In this study we evaluated the influence of both the thickness of residual enamel and the color of the composite resins applied to lingual surface on the labial surface color.

Background plates were made by randomly (A1, A2, A6D, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C6D) selected colors of Filtek Supreme (3M ESPE, St. Paul, U.S.A.) composite resin.

Crown portion of 9 maxillary central incisors were cut off and embedded with acrylic resin except labial surface. Samples of average thickness of 2.2 mm were obtained after cutting it in a thickness of 2.5 mm from the labial surface and sandpaper polish.

The shade of composite resin background was measured using Spectrophotometer (Spectrolino® GretagMacbeth, Regensdorf, Switzerland). And CIE L^*a^*b^* value of 2.2 mm thickness tooth samples were measured on the 9 composite resin backgrounds. And then, the cutting side of tooth samples was ground to the extent of 1.9 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.0 mm and placed on composite resin backgrounds and measured L^*a^*b^* values with the same method.

In all samples, L^* value and b^* value seemed to have a tendency of decreasing as thickness of tooth sample becomes thinner regardless of background colors (p < 0.05). But, a^* value didn't show the significant differences depending on the thickness.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rigidity of post core systems on stress distribution by the theoretical technique, finite element stress-analysis method. Three-dimensional finite element models simulating an endodontically treated maxillary central incisor restored with a zirconia ceramic crown were prepared and 1.5 mm ferrule height was provided. Each model contained cortical bone, trabecular bone, periodontal ligament, 4 mm apical root canal filling, and post-and-core. Six combinations of three parallel type post (zirconia ceramic, glass fiber, and stainless steel) and two core (Paracore and Tetric ceram) materials were evaluated, respectively. A 50 N static occlusal load was applied to the palatal surface of the crown with a 60° angle to the long axis of the tooth. The differences in stress transfer characteristics of the models were analyzed. von Mises stresses were chosen for presentation of results and maximum displacement and hydrostatic pressure were also calculated. An increase of the elastic modulus of the post material increased the stress, but shifted the maximum stress location from the dentin surface to the post material. Buccal side of cervical region (junction of core and crown) of the glass fiber post restored tooth was subjected to the highest stress concentration. Maximum von Mises stress in the remaining radicular tooth structure for low elastic modulus resin core (29.21 MPa) was slightly higher than that for high elastic modulus resin core (29.14 MPa) in case of glass fiber post. Maximum displacement of glass fiber post restored tooth was higher than that of zirconia ceramic or stainless steel post restored tooth.

This study was done to determine if there is any difference in microleakage between experimental composite resins, in which various proportions of three component photoinitiators (Camphoroquinone, OPPI, Amine) were included.

Four kinds of experimental composite resin were made by mixing 3.2% silanated barium glass (78 wt.%, average size; 1 µm) with each monomer system including variously proportioned photoinitiator systems used for photoinitiating BisGMA/BisEMA/TEGDMA monomer blend (37.5:37.5:25 wt.%). The weight percentage of each component were as follows (in sequence Camphoroquinone, OPPI, Amine): Group A - 0.5%, 0%, 1% / Group B - 2%, 0.2%, 2% / Group C - 0.2%, 1%, 0.2% / Group D - 1%, 1%, 2%.

Each composite resin was used as a filling material for round class V cavities (diameter: 2/3 of mesiodistal width; depth: 1.5 mm) made on extracted human premolars and they were polymerized using curing light unit (XL 2500, 3M ESPE) for 40 s with an intensity of 600 mW/cm². Teeth were thermocycled five-hundred times between 50℃ and 550℃ for 30s at each temperature.

Electrical conductivity (µA) was recorded two times (just after thermocycling and after three-month storage in saline solution) by electrochemical method.

Microleakage scores of each group according to evaluation time were as follows [Group: at first record / at second record; unit (µA)]: A: 3.80 (0.69) / 13.22 (4.48), B: 3.42 (1.33) / 18.84 (5.53), C: 4.18 (2.55) / 28.08 (7.75), D: 4.12 (1.86) / 7.41 (3.41).

Just after thermocycling, there was no difference in microleakage between groups, however, group C showed the largest score after three-month storage. Although there seems to be no difference in microleakage between groups just after thermocycling, composite resin with highly concentrated initiation system or classical design (Camphoroquinone and Amine system) would be more desirable for minimizing microleakage after three-month storage.

There are a number of situations where the oral mucosa can be sucked or pressed to produce relatively banal but clinical distinctive changes. The labial and buccal mucosa and tongue may develop protuberances in areas where a tooth is missing or extra space is present. The mucosa is pressed and sucked into these spaces, thus leading to the development of a fibrous hyperplasia.

This case report describes the management of fibrous hyperplasia in oral mucosa.

Fibrous hyperplasia can be formed by habitual pressure or suction in oral mucosa. Treatment of fibrous hyperplasia consists of simple excision and, if feasible, elimination of the cause. And habit control is a important factor for preventing recurrence.

Mandibular second molars have many variations in canal configuration. Technical modifications in cleaning, shaping and obturation are required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the root canal anatomy of mandibular second molars. 86 teeth of 85 patients were accessed and evaluated with taking radiographs for working length determination. 27 teeth(31.4%) had C-shaped canals, 43 teeth(50%) had 3 canals, 11 teeth(12.7%) had 4 canals, 5 teeth(5.8%) had 2 canals. Incidence of C-shaped canal was 31.7% in male and 31.1% in female. 30.9% of left mandibular second molar and 31.8% of right mandibular second molar showed C-shaped canals.

Bond strength depends on characteristics of bonding surface and restorative technique. The majority of studies dealing with dentin bond strength were carried out on flat bonding surface, therefore, difference of bond strength between axial wall and pulpal wall is not clear yet. This study evaluated bonding difference between cavity walls in class I composite resin restoration with different filling techniques.

Twenty extracted caries-free human third molars were used. Cavities were prepared in 6 × 4 × 3 mm box-type and divided into four groups according to filling technique and bonding surface: Group I; bulk filling - pulpal wall, Group II; bulk filling - axial wall, Group III; incremental filling - pulpal wall, Group IV; incremental filling - axial wall.

Cavities were filled with Filtek Z250®(3M/ESPE., USA) and Clearfill SE bond®(Kuraray, Japan). After 24 hour-storage in 37℃ water, the resin bonded teeth were sectioned bucco-lingualy at the center of cavity.

Specimens were vertically sectioned into 1.0 × 1.0 mm thick serial sticks perpendicular to the bond surface using a low-speed diamond saw (Accutom 50, Struers, Copenhagen, Denmark) under water cooling. The trimmed specimens were then attached to the testing device and in turn, was placed in a universal testing machine (EZ test, Shimadzu Co., Kyoto, Japan) for micro-tensile testing at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min. The results obtained were statistically analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and t-test at a significance level of 95%.

The results were as follows:

1. There was no significant difference between bulk filling and incremental filling.

2. There was no significant difference between pulpal wall and axial wall, either.

Within the limit of this study, it was concluded that microtensile bond strength was not affected by the filling technique and the site of cavity walls.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells in rat teeth using slow cryo-preservation method under pressure by means of MTT assay and WST-1 assay. Eighteen teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group.

Both sides of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under Tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate control), group 2 (Cold preservation at 4°C for 1 week), group 3 (Slow freezing), group 4 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37°C water bath, then MTT assay and WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization.

In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 4 showed significantly higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than group 2 and 3 (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than immediate control group.

By the results of this study, slow cryo-preservation method under pressure suggests the possibility for long term cryo-preservation of the teeth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fiber direction on the polymerization shrinkage of fiber-reinforced composite. The disc-shaped flowable composite specimens (d = 10 mm, h = 2 mm, Aeliteflo A2, Bisco, Inc., IL, USA) with or without glass fiber bundle (X-80821P Glass Fiber, Bisco, Inc., IL, USA) inside were prepared, and the longitudinal and transversal polymerization shrinkage of the specimens on radial plane were measured with strain gages (Linear S-series 350ω, CAS, Seoul, Korea). In order to measure the free polymerization shrinkage of the flowable composite itself, the disc-shaped specimens (d = 7 mm, h = 1 mm) without fiber were prepared, and the axial shrinkage was measured with an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) displacement sensor. The cross-section of the polymerized specimens was observed with a scanning electron microscope to examine the arrangement of the fiber bundle in composite. The mean polymerization shrinkage value of each specimen group was analyzed with ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc test (α=0.05).

The radial polymerization shrinkage of fiber-reinforced composite was decreased in the longitudinal direction of fiber, but increased in the transversal direction of fiber (p<0.05). We can conclude that the polymerization shrinkage of fiber-reinforced composite splint or restoratives is dependent on the direction of fiber.

We evaluated in vitro microleakage of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) powder with 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) / methyl methacrylate (MMA) & tri-n-butylborane (TBB) resin as a retrograde filling material by using methylene blue dye method.

Fifty-two single rooted, extracted teeth were instrumented and obturated with gutta percha and AH plus sealer. The apical 3mm of each root was resected and 3mm deep ultrasonic root end preparation was done. External surface of roots was coated with nail varnish. Prepared teeth were randomly divided into five groups; Negative control: completely covered with nail varnish; Positive control: coated with nail varnish except for apical foramen; Group 1 (retrofilled with Portland cement); Group 2 (retrofilled with MTA); Group 3 (retrofilled with MTA powder mixed with 4-META/MMA & TBB resin). Immediately after completion of root-end filling, all specimens were submerged in methylene blue dye for 72 hours in 37℃ incubator. The roots were longitudinally sectioned and measured for extent of dye penetration by three different examiners under microscope (×10). The results were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and Turkey's HSD test. No leakage was evident in negative control and complete leakage in positive control group. Group 3 showed significantly less leakage than group 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between group 1 and 2 (p > 0.01).

It was concluded that MTA powder with 4-META/MMA & TBB resin was excellent in reducing initial apical microleakage.