Novel F-releasing composite with improved mechanical properties

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Development of novel fluoride-releasing dental composites using ternary zirconium fluoride chelates.
• Need to enhance physical and mechanical properties of these advanced dental materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the formulation of monomers and photoinitiators in fluoride-releasing dental composites.
• To reduce water sorption and increase mechanical properties through formulation adjustments.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized experimental composites with varying compositions of ethoxylated bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (EBPADMA), 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy) phenyl]-propane (BisGMA).
• Utilized Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) to study the degree of conversion.
• Evaluated flexural strength, viscosity, and water sorption of ten experimental composites.

Main Results:

• An experimental composite with 20% synthesized fluoride-releasing monomer, 30% BisGMA, 30% EBPADMA, and 20% HDDMA demonstrated significantly higher fluoride release and recharge.
• This optimized composite exhibited physical and mechanical properties comparable to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Optimized monomer and photoinitiator formulations can enhance fluoride release and recharge in dental composites.
• Achieving superior fluoride delivery without compromising essential physical and mechanical properties is feasible.