The possibility of broken fillings is in the past
Credit: KTH Royal Institute of Technology By Idha Valeur
A new biocompatible material developed in Sweden, will possibly end your worries about having to touch up your dental repairs. The new material will offer improvements over acrylate-based fillings already on the market.
In contrast to the currently used thiol-ene coupling (TEC) systems, the new material is made out of light-initiated thiol-yne coupling (TYC) chemistry to polymerize triazine-trione (TATO) monomers, which generates higher crosslinking density. This means a more rigid and mechanically stronger material.
Michael Malkoch, professor in the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, said that the new material can bond 160% better to tooth surfaces compared to available polymers. This could keep patients away from returning to the dentist chair with detachment of dental fillers problems.
‘It provides higher strength, straightforward moldability and non-toxicity. We believe this foretells a new era in hard tissue repair," Malkoch says.
The researchers see the work as a guide for development of future materials for implants. "The reason why this works is that we have elevated the number of chemical crosslinks in the materials to such level that the properties we receive are extraordinary,’ Malkoch said.
In the research paper published in Advanced Materials, the team outlines that it also has the potential for 3D printing in a clinical setting. Putting their own research to the test, Malkoch has used the material to repair his own teeth. ‘An important feature is the biological profile of the composition and final materials have excellent biological profile. Personally, I would rather have these materials as dental filler than existing acrylate based one, known for their allergenic properties and questionable compositions,’ he said.