Luigi Canullo, DDS, PhD/Costanza Micarelli, DDS/Laura Bettazzoni, CDT/Brunilda Ko?i, DDS, PhD/Paolo Baldissara, MD, DDS: Purpose: To compare the shear bond strength (SBS) values of resin cement to zirconia treated with a new activating method. Materials and Methods: Forty-five zirconia specimens were divided into three groups: no treatment (group 1), plasma of argon cleaning for 375 seconds (group 2), and plasma of argon cleaning for 750 seconds (group 3). Composite cylinders were bonded with a self-adhesive cement. After 40 days of water storage, specimens were subjected to the SBS test. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and the Neuman-Keuls multiple comparison test. Results: Test groups obtained SBS values significantly higher (101% for group 2 and 81% for group 3) than controls. Conclusion: Plasma of argon appeared to improve bonding between zirconia and resin cement. Int J Prosthodont 2014;27:267?269. doi: 10.11607/ijp.3686

New polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) materials with enhanced properties have been developed to improve and facilitate implant impression techniques. However, studies on their accuracy are lacking. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the accuracy and precision of implant impressions made with some recently introduced materials on a simulated patient requiring an all-on-4 implant-supported prosthesis. Well-established polyether materials were also evaluated as a comparison. The variables considered were material type, consistency, splinting or not splinting techniques, and implant angulation. A reference master model was made by inserting 4 implants at angles of 0, 5, and 10 degrees. Eighty impressions were made at 37 °C in wet conditions by using a standardized technique. Eight groups (n=10) were created using monophasic, single-viscosity materials (Hydrorise Implant Medium, HIM-ns; Hydrorise Implant Medium, HIM; Honigum Mono, HM; Impregum, IMP), and 2-viscosity materials (Hydrorise Implant Heavy+Light-ns, HIH+L-ns; Hydrorise Implant Heavy+Light, HIH+L; Honigum Heavy+Light, HH+L; and Permadyne and Garant [Heavy+Light, PeH+L]). Hydrorise materials were used with splinting and not splinting (ns) techniques. The reference points located on the connecting platforms of the transfer copings (TCP) were compared with the same points on the implant connecting platforms (ICP) located in the reference model. The accuracy and precision of the impressions were determined as linear 3D errors and standard deviation between each TCP-ICP couple by using an optical coordinate measuring machine (OCMM). PVS materials were generally better than polyether materials, with Hydrorise materials (HIM and HIH+L) showing significantly better accuracy and precision (30.9 ±14.4 μm and 28.7 ±15.5 μm, respectively) than IMP and PeH+L polyethers (44.2 ±16 μm and 43.8 ±17.6 μm, respectively; P<.001). Honigum materials were statistically similar to Hydrorise materials (P=.765). The values shown by Hydrorise nonsplinted groups (HIH+L-ns and HIM-ns) were not statistically different from those of the splinted polyether impressions (P=.386). The viscosities (monophasic or heavy+light) had no effect on accuracy, but monophasic material positively influenced precision (HIM and HIH+L, P=.001). No correlation was found between implant angulation and accuracy (multilevel analysis and Kendall rank correlation coefficient=-0.065; P=.133). Recently introduced materials designed for implant impressions showed significantly higher accuracy and precision; even with the unfavorable nonsplinting technique, the new materials performed similarly to, or better than, polyether materials. Although the transfer coping splinting technique generally improved the accuracy and precision of Hydrorise materials, the effect was significant only within HIH+L groups.

Background and Objectives: Sleep apnea (OSA) significantly impacts patients’ health, affecting cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, thus reducing overall quality of life (QoL). Despite global research interest, there are limited data on the QoL of Romanian patients with OSA. Aim of study: This study aimed to assess the quality of life of patients diagnosed with OSA using the Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), a validated, disease-specific questionnaire. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and February 2022 on 28 adult patients from medical units in Iași (Romania) and Albania. The patients were clinically evaluated and confirmed to have OSA (AHI > 5). QoL was assessed pre-treatment using the SAQLI, covering daily activities, social interactions, emotional status, and symptomatology. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v26.0. Results: Most patients had moderate (32.1%) or severe OSA (53.6%). Lower QoL scores correlated with increased disease severity. Significant impairments were observed in daily functioning, social relationships, and emotional well-being. Patients with severe OSA reported the lowest scores across all domains. Conclusions: OSA severely affects quality of life, particularly in patients with moderate to severe forms. Early diagnosis and personalized, multidisciplinary management strategies are essential to improving outcomes and overall patient well-being.

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the monolithic and layered zirconia crowns by their optical property of translucency, using in vitro and in vivo evaluation methods. Material and Methods: One upper incisor and one canine were prepared to receive 6 monolithic Lava Plus HT and 6 layered Lava crowns using the CAD/CAM technology. The translucency in the vitro evaluation, was determined using a digital photoradiometer to measure the light reflected by the crowns in two different conditions, natural and metal plated abutment tooth. A provisional complete prosthesis of an edentulous patient, with the abutment teeth mounted in their anatomical position, was used for the in vivo evaluation. The crowns were randomly placed and evaluated by two independent operators in the oral cavity conditions. Results: In vitro results showed that monolithic crowns were not significantly less translucent than layered ones in both incisor (p=0.098) and canine (p=0.340): contrast ratio 0.978 vs. 0.956 and 0.941 vs. 0.929, respectively (Student -t test; a=0.05). In vivo evaluation results showed that the difference in the luminance was not statistically significant between Lava Plus HT and layered Lava crowns according to Mann Whitney Test, p=0.089 (a=0.01). Conclusions: The difference in translucency between monolithic and layered zirconia crowns was not statistically significant both in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Monolithic zirconia had a good masking ability of the abutment tooth.

Background/Objectives: Multilayer zirconia restorations can feature a shade gradient or a strength gradient, with layers differing in color or phase composition within the same material. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the color stability in all layers of multilayer zirconia after exposure to staining solutions and artificial aging. Methods: Square-shaped specimens (N = 120) of color A2 were fabricated from 4Y-PSZ and 3Y/4Y-PSZ multilayer zirconia—Katana STML, DD Cube One ML, and Katana YML—and their baseline color values (T0) were measured with a clinical spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V). The specimens were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/gp) and immersed in physiologic solution, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) mouth rinse, and staining coffee solution. Then, they were measured continuously for 7 (T1), 14 (T2), and 21 days (T3). The last group of specimens underwent accelerated aging in a steam autoclave at 134 °C and 2 bar pressure and measured after 1 (T1), 3 (T2), and 5 h (T3). After the immersion process and artificial aging, discoloration values (ΔE) were calculated using the formula ΔE = [(ΔL*)² + (Δa*)² + (Δb*)²]^1/2 and analyzed with the SPSS v 23.0 software with a p value < 0.05. Results: All specimens showed significant color differences in the T3 measurements after exposure to coffee and CHX, with the highest ΔE values in the enamel layers. Katana YML showed the most significant differences in ΔE in the cervical layers after exposure to artificial aging. Conclusions: Multilayer zirconia exhibited dependent optical changes, with the enamel layers being the most affected after exposure to staining solutions. Gradient pigmentation and differences in phase composition caused differences in color to the multilayer zirconia layers after exposure to staining solutions and artificial aging.