Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Traditional resin luting agents generally have mechanical properties that are superior to the newer so-called “universal” self-etching/self-adhesive resin luting agents. However, recent reports indicate that some properties of these new luting agents have been improved, approaching those of the traditional etch and rinse resin luting agents. The objective of this study was to test some mechanical properties of four of these self-etching/self-adhesive resin luting agents [Maxcem Elite (ME), Multilink Automix (MA), RelyX Unicem (RU), SmartCem 2 (SC)] and compare them to a traditional etch and rinse resin luting agent [RelyX ARC (RA)] and a resin-modified glass ionomer luting cement [Fuji Plus (FP)], both of which have much longer histories of clinical success. By comparing the properties of the newer cements to the standards, it may be possible to determine how clinically successful the newer cements may be. The mechanical properties tested were flexural strength (FS) and shear bond strength (SBS). The FS test included making beams of each material, storing them in water for periods of time (24 hours and 90 days) and then performing a three-point bending test on a universal testing machine. The 90 day groups were thermocycled. The SBS test involved preparing human molar specimens, making flat dentin surfaces. Composite cylinders were fabricated, luted to the dentin surfaces with each of the materials tested, stored in water for periods of time (24 hours or 90 days), and then a knife edge shear test was performed on a universal testing machine. The 90 day groups were thermocycled. A Weibull-distribution survival analysis was performed. The results revealed significant differences in the FS of all materials tested at 24 hours. After 90 days and thermocycling, only SC and RA were not significantly different. At both time periods, FP had the lowest and MA the highest FS. The SBS results showed MA, RA, and RU to have the highest bond strengths; SC and ME the lowest at 24 hours. After 90 days and thermocycling, RA had significantly higher bond strength than all other groups; ME, FP and SC had the lowest. The self-etching/self-adhesive resin luting agents all performed at least as well as FP, with the exception of SC (SBS 24 hour). They did not all perform as well as RA, with the exception of SC (FS 90 day), MA (SBS 24 hour, FS 24 hour and 90 day), and RU (SBS 24 hour). The newer luting agents should expect to have clinical success, regarding flexural strength and shear bond strength, at least as good as resin-modified glass ionomer luting cements and approach the level of traditional etch and rinse resin luting agents.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The purpose of this study was 1) To determine the impact of eliminating or delaying the photo-activation procedure on the polymerization contraction stress (PCS)and degree of conversion (DC) of a dual-cured resin luting agent, and 2) To determine the amount of delay in photo-initiation of the dual-cured resin cements that can achieve a reduced PCS value with the highest possible DC. The amount of PCS and DC of a dual-cured resin luting agent was determined using a tensometer and ATR spectroscopic technique, respectively. Photo-activation delay in seven tested groups was 0 min, 2 min, 4 min, 6 min, 8 min, 10 min and no photoactivation. Five samples for each group were tested. There were two hypotheses for this study: 1) A significant decrease in the amount of PCS associated with delayed photo-activation, and 2) A significant increase in DC associated with delayed photo-activation.The PCS of the chemical-cure luting agent had significantly lower value than all of the light-cure groups. For the light-cure groups, those with a 4-min delay had higher PCS than those with delays of 0 min, 2 min, 6 min, 8 min, and 10 min. The zero (0)-min and 2-min delay had higher PCS than the 6-min, 8-min, and 10-min delay; and the 6-min delay had higher PCS than the 8-min and 10-min delay. The PCS decreased 0.086 MPa per minute of delay. The DC of the chemical-cure luting agent had significantly lower value than the 2-min, 4-min, 6-min, 8-min, and 10-min delaylight cure. For the light-cure groups, 0-min delay had a lower DC than the 2-min, 4-min, 6-min, 8-min, and 10-min delay; 2-min delay had lower DC than 4-min, 6-min, 8-min, and 10-min delay. The 4-min and 6-min delay had lower DC than the 8-min and 10-min delay; and the 8-min delay had a lower degree of conversion by peak area than the 10- minute delay. The DC increased 0.021 per minute of delay. Extending the stress relief period of the dual-cured luting agents by delaying light activation has a significant impact on PCS and DC values. There was significant decrease in PCS with the delayed light curing of the resin luting agent. Significant increase in DC was noticed when light activation was delayed in the dual-cured resin luting agents.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Potential problems of one-step adhesives have been identified, including water uptake and subsequent plasticization, water-and enzyme-induced nanoleakage, and the presence of voids due to phase-separation or osmosis. Clinically, adhesive failures due to marginal degradation present as retention loss, marginal discoloration, and secondary caries. However, the mechanisms of adhesive interface degradation of self-etching and self-bonding resin luting agents are not fully understood. The objective of the study was to investigate adhesive layer degradation by using a nanoleakage technique with five different resin luting agents. Materials and Methods: Five different resin luting systems, Variolink II, Panavia F2.0, RelyX Unicem, RelyX Unicem2, and Maxcem Elite were evaluated in this study. The 25 dentin specimens were randomly divided into five resin luting agent groups. Flat dentin surfaces were created mid-coronally and were luted with luting agents. Then, each tooth was sectioned occluso-gingivally. The first half of each tooth was used as a control group and the other half was used as the experimental group. The control group was immersed in artificial saliva at 37°C and SEM examination with chemical analysis was performed within 48 hours. In the tested group, all specimens were immersed in artificial saliva at 37°C for 10 days and thermocycled. For the SEM examination, the specimens were immersed in a 50-percent ammoniacal silver nitrate solution for 24 hours.22 SEM was used for observation of silver penetration of the specimens. Three scan lines were selected. For elemental analysis, natural apatite, olivine minerals, and pure silver metal were chosen as standards for Ca, Si and Ag. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with a 5-percent significance level. Results: At the bottom of the hybrid layer, there was no significant difference in silver uptake within the adhesive interface between luting agents (p > 0.05) and there was no significant change in silver uptake within the adhesive interface after thermocycling (aging) (p > 0.05). Conclusion: All resin luting agents exhibited nanoleakage after both 24-hour storage and 10-day storage with thermocycling.