Brushing With Charcoal Toothpastes on the Surface Properties of a Giomer: A Comparative In-Vitro Study

TL;DR

This study compares how different charcoal toothpastes affect the hardness and surface roughness of dental restorative materials over time.

Contribution

The study introduces a comparative in-vitro analysis of the effects of charcoal toothpastes on giomer, nano-hybrid, and nano-filled composite materials.

Findings

All materials showed increased microhardness and stable or reduced roughness after simulated brushing.

The giomer and nanohybrid showed significant microhardness increases due to the time*toothpaste interaction.

The nano-filled composite had significantly lower roughness after six months of brushing.

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to quantify changes in the microhardness (VHN) and roughness (Ra) in three esthetic restorative materials: a giomer, a universal nano-hybrid, and a nano-filled composite after one and six months of simulated brushing with various types of charcoal-containing toothpastes.

Materials and methods

Forty specimens (8 mm x 8 mm x 2mm) of each material were fabricated using the manufacturer's instructions and randomized into five groups. Baseline VHN and Ra readings were taken. Simulated brushing took place with four charcoal-containing toothpastes. A non-charcoal-containing toothpaste was used as a positive control. VHN and Ra were then measured after one month and six months of simulated brushing. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way repeated-measure ANOVA to assess whether the factors of time, toothpaste, or the interaction produced significant changes in VHN and Ra. Post-hoc Bonferroni tests were used for pairwise comparisons of material properties brushed with the various toothpastes.

Results

All tested materials demonstrated a general trend of increasing microhardness and decreasing roughness, or roughness that was not statistically significant from baseline. Interaction of time*toothpaste produced statistically significantly higher microhardness values for the giomer (p=0.003) and nanohybrid (p=0.023) materials. The roughness of the nanofilled material was significantly lower than baseline, with the interaction of time*toothpaste (p=0.014).

Conclusion

The factors of time, toothpaste, or the interaction of time and toothpaste produced significantly different Ra and VHN values; however, variations in the properties were deemed favorable.