Faculty Bibliography

Nowadays, bioactive coatings or modifications on titanium surface have been tested in vitro and in vivo. In this study, two types of calcium phosphate coatings were produced by a chemical deposition method and their bioactivity assay in cell culture medium were investigated. The calcium phosphate coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy with field emission gun (FEG-SEM) analyses. Titanium substrate was successfully coated with brushite using chemical deposition method and, after a second step of conversion, the hydroxyapatite coating was obtained. The hydroxyapatite coating showed a bioactivity property after 14 days' incubation in McCoy medium culture

Fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) biomedical materials are in contact with living tissues arising biocompatibility questions regarding their chemical composition. The hazards of materials such as Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalate and other monomers and composites present in FRC have been rationalized due to its potential toxicity since its detection in food, blood, and saliva. This study characterized the physicochemical properties and degradation profiles of three different epoxide-based materials intended for restorative dental applications. Characterization was accomplished by several methods including FTIR, Raman, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) Analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and degradation experiments. Physicochemical characterization revealed that although materials presented similar chemical composition, variations between them were more largely accounted by the different phase distribution than chemical composition.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of the osteotomy diameter for implant placement torque and its effect on the osseointegration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight male beagle dogs received 48 implants (3.75 mm x 10 mm) in their right and left radius, 3 implants per side and allowed to heal for 3 weeks. Three experimental groups were evaluated. Group 1: implant with an undersized osteotomy of 3.0 mm; group 2: osteotomy of 3.25 mm, and group 3: osteotomy of 3.5 mm. The insertion torque was recorded for all implants. Histological sectioning and histometric analysis were performed evaluating bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO). RESULTS: Implants of group 1 presented statistically higher insertion torque than those of groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.01). No differences in BIC or BAFO were observed between the groups. From a morphologic standpoint, substantial deviations in healing mode were observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the present methodology, the experimental alterations of surgical technic can be clinically used with no detrimental effect over the osseointegration process.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fatigue life of zirconia-veneered and metal-ceramic crowns comprised by an even thickness or a modified framework design when loaded on marginal ridges. METHODS: Eighty marginal ridges were present after fabrication of forty molar crowns cemented onto composite-resin replicas and divided (n=20/each), in the following groups: metal-ceramic with even thickness (MCev) or with a modified framework design (MCm, lingual collar with proximal struts); porcelain-fused to zirconia with even thickness (PFZev) or with the modified framework design (PFZm). Each marginal ridge (mesial and distal) was subjected to cyclic loading separately with a lithium disilicate indenter for 106 cycles or until fracture. Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon matched pair test (p<0.05) evaluated both marginal ridges. Every 125,000 cycles, the test was interrupted for damage inspection. Weibull distribution (90% confidence bounds) determined the probability of survival (reliability). RESULTS: Weibull 2-parameter contour-plot showed significantly higher fatigue life for PFZev compared to MC, and comparable with PFZm. A significant decrease in reliability was observed between groups from 625,000 until 106 cycles. Metal-ceramic groups presented significantly lower probability of survival at 106 cycles (MCev=0.66% and MCm=4.73%) compared to PFZm (23.41%) and PFZev (36.68%). Fractographic marks showed a consistent fracture origin and direction of crack propagation. Reliability was higher for porcelain-fused to zirconia than for metal ceramic crowns, regardless of framework design. SIGNIFICANCE: Zirconia-veneered crowns presented decreased fracture rates compared to metal ceramics, even when loaded at marginal ridges, regardless of framework design.

As many as 10% of bone fractures heal poorly, and large bone defects resulting from trauma, tumor, or infection may not heal without surgical intervention. Activation of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) stimulates bone formation. Ticagrelor and dipyridamole inhibit platelet function by inhibiting P2Y12 receptors and platelet phosphodiesterase, respectively, but share the capacity to inhibit cellular uptake of adenosine and thereby increase extracellular adenosine levels. Because dipyridamole promotes bone regeneration by an A2AR-mediated mechanism we determined whether ticagrelor could regulate the cells involved in bone homeostasis and regeneration in a murine model and whether inhibition of P2Y12 or indirect A2AR activation via adenosine was involved. Ticagrelor, dipyridamole and the active metabolite of clopidogrel (CAM), an alternative P2Y12 antagonist, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and promoted osteoblast differentiation in vitro. A2AR blockade abrogated the effects of ticagrelor and dipyridamole on osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation whereas A2BR blockade abrogated the effects of CAM. Ticagrelor and CAM, when applied to a 3-dimentional printed resorbable calcium-triphosphate/hydroxyapatite scaffold implanted in a calvarial bone defect, promoted significantly more bone regeneration than the scaffold alone and as much bone regeneration as BMP-2, a growth factor currently used to promote bone regeneration. These results suggest novel approaches to targeting adenosine receptors in the promotion of bone regeneration.-Mediero, A., Wilder, T., Reddy, V. S. R., Cheng, Q., Tovar, N., Coelho, P. G., Witek, L., Whatling, C., Cronstein, B. N. Ticagrelor regulates osteoblast and osteoclast function and promotes bone formation in vivo via an adenosine-dependent mechanism.

PURPOSE: To compile the current evidence on biomechanical, biologic, and clinical outcomes of undersized surgical preparation protocols in dental implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search using three different databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) and a manual hand search were performed including in vitro, animal, and clinical studies published prior to October 2015. Studies in which an undersized drilling protocol was compared with a nonundersized drilling protocol were included. RESULTS: From an initial selection of 1,655 titles, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 14 biomechanical, 7 biologic, 6 biologic and biomechanical, and 2 clinical. Due to methodologic variation, meta-analysis was not performed. Several studies showed that implants inserted with an undersized drilling approach reached a significantly higher insertion torque value than conventional drilling in low-density substrates, while this effect is less evident if a thick cortical layer is present. Similar results in terms of boneto-implant contact (BIC) were achieved in the longer term between implants inserted with undersized and nonundersized protocols. Results in the short term were inconclusive. Clinical studies did not show negative outcomes for undersized drilling, although clinical evidence was sparse. No data are available on marginal bone loss. CONCLUSION: From the biomechanical standpoint, an undersized drilling protocol is effective in increasing insertion torque in low-density bone. Biologic response in long-term healing after undersized implant placement is comparable to that in the nonundersized surgical drilling protocol. Clinical studies indicate that performing an undersized drilling protocol on low-density bone is a safe procedure; however, more extensive studies are needed to confirm these data.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the bone response to grade IV commercially pure titanium (G4) relative to Ti-6Al-4V (G5). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implant surface topography was characterized by optical interferometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thirty-six implants (Signo Vinces, n = 18 per group) were installed in the radius of 18 dogs. The animals were killed at 1, 3, and 6 weeks, resulting in 6 implants per group and time in vivo for bone morphology, bone-to-implant contact (BIC), and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) evaluation. RESULTS: SEM depicted a more uniform topography of G4 than G5. Surfaces were statistically homogeneous for Sa, Sq, and Sdr. At 1 week, new bone formation was observed within the healing connective tissue in contact with the implant surface. At 3 weeks, new bone in direct contact with the implant surface was observed at all bone regions. At 6 weeks, the healing chambers filled with woven bone depicted an onset of replacement by lamellar bone. No significant effect of substrate was detected. Time presented an effect on BIC and BAFO (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both titanium substrates were biocompatible and osseoconductive at the bone tissue level.

This study evaluated the probability of survival (reliability) of platform-switched fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) cemented on different implant-abutment connection designs. Eighty-four-three-unit FDPs (molar pontic) were cemented on abutments connected to two implants of external or internal hexagon connection. Four groups (n = 21 each) were established: external hexagon connection and regular platform (ERC); external hexagon connection and switched platform (ESC); internal hexagon and regular platform (IRC); and internal hexagon and switched platform (ISC). Prostheses were subjected to step-stress accelerated life testing in water. Weibull curves and probability of survival for a mission of 100,000 cycles at 400 N (two-sided 90% CI) were calculated. The beta values of 0.22, 0.48, 0.50, and 1.25 for groups ERC, ESC, IRC, and ISC, respectively, indicated a limited role of fatigue in damage accumulation, except for group ISC. Survival decreased for both platform-switched groups (ESC: 74%, and ISC: 59%) compared with the regular matching platform counterparts (ERC: 95%, and IRC: 98%). Characteristic strength was higher only for ERC compared with ESC, but not different between internal connections. Failures chiefly involved the abutment screw. Platform switching decreased the probability of survival of FDPs on both external and internal connections. The absence in loss of characteristic strength observed in internal hexagon connections favor their use compared with platform-switched external hexagon connections.

A bone drilling concept, namely osseodensification, has been introduced for the placement of endosteal implants to increase primary stability through densification of the osteotomy walls. This study investigated the effect of osseodensification on the initial stability and early osseointegration of conical and parallel walled endosteal implants in low density bone. Five male sheep were used. Three implants were inserted in the ilium, bilaterally, totaling 30 implants (n=15 conical, and n=15 parallel). Each animal received 3 implants of each type, inserted into bone sites prepared as follows: (i) regular-drilling (R: 2mm pilot, 3.2mm, and 3.8mm twist drills), (ii) clockwise osseodensification (CW), and (iii) counterclockwise (CCW) osseodensification drilling with Densah Bur (Versah, Jackson, MI, USA): 2.0mm pilot, 2.8mm, and 3.8mm multi-fluted burs. Insertion torque as a function of implant type and drilling technique, revealed higher values for osseodensification relative to R-drilling, regardless of implant macrogeometry. A significantly higher bone-to-implant contact (BIC) for both osseodensification techniques (p<0.05) was observed compared to R-drilling. There was no statistical difference in BIC as a function of implant type (p=0.58), nor in bone-area-fraction occupancy (BAFO) as a function of drilling technique (p=0.22), but there were higher levels of BAFO for parallel than conic implants (p=0.001). Six weeks after surgery, new bone formation along with remodeling sites was observed for all groups. Bone chips in proximity with the implants were seldom observed in the R-drilling group, but commonly observed in the CW, and more frequently under the CCW osseodensification technique. In low-density bone, endosteal implants present higher insertion torque levels when placed in osseodensification drilling sites, with no osseointegration impairment compared to standard subtractive drilling methods.