Bactericidal and Bioactive Dental Composites

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Dental restorations require antimicrobial and bioactive properties to prevent secondary caries and improve longevity.
• Current materials often lack these crucial characteristics, leading to restoration failure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel silver-doped bioactive glass (Ag-BG) incorporated resin composites (Ag-BGCOMP) for dental applications.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial, bioactive, and bonding properties of these new composites.

Main Methods:

• Ag-BG was incorporated into resin composite at 5, 10, and 15 wt.%.
• Microstructural, elemental analysis, total bond strength (TBS), apatite formation in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF), and antibacterial activity against *Streptococcus mutans* were assessed.

Main Results:

• Ag-BG particles were homogeneously distributed in the resin composite.
• No significant changes in TBS were observed immediately or after 3 months of immersion.
• Apatite layer formation and significant inhibition of *S. mutans* biofilm growth were confirmed, with increased bacterial death at higher Ag-BG concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Novel resin composites with combined antibacterial and remineralizing properties were successfully manufactured.
• These materials show promise for preventing restoration failure and improving patient well-being.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to compare their efficacy with existing dental materials.