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Project

Towards longer-lasting tooth restorations in composite.

Decayed or traumatized teeth are most commonly restored adhesively using tooth-colored composites. However, longevity studies show that dentists need to replace composite restorations too soon. Each intervention leads to further tooth weakening. Such early restoration failure should primarily be ascribed to biodegradation of composite restorations, typically initiated at the restoration margins with and marginal breakdown and micro/nano-leakage. This may eventually lead to new caries. Besides composite-polymerization shrinkage hindering tight marginal adaptation, also cariogenic biofilms appear to adhere easily to composite. In the biomechanical PROJECT-PART 1, early polymerization-shrinkage stress development/distribution within composite restorations will be mapped in 3D using nano-CT (Research Question-1.1). This innovative non-destructive approach will be applied to assess specific clinical conditions like the potential stress-reducing capacity of shock-absorbing intermediate liners (RQ-1.2) and new low-shrinking composites (RQ-1.3). Finally, marginal leakage will be studied in 3D using radiopaque tracers (RQ-1.4). The biological PROJECT-PART 2 aims to elucidate factors that influence early bacterial colonization of composites using an innovative AFM-approach (RQ-2.1), and to analyze composite-degradation products (RQ-2.2) and their interaction with bacteria at the tooth-restoration interface (RQ-2.3). Potential anti-bacterial strategies will be assessed likewise (RQ-2.4). With this exploratory study, BIOMAT K.U.Leuven aims to improve the clinical success of tooth restorations in composite.
Date:1 Jan 2012 →  31 Dec 2015
Keywords:Tooth, Caries, Composite, Biodegradation, Polymerization shrinkage, Micro-CT, AFM, Biofilm
Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences