Effects of systematically varied thiourethane-functionalized filler concentration on polymerization behavior and relevant clinical properties of dental composites

• Main Authors: S.H. Lewis, Fugolin APP, S. Lam, C. Scanlon, J.L. Ferracane, C.S. Pfeifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
• Series: Materials & Design
• Subjects: Dimethacrylates; Thiourethane oligomers; Dental composites; Polymerization stress; Fracture toughness; Surface properties
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752030784X

Introduction of thiourethane (TU) oligomer to resin-based dental restorative materials reduces stress and improves fracture toughness without compromising conversion. Localization of TU at the resin-filler interface via silanization procedures may lead to more substantial stress reduction and clinical property enhancements. The objective of this study was to evaluate composite properties as a function of TU-functionalized filler concentration. TU oligomers were synthesized using click-chemistry techniques and subsequently silanized to barium glass filler. Resin-based composites were formulated using varying ratios of TU-functionalized filler and conventional methacrylate-silanized barium filler. Material property testing included thermogravimetric analysis, real-time polymerization kinetics and depth of cure, polymerization stress, stress relaxation and fracture toughness. Clinical property testing included water sorption/solubility, composite paste viscosity, and gloss and surface roughness measured before and after subjecting the samples to 6 h of continuous tooth brushing in a custom-built apparatus using a toothpaste/water mixture. Increasing TU-filler in the composite resulted in as much as a 78% reduction in stress, coupled with an increase in fracture toughness. Conversion was similar for all groups. After simulated tooth brushing, gloss reduction was lower for TU-containing composites and surface roughness was less than or equal to the control.