Structural stability of DHMAI antibacterial dental composite following in vitro biological aging.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the quaternary ammonium antibacterial agent, Dimethyl-Hexadecyl-Methacryloxyethyl-Ammonium Iodide (DHMAI), on structural stability of an experimental resin composite after biological aging. METHODS: Experimental resin composites containing 7.5% of DHMAI were incubated in a biological medium in the presence of a Streptococcus Mutans (SM) strain during 3 months. The physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, before and after 3 months of aging, were evaluated using: Degree of Conversion (DC), Residual Functions (RF), Vitreous Transition (Tg), Thermal Expansion Coefficient (CTE) and thermal degradation using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis (FTIRATR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermo Mechanical analyses (TMA) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TG). RESULTS: Incorporation of DHAMI increased DC and decreased RF. After aging, DHMAI decreased and slowed RF release. Incorporation of 7.5% DHAMI provided significant modification of the thermal behavior (Tg and thermal degradation) but did not affect CTE. After aging, DHMAI enhanced the structural stability and improved resistance against biodegradation compared to the control composite. SIGNIFICANCE: The development of an antibacterial dental composite based on DHMAI improved its physical, mechanical, and thermal behaviors, possibly enhancing dental composite longevity. Results suggest that DHMAI could be used in the composition of other bioactive dental materials.

Effectiveness of the DHMAI monomer in the development of an antibacterial dental composite.

OBJECTIVE: Development of antibacterial dental composites is the ultimate goal to decrease carious disease occurrence and increase the restoration longevity. For this purpose, the quaternary ammonium dimethyl-hexadecyl-methacryloxyethyl-ammonium iodide (DHMAI) and the methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine (MPC) have been incorporated in experimental methacrylate-based composite resins. This aims to first investigate the effect of each alone and then their combined effect. METHODS: Synthesized DHMAI and commercial MPC were added either alone or combined at different concentrations to experimental dental composite. Flexural strength (FS) and modulus (FM) were tested to select the optimal concentrations. Only selected composites were evaluated for Vickers hardness (HV) and the degree of conversion (DC) using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR-ATR). Antibacterial activity was assessed using tests on colony-forming unit (CFU), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Alamarblue assay to measure the metabolic activity. Streptococcus mutans biofilm was chosen to be grown on the composite surfaces during 96h at 37°C. RESULTS: Incorporation of 7.5% DHMAI in composite improved the degree of conversion and gave a strong antibacterial effect with a reduction of (∼98%) in CFU and (∼50%) of metabolic activity with acceptable mechanical properties. Addition of MPC to DHMAI affects mechanical properties of composites without providing a better antibacterial activity. SIGNIFICANCE: Composites with DHMAI greatly reduced S. mutans biofilm and improved the degree of conversion without scarifying the composites' mechanical properties. DHMAI may have wide applicability to other dental materials in order to inhibit caries and improve the longevity of restorations.

Effects of monomer ratios and highly radiopaque fillers on degree of conversion and shrinkage-strain of dental resin composites.

OBJECTIVES: The degree of conversion (DC) and polymerization shrinkage of resin composites are closely related manifestations of the same process. Ideal dental composite would show an optimal degree of conversion and minimal polymerization shrinkage. These seem to be antagonistic goals, as an increase in monomer conversion leads to a high polymerization shrinkage. This paper aims to determine the effect of opaque mineral fillers and monomer ratios on the DC and the shrinkage-strain of experimental composites based on (BisGMA/TEGDMA) monomers (traditionally used monomers). A relationship between the shrinkage-strain and the degree of conversion values was also investigated. The radiopacity of these experimental composites has been investigated in a previous paper. METHODS: Experimental resin composites were prepared by mixing different monomer ratios of (BisGMA/TEGDMA) with Camphoroquinone and dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as photo-initiator system. Five different radiopacifying filler agents: La2O3, BaO, BaSO4, SrO and ZrO2 at various volume fractions ranging from 0 to 80 wt.% were added to the mixture. The degree of conversion of experimental composites containing different opaque fillers contents was measured using FTIR/ATR spectroscopy. The shrinkage-strain of specimens, photopolymerized at circa 500 mW/cm(2), was measured using the bonded-disk technique at room temperature with respect to time. RESULTS: The result revealed that the DC and the shrinkage-strain decrease slightly with the increasing of opaque fillers loadings, but this decrease is not significant. However, these two properties are closely related to the monomer concentration of the organic matrix. The results have also showed a linear correlation between the shrinkage-strain and DC of experimental composites investigated. SIGNIFICANCE: The nature and the volume effects of the opaque fillers on the DC and shrinkage of the experimental composites investigated were not significant. However, this study has confirmed the importance of viscosity in the system and shrinkage behavior of dimethacrylate monomers studied. Then we confirmed that direct relationships linked the shrinkage and the DC of filled dental resin composites.