To provide a sealer composition for root canal filling consisting of a liquid material containing a polymer (a) of an acid group-containing polymerizable monomer in which a portion or the entirety of the acidic group in a molecule forms a salt with an alkaline metal and water (b), wherein the pH of the liquid material is in the range from 3.5 to 5.5, and a powder material containing an acid reactive inorganic powder (c), wherein, a cured product of a kneaded material of the liquid material and the powder material comprises 3 to 20 part by weight of the polymer (a), 10 to 60 part by weight of the water (b), and 30 to 85 part by weight of the acid reactive inorganic powder (c).

Radically polymerizable dental material which contains (a) at least one polyfunctional radically polymerizable monomer, (b) at least one further radically polymerizable monomer which can be monofunctional or polyfunctional, (c) at least one photoinitiator for the radical polymerization and (d) at least one filler. The material is characterized in that the mixture of the monomers (a) and (b) has a refractive index of from 1.50 to 1.70 and in that the refractive index of the monomer mixture before the curing corresponds to the refractive index of the filler used or is higher by up to 0.013 and after the curing is higher than the refractive index of the filler by at least 0.02.

The present invention relates to a kit of parts comprising Part A and Part B, Part A comprising: ascorbic acid, component(s) comprising an ascorbic acid moiety or derivative(s) thereof, optionally polymerizable component(s) without acidic moieties, optionally polymerizable component(s) with acidic moieties, and optionally filler(s), Part B comprising polymerizable component(s) without acidic moieties, polymerizable component(s) with acidic moieties, transition metal component(s), organic peroxide(s), and optionally filler(s), The invention is also directed to a redox initiator system comprising ascorbic acid, component(s) comprising an ascorbic acid moiety or derivative(s) thereof, transition metal component(s), preferably comprising a copper or iron ion containing salt, organic peroxide(s), preferably comprising a hydroperoxide or di-peroxide. The kit of parts and redox initiator system are particularly useful in the dental field.

Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

The present invention relates to the deposition of a micro-crystalline hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate coating onto gutta-percha cones, to be used as dental composite for root canal filling. The method proposed for coating involves the surface pretreatment of gutta-percha cones with sodium hydroxide; immersion of gutta-percha cones in simulated body fluid, which contains calcium and phosphate ions; and replacing consumed simulated body fluid after an interval of time, at physiological pH and temperature. The nucleation process results in the biomimetic deposition of a thin and uniform layer of calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite. Improved characteristics such as in sealing ability, bonding strength, and ability to form hermetic seal, therefore allows the dental composite produced, to be used appropriately as filling matter in root canal treatments.

The present invention relates to the deposition of a micro-crystalline hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate coating onto gutta-percha cones, to be used as dental composite for root canal filling. The method proposed for coating involves the surface pretreatment of gutta-percha cones with sodium hydroxide; immersion of gutta-percha cones in simulated body fluid, which contains calcium and phosphate ions; and replacing consumed simulated body fluid after an interval of time, at physiological pH and temperature. The nucleation process results in the biomimetic deposition of a thin and uniform layer of calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite. Improved characteristics such as in sealing ability, bonding strength, and ability to form hermetic seal, therefore allows the dental composite produced, to be used appropriately as filling matter in root canal treatments.

A redox curing dental composition comprising: a. one or more compounds having a radical polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; b. a redox initiator system comprising
a reducing agent which is a compound of the following formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which may be the same or different, independently represent a C.sub.1-18 hydrocarbyl group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form together with the silicon atom to which they are bonded a 3 to 8-membered silicon-containing alicyclic ring, which groups R.sup.1 and/or R.sup.2 may be substituted with one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or a carboxylic acid group; and
(ii) an oxidizing agent adapted to oxidize the reducing agent of formula (I) in the absence of light for generating a radical capable of initiating radical polymerization of the one or more compounds having a radical polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond.

A redox curing dental composition comprising: a. one or more compounds having a radical polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; b. a redox initiator system comprising
a reducing agent which is a compound of the following formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 which may be the same or different, independently represent a C.sub.1-18 hydrocarbyl group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form together with the silicon atom to which they are bonded a 3 to 8-membered silicon-containing alicyclic ring, which groups R.sup.1 and/or R.sup.2 may be substituted with one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or a carboxylic acid group; and
(ii) an oxidizing agent adapted to oxidize the reducing agent of formula (I) in the absence of light for generating a radical capable of initiating radical polymerization of the one or more compounds having a radical polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond.

Compositions and methods for the synthesis of polymer foam materials, wherein the polymer foam materials include expandable polymers, which can be applied to many dental applications, such as for example but not limited to one or more of a filler, a sealer, a filling, and a root canal. The expandable polymers can include a cross linkable material that expands upon crosslinking.