A bioactive borate glass adhesive system is described for its composition and use in adhering a plurality of dental restorative components onto a tooth surface. The adhesive system comprises silanated borate bioactive glass particles and a biocompatible resin blend. The bioactive adhesive system functions as a non-degradable, permanent adhesive in tooth restoration in the presence of saliva. In addition, the bioactive borate adhesive system may be used for re-mineralization, de-sensitization and self-healing of dentin and enamel by releasing and depositing calcium and phosphate ions onto the exposed and damaged tooth surface.

A bioactive borate glass adhesive system is described for its composition and use in adhering a plurality of dental restorative components onto a tooth surface. The adhesive system comprises silanated borate bioactive glass particles and a biocompatible resin blend. The bioactive adhesive system functions as a non-degradable, permanent adhesive in tooth restoration in the presence of saliva. In addition, the bioactive borate adhesive system may be used for re-mineralization, de-sensitization and self-healing of dentin and enamel by releasing and depositing calcium and phosphate ions onto the exposed and damaged tooth surface.

Disclosed herein are antifungal composites, devices, and methods to reduce or prevent a fungus from growing on the antifungal composite. The antifungal composite and devices thereof may include a biocompatible polymer and a Si.sub.3N.sub.4 powder loaded in at least a portion of the biocompatible polymer. The polymer may be a thermoplastic polymer such as a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resin and the Si.sub.3N.sub.4 powder may be present in a concentration of about 1 vol. % to about 30 vol. % in the thermoplastic polymer.

Disclosed herein are antifungal composites, devices, and methods to reduce or prevent a fungus from growing on the antifungal composite. The antifungal composite and devices thereof may include a biocompatible polymer and a Si.sub.3N.sub.4 powder loaded in at least a portion of the biocompatible polymer. The polymer may be a thermoplastic polymer such as a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resin and the Si.sub.3N.sub.4 powder may be present in a concentration of about 1 vol. % to about 30 vol. % in the thermoplastic polymer.

A dental composition may be suitable for use as a dental composite resin or other dental material, have good ease of handling, and be highly stable in consistency and low in polymerization shrinkage stress while providing desirable mechanical strength and polishability for the cured product. A dental composition may include a polymerizable monomer (A), an inorganic filler (B), a prepolymer (C), and a polymerization initiator (D), the inorganic filler (B) having an average particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm, and a specific surface area of 10 to 300 m.sup.2/g. The prepolymer (C) preferably has a structure derived from the polyfunctional monomer (a). The polyfunctional monomer (a) has a molecular weight of preferably 250 to 1,000.

A dental composition may be suitable for use as a dental composite resin or other dental material, have good ease of handling, and be highly stable in consistency and low in polymerization shrinkage stress while providing desirable mechanical strength and polishability for the cured product. A dental composition may include a polymerizable monomer (A), an inorganic filler (B), a prepolymer (C), and a polymerization initiator (D), the inorganic filler (B) having an average particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm, and a specific surface area of 10 to 300 m.sup.2/g. The prepolymer (C) preferably has a structure derived from the polyfunctional monomer (a). The polyfunctional monomer (a) has a molecular weight of preferably 250 to 1,000.

The present invention provides a dental glass ionomer cement composition which can improve the mixing efficiency of a powder and a liquid to an extent where their powder to liquid ratio can be raised in mechanical mixing without reducing a fluoride-release property, and further expresses a high mechanical property. More specifically, the present invention provides a dental glass ionomer cement composition in which a powder and a liquid are separately packaged in a dental capsule, and the powder and the liquid are used by mixing immediately before their use, wherein the composition comprises (a) a hydrophobized acid reactive glass powder, (b) a polyalkene acid, and (c) water, and is not accompanied by a polymerization reaction upon setting.

The present invention provides a dental glass ionomer cement composition which can improve the mixing efficiency of a powder and a liquid to an extent where their powder to liquid ratio can be raised in mechanical mixing without reducing a fluoride-release property, and further expresses a high mechanical property. More specifically, the present invention provides a dental glass ionomer cement composition in which a powder and a liquid are separately packaged in a dental capsule, and the powder and the liquid are used by mixing immediately before their use, wherein the composition comprises (a) a hydrophobized acid reactive glass powder, (b) a polyalkene acid, and (c) water, and is not accompanied by a polymerization reaction upon setting.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dental resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement composition which exhibit high surface curability even under wet conditions, which makes it difficult for the surface to become cloudy even if moisture comes in contact with at the initial stage of curing, exhibits high mechanical properties, low water absorption expansion and excellent coloring resistance in the set product and is also excellent in storage stability. The dental resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement composition consisting of a powder material and a liquid material, wherein the powder material contains (a) acid-reactive glass powder, the liquid material contains (b) water, (c) polymer of acidic group-containing polymerizable monomer, (d) hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate-based polymerizable monomer and (e) tri or more functional (meth)acrylamide-based polymerizable monomer, and at least one of the powder material and the liquid material contains (f) polymerization initiator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dental resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement composition which exhibit high surface curability even under wet conditions, which makes it difficult for the surface to become cloudy even if moisture comes in contact with at the initial stage of curing, exhibits high mechanical properties, low water absorption expansion and excellent coloring resistance in the set product and is also excellent in storage stability. The dental resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement composition consisting of a powder material and a liquid material, wherein the powder material contains (a) acid-reactive glass powder, the liquid material contains (b) water, (c) polymer of acidic group-containing polymerizable monomer, (d) hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate-based polymerizable monomer and (e) tri or more functional (meth)acrylamide-based polymerizable monomer, and at least one of the powder material and the liquid material contains (f) polymerization initiator.