In recent years, laminate veneer restorations should be considered as a minimally invasive treatment option for several aesthetic reasons. This study compared direct composite veneers’ and indirect ceramic laminate veneers’ longevity in multiple diastema closures. A total of 28 patients with a mean age of 26 years received 60 direct resin composite (Estelite Asteria; n = 14) and 60 indirect ceramic veneers (IPS e.max Press; n = 14) on the maxillary anterior teeth with diastema closure. Veneers were evaluated at baseline and thereafter every 6 months for up to 2 years using USPHS criteria. Data were analyzed with Fisher’s exact and chi-squared tests, while Kaplan–Meier curve was used to assess time to event. In total, three failures were observed in the form of debonding (n = 1) and fracture (n = 2) in the indirect ceramic veneers. No significant difference was observed between the survival rates of composite and ceramic veneers (Estelite Asteria: 93.4%, IPS e.max Press: 95%; p > 0.05). The overall survival rate was 94.2% (Kaplan–Meier). Staining (n = 11) and roughness (n = 14) were frequently observed for the resin composite veneers up to the final recall. Thereby, the preliminary results from this clinical trial comparing two veneer materials indicated that their survival rates were statistically similar. However, surface quality changes were more frequent in the composite veneer material.

(1) Background: A newer class of flowable bulk-fill resin-based composite (BF–RBC) materials requires no capping layer (Palfique Bulk flow, PaBF, Tokuyama Dental, Tokyo, Japan). The objective of this study was to assess the flexural strength, microhardness, surface roughness, and color stability of PaBF compared to two BF-RBCs with different consistencies. (2) Methods: PaBF, SDR Flow composite (SDRf: Charlotte, NC, USA) and One Bulk fill (OneBF: 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA) were evaluated for flexural strength with a universal testing machine, surface microhardness using a pyramidal Vickers indenter, and surface roughness using a high-resolution three-dimensional non-contact optical profiler, a and clinical spectrophotometer to measure the color stability of each BF–RBC material. (3) Results: OneBF presented statistically higher flexural strength and microhardness than PaBF or SDRf. Both PaBF and SDRf presented significantly less surface roughness compared with OneBF. Water storage significantly reduced the flexural strength and increased the surface roughness of all tested materials. Only SDRf showed significant color change after water storage. (4) Conclusions: The physico-mechanical properties of PaBF do not support its use without a capping layer in the stress bearing areas. PaBF showed less flexural strength compared with OneBF. Therefore, its use should be limited to a small restoration with minimal occlusal stresses.

Background: Silane-containing universal adhesives (UAs) are marketed as adhesion promotors for glass-ceramics. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the priming capacity of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γMPTS)-containing and γ-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane (γMPTES)/3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)-containing universal adhesives (UAs) for lithium disilicate ceramic (LDC). Materials and Methods: Etched LDC discs were distributed into four groups according to the priming material used: (control), no priming; (MBN), LDC was primed with a universal primer (Monobond N); (SBU), γMPTS-containing UA (Single Bond Universal Adhesive) was used as a primer; and (SBP), γMPTES/APTES-containing UA (Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive) was used as a primer. LDC discs were cemented using a dual-cure resin cement, then sectioned into microbeams for microtensile bond strength (μTBS) evaluation. Failure modes were assessed. Results: MBN application showed the highest μTBS among all groups. γMPTES/APTES-containing UA (SBP) resulted in considerably higher μTBS compared with γMPTS-containing UA (SBU) or the control group. The mixed failures were the most predominant among all groups. Conclusions: The effect of silane-containing UAs on resin-ceramic μTBS is material dependent. Although γMPTES/APTES-containing UA improved bonding to LDC, the priming of LDC with either of the UAs tested cannot be considered as an alternative to a separate silanization (priming) step using a universal primer.

Dental practitioner-related factors can affect the quality of composite restorations. This study aimed to investigate the clinical techniques used by dental practitioners (DPs) while placing direct posterior composite restorations. Methods: A questionnaire survey that sought information related to the placement of posterior composite restorations was delivered to 161 DPs working in the Al-Kharj area, Saudi Arabia. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test considering the DP’s working sector and the answered questions. Results: A total of 123 DPs completed the survey (76.4% response rate). There was a statistically significant difference between DPs working in the private sector and those working in the governmental sector in 7 out of 17 questionnaire items namely: preparing a minimum depth of 2 mm, (p = 0.001); mechanical means of retention, (p = 0.003); operative field isolation, (p = 0.004); adhesive strategy, (p < 0.001); light-curing unit used, (p = 0.013); the use of radiometer, (p = 0.023), and dental matrix selection, (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The clinical techniques applied by DPs working in the private sector in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia when placing posterior composite restorations, including the specifications of cavity preparation, operative field isolation, and selection of the dental matrix system, may be substandard compared to those applied by DPs working in the governmental sector.

The oral environment significantly influences the esthetic appearance of CAD/CAM provisional restorative materials. Therefore, a veneering layer is required. Bonding veneering resin composites to these materials presents challenges, particularly under conditions of thermal aging. This study evaluated the impact of various surface treatments and thermal aging on the bond strength between veneering resin and CAD/CAM provisional materials. Fifty disk-shaped specimens of each CAD/CAM material (CAD-Temp, Everest C-Temp, and PEEK), measuring 10 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height, were fabricated. After being ultrasonically cleaned, specimens were embedded in acrylic resin blocks, leaving one surface exposed for surface treatments. Specimens were assigned to five groups at random. Group C: no surface treatments applied; DB: mechanically roughened with a diamond bur; DB + TC: DB group subjected to 5000 cycles of thermocycling; SB: treated with aluminum oxide airborne abrasion; SB + TC: SB group subjected to 5000 cycles of thermocycling. After the surface treatments, the primer and resin veneering composite were applied to the specimens. The shear bond strength (SBS) was calculated using a universal testing machine and the mode of failure was evaluated with an optical stereomicroscope with 40× magnification. Scanning electron microscopy evaluation was conducted to examine the surface topography of the materials’ surfaces after surface treatments. C-Temp in the SB group exhibited the highest SBS values (20.38 ± 1.04 MPa), while CAD-Temp in the C group showed the lowest values (4.60 ± 0.54 MPa). PEEK recorded significantly higher SBS values in DB + TC and SB + TC groups (9.26 ± 1.07 and 12.92 ± 0.97 MPa, respectively) compared to CAD-Temp in DB + TC and SB + TC groups (6.04 ± 0.76 and 8.82 ± 0.86 MPa, respectively). C-Temp exhibited higher SBS without surface treatment (13.11± 0.55 MPa), whereas PEEK showed higher SBS after diamond bur roughening and air particle abrasion (10.87 ± 1.02 MPa, and 14.37 ± 0.98 MPa, respectively). The thermocycling significantly reduced SBS values for C-Temp in the DB + TC and SB + TC groups (11.18 ± 0.92, 15.56 ± 0.87 MPa, respectively) and CAD-Temp in the DB + TC and SB + TC (6.04 ± 0.76 MPa and 8.82 ± 0.86 MPa, respectively). Conversely, the thermocycling had no significant effect on SBS values for PEEK material in the air particle abrasion group (12.92 ± 0.97 MPa).

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, including dentistry, by enhancing diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care; therefore, un