Surface modification of several dental substrates by non-thermal, atmospheric plasma brush

• Published in: Dental materials 2013-08, Vol.29 (8), p.871-880
• Main Authors: Chen, Mingsheng, Zhang, Ying, Sky Driver, M, Caruso, Anthony N, Yu, Qingsong, Wang, Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Argon - chemistry; Carbon - analysis; Composite Resins - chemistry; Composites; Contact angle; Curing Lights, Dental - classification; Dental Enamel - ultrastructure; Dental surfaces; Dentin - ultrastructure; Dentistry; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Materials Testing; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Non-thermal plasmas; Oxygen - analysis; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Plasma Gases - chemistry; Polymerization; Silorane Resins - chemistry; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Wettability
• ISSN: 0109-5641; 1879-0097
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2013.05.002

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to reveal the effectiveness of non-thermal atmospheric plasma brush in surface wettability and modification of four dental substrates. Methods Specimens of dental substrates including dentin, enamel, and two composites Filtek Z250, Filtek LS Silorane were prepared (∼2 mm thick, ∼10 mm diameter). The prepared surfaces were treated for 5–45 s with a non-thermal atmospheric plasma brush working at temperatures from 36 to 38 °C. The plasma-treatment effects on these surfaces were studied with contact-angle measurement, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results The non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma brush was very efficient in improving the surface hydrophilicity of four substrates studied. The results indicated that water contact angle values decreased considerably after only 5 s plasma treatment of all these substrates. After 30 s treatment, the values were further reduced to