Disclosed herein are methods for creating opalescence in dental materials and restorations, compositions used in such methods, and the resultant dental materials and restorations. More particularly, the opalescence may be created by directly embedding opalescent particles into a matrix material. In some embodiments, photonic crystals are embedded in the dental material to achieve the opalescent effect. Photonic crystal particles may be embedded in dental materials matrices such as ceramics, composites, and polymers, and can generate opalescence in the materials. Some embodiments disclose compositions for applying the opalescence to a dental restoration.

Disclosed herein are methods for creating opalescence in dental materials and restorations, compositions used in such methods, and the resultant dental materials and restorations. More particularly, the opalescence may be created by directly embedding opalescent particles into a matrix material. In some embodiments, photonic crystals are embedded in the dental material to achieve the opalescent effect. Photonic crystal particles may be embedded in dental materials matrices such as ceramics, composites, and polymers, and can generate opalescence in the materials. Some embodiments disclose compositions for applying the opalescence to a dental restoration.

A medical method of affixing an element to a surface of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or corresponding substitute material. The method includes the steps of: providing an attachment composition, the attachment composition having a mixture of: a thermoplastic component; and a hardenable (for example curable) component. The hardenable component is different from the thermoplastic component. The method further includes the steps of: positioning the attachment composition relative to the surface of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or corresponding substitute material; and activating the attachment composition to attach to the surface or to attach to the element positioned relative to the surface. The step of activating the attachment composition includes activating the attachment composition by means of mechanical vibration.

Disclosed are cement products, methods of forming cement using the cement product, and methods of using the cement product in orthopedic and dental applications. Generally, the disclosed cement product includes a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a polymerizable resin comprising ethylenic unsaturated double bond, a suitable glycidyl group and/or a suitable isocyanate group. The second component includes a compound comprising more than one type of amine selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amines, tertiary amines and quaternary amines. Alternatively, the second component includes a compound comprising a suitable mercapto (SH) group, a hindered amine or a dimethylthiotoluenediamine (DMTDA). Optionally, the cement product includes a filler and/or a bioactive component to promote bone formation.

The present invention provides a method that enables production of a surface-treated colored inorganic particle with which the desired color tone can be consistently reproduced as intended with no variation occurring in the color tone of the compositions produced with the particle, within each production and over multiple production runs. The invention relates to a method for producing a surface-treated colored inorganic particle, comprising spray drying a mixture of a dispersion [I] and a solution [II], wherein the dispersion [I] is a dispersion of inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.005 to 5 m dispersed in a solvent with a pigment, and the solution [II] is a solution of a surface treatment agent hydrolyzed in the presence of a hydrolysis aid.

A dental curable composition includes a polymerizable monomer, inorganic particles (A), and inorganic particles (B), wherein the inorganic particles (A) have a volume-median particle size of more than or equal to 0.1 m and less than or equal to 0.9 m and are surface-treated with a compound expressed by a general formula (1), the inorganic particles (B) have an average primary particle size of more than or equal to 5 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm, where at least one of a group expressed by a general formula (A) and a group expressed by a general formula (B) is present at surfaces of the inorganic particles (B), and the ratio of the mass of the inorganic particles (B) to the total mass of the inorganic particles (A) and the inorganic particles (B) is more than or equal to 0.02 and less than or equal to 0.05.

A method includes introducing an encapsulation material through an opening, such as a decay hole or porosity, in a tooth, the encapsulating material reaching and at least partially encapsulating caries in the tooth.

A method includes introducing an encapsulation material through an opening, such as a decay hole or porosity, in a tooth, the encapsulating material reaching and at least partially encapsulating caries in the tooth.

Provided is a curable composition containing a polymerizable monomer (A), an organic-inorganic composite filler (B), and a polymerization initiator (C), wherein the organic-inorganic composite filler (B) includes an organic resin matrix (b1) and a spherical inorganic filler (b2) having an average primary particle size of 230-1000 nm, 90% or more of the number of individual particles constituting the spherical inorganic filler (b2) are present in a range of 5% greater or less than the average primary particle size, and the curable composition satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2):

nP<nF.sub.b2(formula 1)

and nM.sub.b1<nF.sub.b2(formula 2)

In the formulas, nP represents the refractive index of the polymer of the polymerizable monomer (A) at 25 C., nF.sub.b2 represents the refractive index of the spherical inorganic filler (b2) at 25 C., and nM.sub.b1 represents the refractive index of the organic resin matrix (b1) at 25 C.

Disclosed are cement products, methods of forming cement using the cement product, and methods of using the cement product in orthopedic and dental applications. Generally, the disclosed cement product includes a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a polymerizable resin comprising ethylenic unsaturated double bond, a suitable glycidyl group and/or a suitable isocyanate group. The second component includes a compound comprising more than one type of amine selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amines, tertiary amines and quaternary amines. Alternatively, the second component includes a compound comprising a suitable mercapto (SH) group, a hindered amine or a dimethylthiotoluenediamine (DMTDA). Optionally, the cement product includes a filler and/or a bioactive component to promote bone formation.