Remineralising fluorine containing bioactive glass composites.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology in Dentistry

Background:

• Resin-based dental composites are widely used but can degrade over time.
• Bioactive glasses (BGs) show potential for enhanced dental material properties.
• Silylation can improve the interface between glass fillers and resin matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the mechanical properties, fluoride release, and apatite formation of resin-based dental composites incorporating a fluoride-containing bioactive glass (BG).
• To investigate the effect of a silylating agent on these properties.
• To compare BG-containing composites with a commercial inert glass (IG) composite.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a novel BG (SiO2-P2O5-CaO-SrO-Na2O-CaF2) via melt quench route.
• Incorporated BG and IG into a BisGMA-TEGMA resin, with and without silylation of BG.
• Assessed apatite formation using FTIR and SEM after immersion in artificial saliva (AS4, AS7).
• Determined compressive and flexural strengths after 1, 28, and 84 days of immersion.

Main Results:

• FTIR and SEM confirmed apatite formation on BG composite surfaces under all immersion conditions.
• SEM revealed a reacted layer of glass particles and surface apatite in AS7.
• Silylated BG composites exhibited significantly higher compressive and flexural strengths.
• Strengths of both silylated and non-silylated BG composites decreased upon immersion.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive glass composites demonstrate apatite formation capabilities.
• Silylation of BG enhances the mechanical integrity of dental composites.
• Despite strength reduction upon immersion, BG composites retain comparable strengths to existing materials after 84 days, indicating good durability.