Abstract
Polymeric tooth-colored restorations are increasingly popular in dentistry. However, restoration failures remain a major challenge, and more than 50% of all operative work was devoted to removing and replacing the failed restorations. This is a heavy burden, with the expense for restoring dental cavities in the U.S. exceeding $46 billion annually. In addition, the need is increasing dramatically as the population ages with increasing tooth retention in seniors. Traditional materials for cavity restorations are usually bioinert and replace the decayed tooth volumes. This article reviews cutting-edge research on the synthesis and evaluation of a new generation of bioactive dental polymers that not only restore the decayed tooth structures, but also have therapeutic functions. These materials include polymeric composites and bonding agents for tooth cavity restorations that inhibit saliva-based microcosm biofilms, bioactive resins for tooth root caries treatments, polymers that can suppress periodontal pathogens, and root canal sealers that can kill endodontic biofilms. These novel compositions substantially inhibit biofilm growth, greatly reduce acid production and polysaccharide synthesis of biofilms, and reduce biofilm colony-forming units by three to four orders of magnitude. This new class of bioactive and therapeutic polymeric materials is promising to inhibit tooth decay, suppress recurrent caries, control oral biofilms and acid production, protect the periodontium, and heal endodontic infections.
Highlights
Tooth caries is a widespread problem in the world
Novel antibacterial polymeric composites were synthesized with functions to reduce oral biofilm acids and dental caries formation [22,23]
The polymeric composite containing 3% Dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) and 3% methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) appeared to be the optimal composition. It showed a high potential for applications in Class-V tooth cavity restorations to inhibit periodontal biofilms, by reducing biofilm colony-forming units (CFU) by four orders of magnitude for all the types of periodontitis-related pathogens examined in that study [83]
Summary
Tooth caries is a widespread problem in the world. More than half of all dental restorations fail within 10 years, and recurrent (secondary) caries is a main reason for failures [1,2,3]. Tooth-colored polymeric composites and bonding agents are the primary materials for restoring tooth cavities [3,7,8,9,10,11,12]. This is because advances in polymer chemistry and filler particle compositions have enhanced the composite restoration properties [13,14,15,16,17,18]. Controlled long-term release of antibacterial agents has great potential for dental applications to combat caries and oral pathogens, especially via the use of nanotechnology and recharge and re-release mechanisms. This article focuses on Class 1 and reviews innovative developments in QAM-containing dental polymers and their exciting potential in restorative, preventive, root caries, periodontal, and endodontic applications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call