Effect of nanofillers in adhesive and aesthetic properties of dental resin-composites

Nanoscience offers new possibilities for dental restorative materials. The aim of this paper was to evaluate a series of experimental resin-composite formulations, with systematically varied nanofiller-size and shape and high volume-fraction. Two main areas of interest in dental restoratives, adhesion and aesthetics, were investigated. The specific properties examined were elastic and bulk moduli and shrinkage-stress that can affect adhesion and roughness and gloss that can affect aesthetics. The trends in each property relating to nanofillers size and shape were identified. Fundamental properties of resin-composites can be improved by nanotechnology.

Keywords: nanofillers, dental resin composites, aesthetics, adhesion, elastic modulus, bulk modulus, adhesives, shrinkage stress, gloss, roughness, nanotechnology