomings of the materials from several samples. Gaps of 50 μm are identified with efOCT., Conclusions: The net advantage of OCT technology, in respect to the other two technologies consists in its non-invasiveness. The OCT axial resolution is also sufficient to see the material gaps. Another advantage of efOCT investigations is that they allow real-time imaging of complex arrangement at the interfaces of the filling material with dentinal root.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) antibacterial solution in penetrating the demineralized areas of enamel., Materials and Methods: It was considered a group of four extracted teeth (with no color fading, fissures, decay, or demineralization). Each tooth was sectioned in two equal parts, in mesio-distal direction, using a dental handpiece and a special rounded, flat bur. Each specimen was demineralized, for one minute, with 45% orthophosphoric acid, on occlusal and proximal zones. The specimens were then washed and dried with water-air dental syringe. All the probes were inspected with an optical microscope and enamel thickness was digitally measured. Advantage Arrest (Elevate Oral Care, USA), which contains SDF, was applied on the previous demineralized zones. The penetration of the substance was visually inspected with the optical microscope and electronically measured., Results: It was observed an improvement in remineralizing the white spots on enamel surfaces, the optical microscope being able to detect both demineralization and the penetration of SDF through enamel., Conclusions: Based on our in vitro study, SDF (Advantage Arrest) was capable to induce/increase enamel remineralization, through SDF penetration.

Protecting the root's internal morphology is the first key toward the success of the endodontic treatment. Due to the vast diversity of endodontic space, it is difficult to visualize and to establish the shape and limits of the root canal, especially the morphology of apical area and lateral root canals. Optical microscopy is a classical imagistic investigation method, widely used along classical methods like radiographs that also offer limited information about root morphology and extension of decay. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), a modern imagistic investigation method can provide detailed three-dimensional reconstructions of root canal. Micro-CT is a non-invasive method that has the possibility to offer cross-sectional and axial images of the endodontic space. The success of root canal treatment is based on cleaning and shaping. Beyond these two procedures, sealing the endodontic space by respecting its limits is another prerequisite for long-term success of endodontic therapy. Micro-CT can perform three-dimensional reconstruction of the root canal, root canal filling and can provide accurate images of the endodontic space. The assessment of root morphology can be obtained through imagistic invasive optical microscopy and already mentioned non-invasive methods (micro-CT). The aim of this study is to illustrate and analyze the endodontic space, according to its diversity by using micro-CT, a non-invasive imagistic investigation method an also optical microscopy. The two techniques can also provide the extension of carries or demineralized substance on different levels of the root.