Bifunctional Composites for Biofilms Modulation on Cervical Restorations.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Microbiology

Background:

• Subgingival margins of cervical composites promote plaque accumulation and gingival irritation.
• Existing dental materials lack agents to effectively combat bacterial biofilm development in acidic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of novel bioresponsive bifunctional dental composites against mature subgingival biofilms.
• To evaluate the potential of composites containing dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) and nanosized amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) for cervical restorations.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of dental composites with varying concentrations of DMAHDM and NACP.
• Analysis of composite properties including wettability and surface-free energy.
• In vitro assessment of biofilm inhibition, microbial composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing), metabolic activity, and polysaccharide production.

Main Results:

• DMAHDM-NACP composites exhibited higher contact angles and lower surface-free energy than controls.
• Significant inhibition (3-5 log reduction) of key oral pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.
• Over 80% reduction in biofilm metabolic activity and polysaccharide production was observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed DMAHDM-NACP composites demonstrate potent anti-biofilm properties.
• These bioactive materials show significant potential for preventing biofilm formation in cervical restorations.
• The findings suggest a promising approach to enhance the longevity and performance of dental composite restorations.