Concerns about mercury in dental amalgam have created a need to extend the use of composite resins to posterior applications. However, current composites are not suitable for large stress-bearing applications involving cusps due to excessive wear and fracture. The glass fillers in resins provide only limited reinforcement because of their brittleness and rounded shapes. Preliminary studies with ceramic whiskers having high strength and elongated shapes showed a two-fold increase in composite strength and toughness, and promising results on polishability, water absorption and strength durability, enamel wear and esthetics. The goals of this project are to i) to investigate the whisker reinforcement mechanisms for dental resins; ii) to understand the key microstructural and processing variables that determine reinforcing efficacy; and iii) to develop optimized prototypes. To accomplish these goals, the following studies are proposed: (1) the effects of whisker size and aspect ratio will be evaluated to improve reinforcing efficacy and filler packing; (2) dental silicate fillers will be fused onto the individual whiskers to minimize whisker entanglement, enhance silanization, and improve retention in matrix by providing rougher whisker surfaces; (3) the effect of whisker content will be systematically investigated on composite mechanical properties and reinforcing mechanisms, translucency, color and depth of cure; (4) the mechanical and physical properties of water-aged composites will be characterized to identify the reinforcing mechanisms and the key microstructural parameters, and this knowledge will be used as feedback to improve microstructural design; (5) three- and two-body enamel against composite wear will be evaluated to understand the effect of whiskers on wear mechanisms and wear rates; and (6) the whisker composite will be veneered with conventional composites and the effect of whisker reinforcement on properties of the final restoration will be evaluated by using Hertzian cyclic fatigue and flexural tests. This project will provide (1) an understanding of the effects of whisker- glass filler hybridization and fusion on composite properties; (2) mechanisms of whisker reinforcement for dental resins; (3) guidelines on microstructural design and processing of whisker-reinforced composite resins; and (4) a basis for the next generation of high performance composite resins for dental restorative and potentially other biomedical applications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29DE012476-04
Application #
6379827
Study Section
Oral Biology and Medicine Subcommittee 1 (OBM)
Program Officer
Kousvelari, Eleni
Project Start
1998-09-15
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2001-08-01
Budget End
2002-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$104,258
Indirect Cost
Name
American Dental Association Foundation
Department
Type
DUNS #
789085941
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Xu, Hockin H K; Moreau, Jennifer L; Sun, Limin et al. (2008) Strength and fluoride release characteristics of a calcium fluoride based dental nanocomposite. Biomaterials 29:4261-7
Xu, Hockin H K; Carey, Lisa E; Simon Jr, Carl G (2007) Premixed macroporous calcium phosphate cement scaffold. J Mater Sci Mater Med 18:1345-53
Xu, Hockin H K; Carey, Lisa E; Simon Jr, Carl G et al. (2007) Premixed calcium phosphate cements: synthesis, physical properties, and cell cytotoxicity. Dent Mater 23:433-41
Xu, Hockin H K; Sun, Limin; Weir, Mike D et al. (2007) Effects of incorporating nanosized calcium phosphate particles on properties of whisker-reinforced dental composites. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 81:116-25
Carey, Lisa E; Xu, Hockin H K; Simon Jr, Carl G et al. (2005) Premixed rapid-setting calcium phosphate composites for bone repair. Biomaterials 26:5002-14
Burguera, Elena F; Xu, Hockin H K; Takagi, Shozo et al. (2005) High early strength calcium phosphate bone cement: effects of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and absorbable fibers. J Biomed Mater Res A 75:966-75
Xu, Hockin H K; Takagi, Shozo; Quinn, Janet B et al. (2004) Fast-setting calcium phosphate scaffolds with tailored macropore formation rates for bone regeneration. J Biomed Mater Res A 68:725-34
Xu, Hockin H K; Quinn, Janet B; Giuseppetti, Anthony A et al. (2004) Three-body wear of dental resin composites reinforced with silica-fused whiskers. Dent Mater 20:220-7
Xu, H H K; Quinn, J B; Giuseppetti, A A (2004) Wear and mechanical properties of nano-silica-fused whisker composites. J Dent Res 83:930-5
Xu, Hockin H K; Smith, Douglas T; Simon, Carl G (2004) Strong and bioactive composites containing nano-silica-fused whiskers for bone repair. Biomaterials 25:4615-26

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