Purpose: of this paper was to analyse clinicians’ views on the management and handling procedures of the Biodentine tricalcium silicate cement with the following evaluation of the real setting time of the material with two independent physical tests. Design/methodology/approach: A survey study included 174 clinicians who answered the questionnaire designed to collect opinions on the Biodentine management during endodontic procedures. To verify the setting time of the cement, two independent hardness tests were performed. Macroscopic evaluation was carried out using the Vicat device. Microscopic assessment with subsequent SEM observation was conducted with the aid of the Clemex appliance. Findings: 43% of respondents using Biodentine in their practice described the setting time as long or definitively too long. One fifth of the dentists surveyed continue dental procedures without waiting. The setting time tests confirmed the existence of two phases of the Biodentine setting process, which corresponds to the general definition of cement setting. After mixing of the material, the initial setting stage lasts for 15 minutes. The next one, described by the authors as “maturation” of Biodentine lasts for 120 minutes. Research limitations/implications: The material initially sets within 15 minutes, however it is not the end of the process. In certain endodontic procedures the awareness of a longer setting time of Biodentine is essential for decision-making in root canal therapy. Practical implications: It is advisable to divide the endodontic treatment with Biodentine into two separate appointments. Originality/value: From the clinicians’ perspective the setting time and correct handling of Biodentine are crucial factors in the successful endodontic therapy. The information regarding proper material management is included in this paper.

Biomaterials are subjected to various factors during endodontic workflow. The aim was to evaluate the influence of different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and ultrasound activation on the features and chemical composition of Biodentine. Fifty-four Biodentine samples were divided into 3 groups based on the material setting time. They were subjected to different modes and times of 2% and 5.25% NaOCl irrigation with or without ultrasounds, 12 min (group I), 45 min (group II) and 24 h (group III) after the material mixing. Visual assessment of the sample’s surface was performed using the scanning electron microscope and chemical analysis was made with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Both NaOCl irrigation and ultrasounds affected the surface of the material; however, they did not change its chemical composition. The irrigation enhanced by ultrasounds following the placement of Biodentine should be performed after a longer material setting time. The immediate use of ultrasounds is not recommended.

There are various factors that may interfere with the activity of biomaterials during endodontic therapy. One of them is the canal system irrigation procedure with different rinsing solutions performed after the placement of bioactive cements. The authors investigate the influence of citric acid, a chelating agent, on the surface and the chemical composition of Biodentine tricalcium silicate-based cement using a multimethod approach. Twenty samples were divided into two groups based on the material setting time. They were subjected to citric acid irrigation with or without ultrasonic activation for 5 and 20 min. The chemical analysis was made with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The visual assessment of Biodentine surface was carried out in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The volume of material loss during the procedure was measured with Keyence optic microscope and dedicated digital software. Statistical analysis was performed. The results of the study show that the irrigation with citric acid influenced the surface appearance of the material and changed its chemical composition in both investigated groups. The ultrasonic activation (US) of the liquid has also aggravated its impact. Further research is needed to assess if that fact may change the sealing properties of the material influencing the long-term clinical outcome.

Metal alloys continue to be, and are expected to remain, essential materials for fabricating prosthetic elements due to their unique properties, particularly their high strength, durability, and appropriate modulus of elasticity, which make them well-suited for such applications. However, commonly used non-precious metal alloys exhibit lower corrosion resistance compared to precious metal alloys. This reduced resistance leads to the release of metal ions from the alloy into the oral environment. Adverse biological responses to metal alloys can be mitigated through various surface modifications, most commonly by applying coatings. These coatings are typically ceramic, including oxides, nitrides, and carbides. In this study, the mechanical properties (hardness, modulus of elasticity, adhesion, and thickness) of complex Si(C,N) coatings applied to a prosthetic Ni-Cr alloy were investigated. Depending on the proportions of N, C, and Si in the coating, the hardness ranged from 12 to 15 GPa, while the modulus of elasticity varied between 130 and 170 GPa. Adhesion strength, measured via the scratch test method, was within an acceptable range. Microscopic analysis revealed that the coatings had a thickness of 2 to 2.5 μm, exhibiting a homogeneous, columnar structure. In conclusion, the properties of the fabricated Si(C,N) coatings are deemed satisfactory for their intended use as protective layers for prosthetic and orthodontic components.

In recent years, hydroxyapatite, as a ceramic material, has been a subject of growing interest due to its optimal biological properties, which are useful especially in medical and dental applications. It has been increasingly used in dentistry as a filler in composites. Nevertheless, research has shown a deterioration of their mechanical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the content of hydroxyapatite together with fluorine and silver on the mechanical properties of a hybrid composite used in conservative dentistry. The authors compared specimens of commercial hybrid composite with specimens of experimental hybrid composite containing 2 wt% and 5 wt% of hydroxyapatite powder with fluorine and silver. The composite specimens were subjected to hardness and impact strength measurements, as well as bending, compression, and tribological wear tests. The research results indicate that the mechanical properties of composites are influenced by the type and amount of filler used. Composite containing 2 wt% of hydroxyapatite powder along with calcium fluoride and silver provided acceptable results.

The aim of this study was to assess the mechanical properties of experimental flow composites incorporating remineralizing and bactericidal fillers (hydroxyapatite (HAp), calcium fluoride, and nanosilver). The evaluated properties included wear resistance, dynamic properties (impact strength), hardness, and static strength (compressive and bending strength). This work includes SEM analysis. The specimens were prepared using a commercial light-cured composite material based on bisphenol A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) (Arkona Flow Art, Niemce, Poland) and composite material modified by adding 2 wt%, 5 wt% of hydroxyapatite powder containing fluoride (calcium fluoride), and nanosilver. For this purpose, hydroxyapatite (HAp) with a grain size of 30 μm, which was previously synthesized using the wet method, was used. The results were evaluated against the ISO 4049 standard. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A significance level of 5% (α = 0.05) was established. Based on the hardness measurements obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the incorporation of hydroxyapatite, calcium fluoride, and nanosilver fillers increased the hardness of the flowable composites (89 ShD). The results revealed that incorporating fillers such as hydroxyapatite, nanosilver, and calcium fluoride led to a decrease in the impact strength of the material (0.095 J/cm²). The results of the compressive strength tests revealed that the flowable composite containing 2 wt% of HAp, F, and Ag exhibited the highest compressive strength (190 MPa) among all of the tested materials. Among the experimental composites, the highest bending strength was observed in the variant containing 2 wt% of HAp, F, and Ag, with a value of 76.48 MPa. Significantly higher wear was observed for the composite containing nanosilver filler (4.02 × 10⁻⁴ Mm³/Nm) compared to the other composites. However, the inclusion of nanosilver as a filler in the composite matrix was found to significantly deteriorate the mechanical properties of the material.