Effect of Luting Cement and Convergence Angle of the Preparation on the Internal Fit of Zirconia Restorations

The objective was to evaluate the effect of luting agents and the preparation design on the internal fit of zirconia restorations. Sixty dies were prepared and divided in occlusal convergence angle of 6° (OC6) and 12° (OC12). CAD/CAM zirconia copings were fabricated (Lava All-Ceramic System). A zinc phosphate cement (ZPC); a glass ionomer cement (GIC); and a resin cement (RC) were studied. Specimens were sectioned and coping/die discrepancies were evaluated through Stereoscopic Microscopy. A closer fit was observed in OC12 when compared to OC6 (p < 0.001). For OC6 no significant differences were observed in between ZPC, GIC, and RC (p > 0.05). For OC12, a significantly closer fit was recorded on the ZPC subgroup when compared to the GIC subgroup (p < 0.001). Preparations of 12 degrees demonstrated a closer internal fit when compared to 6 degrees. Preparations of 12 degrees achieved better internal fit values with ZPC (Fortex) followed by RC (RelyX Unicem), and GIC (Ketac Cem). No differences were found when comparing different luting agents over 6° degrees preparations.

Implementing Augmented reality in Tourism

Modern technology is becoming a necessity of many destinations to stay competitive and attractive to the tourist. A new form of technology that is being used increasingly is Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR). The aim of this paper is to display the development of a mobile AR tourism application in urban heritage called PazinAR. Although Augmented Reality has passed the initial hype stage, the technology is just on the verge of being implemented in the tourism industry. This paper describes preparation, design, implementation and execution of prototype touristic application based on Augmented Reality (AR) technology. The application was made using Unity software and AR SDK Vuforia and exported as Android applications. Created application enables overlapping old photos with current view. Furthermore, several significant implications for AR Tourism research and practice are revealed.

Functional or Nonfunctional Cusps Preservation for Molars Restored with Indirect Composite or Glass-Ceramic Onlays: 3D FEA Study

Evidence regarding the effect of the onlay preparation design for different CAD/CAM restorative materials considering the preservation of cusps is lacking. Molars were 3D-modeled in four preparation designs for onlay restoration: traditional design with functional cusp coverage (TFC), non-retentive design with functional cusp coverage (NFC), traditional design with non-functional cusp coverage (TNFC) and non-retentive design with non-functional cusp coverage (NNFC). The restorations were simulated with two CAD/CAM restorative materials: LD—lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) and RC—resin composite (GrandioBloc). A 100 N axial load was applied to the occlusal surface, simulating the centric contact point. Von Mises (VM) and maximum principal (Pmax) stress were evaluated for restorations, cement layer and dental substrate. The non-retentive preparation design reduced the stress concentration in the tooth structure in comparison to the conventional retentive design. For LD onlays, the stress distribution on the restoration intaglio surface showed that the preparation design, as well as the prepared cusp, influenced the stress magnitude. The non-retentive preparation design provided better load distribution in both restorative materials and more advantageous for molar structure. The resin composite restoration on thenon-functional cusp is recommended when the functional cusp is preserved in order to associate conservative dentistry and low-stress magnitude.

Functional or Nonfunctional Cusps Preservation for Posterior Onlays in Indirect Composite or Glass-Ceramic: 3D FEA Study

Evidence regarding the effect of the onlay preparation design for different CAD/CAM restorative materials considering the preservation of cusps is lacking. Molars were 3D modeled in four preparation designs for onlay restoration: traditional design with functional cusp coverage (TFC), non-retentive design with functional cusp coverage (NFC), traditional design with non-functional cusp coverage (TNFC), non-retentive design with non-functional cusp coverage (NNFC). Restorations were simulated with two CAD/CAM restorative materials: LD &ndash; lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) and RC - resin composite (GrandioBloc). A 100 N axial load was applied to the occlusal surface simulating the centric contact point. Von Mises (VM) and maximum principal (Pmax) stresses were evaluated for restorations, cement layer and dental substrate. The non-retentive preparation design reduced the stress concentration in the tooth structure in comparison to the conventional retentive design. For LD onlays, the stress distribution on the restoration intaglio surface showed that the preparation design as well as the prepared cusp, influenced the stress magnitude. The non-retentive preparation design provided better load distribution in both restorative materials and more advantageous for tooth structure. The resin composite restoration on non-functional cusp is recommended when functional cusp is preserved, in order to associate conservative dentistry and low stress magnitude.

Influence of Preparation Design, Restorative Material and Load Direction on The Stress Distribution of Ceramic Veneer in Upper Central Incisor

Objective: Evaluate the effect of four preparation designs, two ceramic materials, and two occlusion contact types on the stress distribution of ceramic veneer in upper central incisor. Material and methods: 3D-models were performed in the modeling software containing enamel, dentin, pulp, periodontal ligament and a base of polyurethane resin. The designs were modeled and exported to the computer aided engineering software to perform the static structural analysis. For the mesh, a total of 155429 tetrahedron elements and 271683 nodes were used, after a 10% convergence test. Two materials, lithium disilicate and feldspathic ceramics, were simulated. A static load of 100 N on 45º was applied on the incisal and middle thirds of the palatal tooth region, guided by the occlusal plane. The base was constrained in all directions. The Maximum Principal Stress was the failure criteria chosen for the analysis. Results: The Finite Element Analysis showed that the most conservative designs presented less stress concentration on the ceramic veneer. However, the highest tensile stress concentrations were observed on lithium disilicate veneer with extend design, on the middle third. The type of occlusal contact presented different stress patterns among the preparation designs; the incisal contact showed higher stress concentration compared to middle third contact regardless the ceramic material. Conclusions: To perform a ceramic veneer in upper central incisor, the feldspathic ceramic presented promising results and should be recommended when the extended design was done. Regarding contact types, the incisal contact is more prone to failure regardless the ceramic and preparation design. Keywords Ceramics; Dental veneers; Finite element analysis.

Influence of Preparation Design and Restorative Material on Fatigue and Fracture Strength of Restored Maxillary Premolars

SUMMARY Statement of Problem: Extensive carious lesions and/or large preexisting restorations possibly contribute to crack formation, ultimately resulting in a fracture that may lead to the loss of a tooth cusp. Hence, preparation design strategy in conjunction with the restorative material selected could be influential in the occurrence of a cuspal fracture. Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the fatigue behavior and fracture strength of maxillary premolars restored with direct composite and indirect ceramic inlays and overlays, with different preparation depths in the presence or absence of cuspal coverage, and analyze their failure types. Methods and Materials: Sound maxillary premolars (N=90; n=10) were divided into nine groups: group C: control; group DCI3: direct composite inlay 3 mm; group DCI5: direct composite inlay 5 mm; group ICI3: indirect ceramic inlay 3 mm; group ICI5: indirect ceramic inlay 5 mm; group DCO3: direct composite overlay 3 mm; group DCO5: direct composite overlay 5 mm; group ICO3: indirect ceramic overlay 3 mm; group ICO5: indirect ceramic overlay 5 mm. In indirect ceramic, lithium disilicate restoration groups, immediate dentin sealing was applied. After restoration, all specimens were tested in fatigue (1,200,000 cycles, 50 N, 1.7 Hz). Samples were critically appraised, and the specimens without failure were subjected to a load to failure test. Failure types were classified and the data analyzed. Results: Zero failures were observed in the fatigue testing. The following mean load to failure strengths (N) were recorded: group ICO5: 858 N; group DCI3: 829 N; group ICO3: 816 N; group C: 804 N; group ICI3: 681 N; group DCO5: 635 N; group DCI5: 528 N; group DCO3: 507 N; group ICI5: 482 N. Zero interaction was found between design-depth-material (p=0.468). However, significant interactions were found for the design-depth (p=0.012) and design-material (p=0.006). Within restorations at preparation depth of 3 mm, direct composite overlays obtained a significantly lower fracture strength in comparison to indirect ceramic onlays (p=0.013) and direct composite inlays (p=0.028). In restorations at depth 5 mm, significantly higher fracture load values were observed in indirect ceramic overlays compared with the inlays (p=0.018). Indirect ceramic overlays on 3 mm were significantly stronger than the deep inlays in ceramic (p=0.002) and tended to be stronger than the deep direct composite inlays. Severe, nonreparable fractures were observed with preparation depth of 5 mm within ceramic groups. Conclusions: The preparation depth significantly affected the fracture strength of tooth when restored with either composite or ceramic materials. Upon deep cavity preparations, cuspal coverage proved to be beneficial when a glass ceramic was used as the restorative material. Upon shallow cavity preparations, a minimally invasive approach regarding preparation design used in conjunction with a direct composite material was favorable.

Fracture resistance and 3D finite element analysis of machined ceramic crowns bonded to endodontically treated molars with two planes versus flat occlusal preparation designs: an in vitro study

Background: The flat occlusal preparation design (FOD) of posterior teeth offers promising results of fracture resistance and stress distribution, but its application in vital teeth is limited as there may be a danger of pulp injury. Although this danger is omitted in endodontically treated teeth, there is no research work assessing the impact of FOD on the fracture resistance and distribution of stresses among these teeth. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of FOD of endodontically treated molars on the fracture resistance and distribution of stresses among a ceramic crown-molar structure when compared to the two planes occlusal preparation design (TOD). Methods: 20 human mandibular molars were endodontically treated and distributed equally to two groups: Group I (TOD) and Group II (FOD). Ceramic CAD/CAM milled lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD) crowns were produced for all preparations and adhered using self-adhesive resin cement. Using a universal testing machine, the fracture resistance test was performed. The fractured samples were examined using a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope to determine modes of failure. Stress distribution was evaluated by 3D finite element analysis, which was performed on digital models of endodontically treated mandibular molars (one model for each design). Results: Group II recorded statistically non-significant higher fracture resistance mean values (3107.2± 604.9 N) than Group I mean values (2962.6 ±524.27 N) as indicated by Student’s t-test (t=0.55, p= 0.57). Also, Group II resulted in more favorable failure mode as compared to Group I. Both preparation designs yielded low von-Mises stresses within the factor of safety. However, the stress distribution among different layers of the model differed. Conclusions: FOD having comparable fracture strength to TOD and a more favorable fracture behavior can be used for the preparation of endodontically treated molars.

Gender sensitive research in adult education: Looking back and looking forward to explore what is and what is missing in the research agenda

Despite legislation, policies and practice, and while some progress has been made in many countries, there are still no countries who have achieved a hundred per cent gender equality (Gender Equality Index, EIGE, 2019). Over the years this has included several supranational agreements and mandatory regulations signed by countries such as the Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979), the Platform of Beijing (1995), the Istanbul Convention (2011), and more recently the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015), among others. The failure of these initiatives indicate that gender inequality, discrimination and prejudice suffered by women are embedded in structural unequal power relations. The ultimate goal of the ‘gender mainstreaming principle’ is the integration of a gender perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation policies, regulatory measures and spending programmes (including research ones), with a view to promoting gender equality between women and men, and combating discrimination.