CURABLE COMPOSITION FOR DENTAL USE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract

Provided is a method for producing a dental curable composition, the method includes mixing a polymerizable monomer (A); a spherical filler (B) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 230 nm to 290 nm; a spherical filler (C) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the spherical filler having an average primary particle diameter different from that of the spherical filler (B); and a polymerization initiator (D), in which 90% or more in number of the individual particles constituting the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are present in a range of 5% from the average primary particle diameter, and the refractive indices of the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are larger than the refractive index of a polymer of a polymerizable monomer (A).

Claims

1. A method for producing a dental curable composition, the method comprising mixing a polymerizable monomer (A); a spherical filler (B) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 230 nm to 290 nm; a spherical filler (C) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the spherical filler (C) having the average primary particle diameter different from that of the spherical filler (B); and a polymerization initiator (D), wherein 90% or more in number of [[the]] individual particles constituting the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are present in a range of 5% from the average primary particle diameter, and the polymerizable monomer (A), the spherical filler (B), and the spherical filler (C) satisfy requirement (X1) represented by the following formulae (1) and (2):
nP<nF.sub.B(1) in formula (1), nP represents a refractive index at 25 C. of a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable monomer (A); and nF.sub.B represents a refractive index at 25 C. of the spherical filler (B),
nP<nF.sub.C(2) in formula (2), nP represents the refractive index at 25 C. of a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable monomer (A); and nF.sub.C represents a refractive index at 25 C. of the spherical filler (C).

2. The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are incorporated in a total amount of 100 parts by mass to 1,500 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer (A).

3. The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 2, wherein the spherical filler (B) is incorporated in an amount of 50 parts by mass or more, and the spherical filler (C) is incorporated in an amount of 50 parts by mass or more, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer (A).

4. The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the spherical filler (C) has the average primary particle diameter within a range of 230 nm to 290 nm.

5. The The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the polymerizable monomer (A) includes a plurality of (meth)acrylic compounds, and a refractive index at 25 C. of the polymerizable monomer (A) is within a range of 1.38 to 1.55.

6. The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the spherical filler (B) is spherical silica-titanium group oxide-based composite oxide particles, and a refractive index thereof at 25 C. is within a range of 1.45 to 1.58.

7. The method for producing a dental curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the dental curable composition is a dental filling restorative material.

8. A dental curable composition comprising a polymerizable monomer (A); a spherical filler (B) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 230 nm to 290 nm; a spherical filler (C) having an average primary particle diameter within a range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the spherical filler (C) having the average primary particle diameter different from that of the spherical filler (B); and a polymerization initiator (D), wherein 90% or more in number of individual particles constituting the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are present in a range of 5% from the average primary particle diameter, and the polymerizable monomer (A), the spherical filler (B), and the spherical filler (C) satisfy requirement (X1) represented by the following formulae (1) and (2):
nP<nF.sub.B(1) in formula (1), nP represents a refractive index at 25 C. of a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable monomer (A); and nF.sub.B represents a refractive index at 25 C. of the spherical filler (B),
nP<nF.sub.C(2) in formula (2), nP represents the refractive index at 25 C. of a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable monomer (A); and nFc represents a refractive index at 25 C. of the spherical filler (C).

9. The dental curable composition according to claim 8, wherein the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C) are incorporated in a total amount of 100 parts by mass to 1,500 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer (A).

10. The dental curable composition according to claim 9, wherein the spherical filler (B) is incorporated in an amount of 50 parts by mass or more, and the spherical filler (C) is incorporated in an amount of 50 parts by mass or more, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable monomer (A).

11. The dental curable composition according to claim 8, wherein the spherical filler (C) has the average primary particle diameter within a range of 230 nm to 290 nm.

12. The dental curable composition according to claim 8, wherein the polymerizable monomer (A) includes a plurality of (meth)acrylic compounds, and a refractive index at 25 C. of the polymerizable monomer (A) is within a range of 1.38 to 1.55.

13. The dental curable composition according to claim 8, wherein the spherical filler (B) is spherical silica-titanium group oxide-based composite oxide particles, and a refractive index thereof at 25 C. is within a range of 1.45 to 1.58.

14. A dental filling restorative material consisting of the dental curable composition according to claim 8.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0078] Hereinafter, the present invention will be more specifically described by way of Examples; however, the present invention is not intended be limited to these Examples.

[0079] The methods for measuring various physical properties according to the present invention are as follows.

(1) Average Primary Particle Diameter of Spherical Filler

[0080] A photograph of a powder was taken with a scanning electron microscope (manufactured by Philips N.V., XL-30S), the number (30 or more particles) and the primary particle diameters (maximum diameters) of the particles observed within a unit viewing field of the photograph were measured, and the average primary particle diameter was calculated by the following formula based on the measured values.

x=.sub.i=1.sup.nx.sub.i/n (Number average)

(n: number of particles, x.sub.i: primary particle diameter (maximum diameter) of i-th particle)

(2) Abundance Proportion of Average Particle-Sized Particles of Spherical Filler

[0081] The number of particles that exceeded the range of 5% from the average primary particle diameter obtained in the above section (1) was measured, and this number was divided by the number of particles (30 or more) observed within a unit viewing field of the photograph. The value thus obtained was subtracted from 1, and the resultant was multiplied by 100. Thus, the proportion of particles that were present in the range of 5% greater or less than the average primary particle diameter was calculated, and this was designated as the abundance proportion of the average particle-sized particles.

(3) Uniformity

[0082] A photograph of a powder was taken with a scanning electron microscope (manufactured by Philips N.V., XL-30S), and for each of the particles (thirty or more particles) present within a unit viewing field of the photograph, a value obtained by dividing the particle diameter in a direction orthogonally intersecting the maximum diameter, by the maximum diameter, was determined. The average of the values was designated as uniformity.

(4) Measurement of Refractive Index

<Refractive Index of Polymerizable Monomer (A)>

[0083] The refractive index of the polymerizable monomer (or a mixture of polymerizable monomers) used was measured in a constant temperature chamber at 25 C. using an Abbe refractometer (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.).

<Refractive Index nP of Polymer of Polymerizable Monomer (A)>

[0084] The refractive index of a polymer of the polymerizable monomer (or a mixture of polymerizable monomers) used was measured using a polymer polymerized under conditions almost the same as the polymerization conditions in a cavity, in a constant temperature chamber at 25 C. using an Abbe refractometer (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.).

[0085] That is, a uniform polymerizable monomer (or a mixture of polymerizable monomers) obtained by mixing 0.2% by mass of camphor-quinone, 0.3% by mass of ethyl N,N-dimethyl-p-benzoate, and 0.15% by mass of hydroquinone monomethyl ether was introduced into a mold having a hole having a size of 7 mm0.5 mm, and a polyester film was pressure-welded on both surfaces. Subsequently, the polymerizable monomer was cured by irradiating the monomer with light for 30 seconds using a halogen type dental light irradiator (manufactured by Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc., Demetron LC) at a quantity of light of 500 mW/cm.sup.2, and then the cured product was removed from the mold. Thus, a polymer of the polymerizable monomer was produced. When the polymer was placed in an Abbe refractometer (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.), for the purpose of tightly adhering the polymer with the measuring surface, a solvent which does not dissolve the sample and having a refractive index higher than that of the sample (bromonaphthalene) was added dropwise to the sample, and the refractive index was measured.

<Refractive Indices of Spherical Filler and Irregularly Shaped Filler>

[0086] The refractive indices of a spherical filler and an irregularly shaped filler used were measured using an Abbe refractometer (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) according to an immersion method.

[0087] That is, in a constant temperature chamber at 25 C., 1 g of a spherical filler or a surface-treated product thereof was dispersed in 50 mL of anhydrous toluene in a 100-mL sample bottle. While this dispersion liquid was stirred with a stirrer, 1-bromotoluene was added dropwise in small amounts, the refractive index of the dispersion liquid at the time point when the dispersion liquid became most transparent was measured, and the value thus obtained was designated as the refractive index of the spherical filler and an irregularly shaped filler.

(5) Evaluation of Colored Light by Visual Inspection

[0088] A paste of each of the dental curable compositions produced in Examples and Comparative Examples was introduced into a mold having a hole having a size of 7 mm1 mm, and a polyester film was pressure-welded on both surfaces. Both surfaces were cured by irradiating with light for 30 seconds with a visible light irradiator (manufactured by Tokuyama Corp., POWER LIGHT), and then the resultant was removed from the mold. The cured product was mounted on an adhesive surface of a black tape (carbon tape) that measured about 10 mm on each edge, and the color tone of colored light was checked by visual inspection.

(6) Wavelength of Colored Light

[0089] A paste of each of the dental curable compositions produced in Examples and Comparative Examples was introduced into a mold having a hole having a size of 7 mm1 mm, and a polyester film was pressure-welded on both surfaces. Both surfaces were cured by irradiating with light for 30 seconds with a visible light irradiator (POWER LIGHT, manufactured by Tokuyama Corp.), and then the resultant was removed from the mold. The spectral reflectance was measured using a color difference meter (manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd., TC-1800 MKII) on the black background color and on the white background color, and the maximum point of the reflectance on the black background color was designated as the wavelength of the colored light.

(7) Evaluation of Color Tone Adaptability

[0090] A model tooth for tooth restoration that reproduced an incisal part loss cavity (width 2 mm, depth 1 mm) of lower right No. 1, and a model tooth for tooth restoration that reproduced a Class I cavity (diameter 4 mm, depth 2 mm) of lower right No. 6 were used. The cavity was filled with a paste of a dental curable composition, the paste was cured and polished, and the color tone adaptability was checked by visual inspection. Meanwhile, as the model teeth for tooth restoration, a high-chromaticity model tooth of high hue and high chroma (corresponding to A4) and a low-chromaticity model tooth of low hue and low chroma (corresponding to A1) in the class of A system (red-brown) according to Shade Guide VITAPAN Classical; a high-chromaticity model tooth of high hue and high chroma (corresponding to B4) and a low-chromaticity model tooth of low hue and low chroma (corresponding to B1) in the class of B system (red-yellow) according to Shade Guide VITAPAN Classical; and a high-chromaticity model tooth of high hue and high chroma (corresponding to C4) and a low-chromaticity model tooth of low hue and low chroma (corresponding to C1) in the class of C system (gray) according to Shade Guide VITAPAN Classical were used.

Evaluation Criteria

[0091] A: The color tone of the restoration product highly matches with that of the model tooth for tooth restoration.
B: The color tone of the restoration product is similar to that of the model tooth for tooth restoration.
C: The color tone of the restoration product is similar to that of the model tooth for tooth restoration; however, adaptability is not satisfactory.
D: The color tone of the restoration product does not match with that of the model tooth for tooth restoration.

(8) Change in Color Tone Over Time

[0092] A paste of each of the dental curable compositions produced in Examples and Comparative Examples was introduced into a mold having a hole having a size of 7 mm1 mm, and a polyester film was pressure-welded on both surfaces. Both surfaces were cured by irradiating with light for 30 seconds with a visible light irradiator (POWER LIGHT, manufactured by Tokuyama Corp.), and then the resultant was removed from the mold. The cured product was stored in water at 37 C. for 4 months, and the color tone after the storage was measured using a color difference meter (manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd., TC-1800MKII). The difference between the color tones before and after the storage is represented by E* in the CIELab.

E*={(L*).sup.2+(a*).sup.2+(b*).sup.2}.sup.1/2

L*=L1*L2*

a*=a1*a2*

b*=b1*b2*

[0093] Meanwhile, L1*: psychometric lightness index of cured product after storage, a1* and b1*: chroma indices of cured product after storage, L2*: lightness index of cured product before storage, a2* and b2*: chroma indices of cured product before storage, E*: amount of change in color tone.

[0094] The polymerizable monomers, polymerization initiators, and the like used in Examples and Comparative Examples were as follows.

[Polymerizable Monomers]

[0095] 1,6-Bis(methacrylethyloxycarbonylamino)trimethylhexane (hereinafter, abbreviated to UDMA)

[0096] Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (hereinafter, abbreviated to 3G)

[0097] 2,2-Bis[(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyloxy)phenyl]propane (hereinafter, abbreviated to bis-GMA)

[Polymerization Initiator]

[0098] Camphor-quinone (hereinafter, abbreviated to CQ)

[0099] Ethyl N,N-dimethyl-p-benzoate (hereinafter, abbreviated to DMBE)

[Polymerization Inhibitor]

[0100] Hydroquinone monomethyl ether (hereinafter, abbreviated to HQME)

[Colorant]

[0101] Titanium dioxide (white pigment)

[0102] Pigment Yellow (yellow pigment)

[0103] Pigment Red (red pigment)

[0104] Pigment Blue (blue pigment)

[Preparation of Mixture of Polymerizable Monomers]

[0105] The polymerizable monomers shown in Table 1 were mixed, and polymerizable monomers M1 and M2 were produced. The values in the parentheses in Table 1 represent the mass ratio of the respective polymerizable monomers.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Refractive index Before curing After curing M1 UDMA(60)/3G(40) 1.474 1.509 M2 bis-GMA(50)/3G(50) 1.506 1.540

[Production of Spherical Filler and Irregularly Shaped Filler]

[0106] A spherical filler was produced by the methods described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. S58-110414, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. S58-156524, and the like. That is, a spherical filler was produced using a so-called sol-gel method of adding a mixed solution including a hydrolyzable organosilicon compound (tetraethyl silicate or the like) and a hydrolyzable organic titanium group metal compound (tetrabutyl zirconate, tetrabutyl titanate, or the like) into an ammoniacal alcohol (for example, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or isobutyl alcohol) solution having aqueous ammonia incorporated therein, performing hydrolysis, and precipitating out a reaction product.

[0107] An irregularly shaped filler was produced by the method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H02-132102, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H03-197311, or the like. That is, an irregularly shaped filler was produced using a method of dissolving an alkoxysilane compound in an organic solvent, adding water to this solution to perform partial hydrolysis, further adding thereto an alkoxide of another metal and an alkali metal compound to be compounded, thereby performing hydrolysis to produce a gel-like material, subsequently drying the gel-like material, subsequently pulverizing the dried product as necessary, and calcining the pulverization product.

[0108] The spherical filler and irregularly shaped filler used in Examples and Comparative Examples are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Average Abundance of Composition and shape of primary average filler particle particle-sized Composition diameter Refractive particles.sup.1) (mol %) Shape nm index Uniformity % PF1 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 230 1.515 0.90 92 89.8/9.0/1.2 PF2 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 280 1.515 0.88 95 89.8/9.0/1.2 PF3 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 178 1.515 0.91 91 89.8/9.0/1.2 PF4 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 282 1.522 0.81 93 88.7/10.8/1.2 PFS SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 286 1.542 0.80 91 83.9/14.3/1.8 PF6 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 230 1.544 0.90 90 83.5/14.7/1.8 PF7 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 80 1.515 0.95 92 89.8/9.0/1.2 PF8 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Irregularly 500 1.515 50 89.8/9.0/1.2 shaped PF9 SiO.sub.2/ZrO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O = Spherical 280 1.515 0.85 87 89.8/9.0/1.2 .sup.1)The abundance of average particle-sized particles is the proportion (%) of particles present in the range of 5% from the average particle diameter.

Examples 1 to 9

[0109] To 100 g of polymerizable monomer M1 or M2, 0.3% by mass of CQ, 1.0% by mass of DMBE, and 0.15% by mass of HQME were added and mixed, and uniformly polymerizable monomer compositions were prepared. Next, the various spherical fillers indicated in Table 3 were weighed in a mortar, each of the above-mentioned polymerizable monomer compositions was slowly added thereto under red light, and the mixture was sufficiently kneaded in the dark to obtain a uniform curable paste. Furthermore, this paste was degassed under reduced pressure to eliminate air bubbles, and thus a dental curable composition was produced. For the dental curable composition thus obtained, various physical properties were evaluated based on the above-described methods. The compositions and results are shown in Table 3 and Table 4. The values in the parentheses in Table 3 represent the incorporation amounts (unit: parts by mass) of the various components.

Comparative Examples 1 to 5

[0110] To 100 g of polymerizable monomer M1, 0.3% by mass of CQ, 1.0% by mass of DMBE, and 0.15% by mass of HQME were added and mixed, and a uniformly polymerizable monomer composition was prepared. Next, the various fillers indicated in Table 3 were weighed in a mortar, the above-mentioned polymerizable monomer composition was slowly added thereto under red light, and the mixture was sufficiently kneaded in the dark to obtain a uniform curable paste. Furthermore, this paste was degassed under reduced pressure to eliminate air bubbles, and thus a dental curable composition was produced. For the dental curable composition thus obtained, various physical properties were evaluated based on the above-described methods. The composition and results are shown in Table 3 and Table 4.

Comparative Example 6

[0111] To 100 g of polymerizable monomer M2, 0.3% by mass of CQ, 1.0% by mass of DMBE, and 0.15% by mass of HQME were added and mixed, and a uniformly polymerizable monomer composition was prepared. Next, the spherical filler indicated in Table 3 were weighed in a mortar, the above-mentioned polymerizable monomer composition was slowly added thereto under red light. Furthermore, 0.050 g of titanium dioxide (white pigment), 0.001 g of Pigment Yellow (yellow pigment), 0.0005 g of Pigment Red (red pigment), and 0.0002 g of Pigment Blue (blue pigment) were added to the mixture, and the mixture was sufficiently kneaded in the dark to obtain a uniform curable paste. Furthermore, this paste was degassed under reduced pressure to eliminate air bubbles, and thus a dental composite restorative material was produced. In an evaluation by visual inspection, the material had a color tone that matched A system of a high-chromaticity model tooth. Subsequently, various physical properties were evaluated based on the above-described methods. The composition and results are shown in Table 3 and Table 4.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Polymer- izable Spherical filler (B) Spherical filler (C) Change monomer Colored Spectral Colored Spectral Evaluation Colored in color (A) Type light reflectance light reflectance of colored light tone (Incorpo- Type (nm) on of Type (nm) on of light by (nm) on over ration (Incorporation black colored (Incorporation black colored visual white time amount) amount) background light (%) amount) background light (%) inspection background E* Example 1 M1 (100) PF1 (75) 603 13 PF2 (75) 758 13 Orange No 1.5 maximum Example 2 M1 (100) PF1 (100) 603 14 PF2 (50) 758 11 Orange No 1.4 maximum Example 3 M1 (100) PF1 (50) 603 11 PF2 (100) 758 14 Orange No 1.4 maximum Example 4 M1 (100) PF1 (100) 603 13 PF3 (50) 485 12 Yellow No 1.6 maximum Example 5 M1 (100) PF1 (75) 603 11 PF3 (75) 485 13 Yellow- No 1.6 blue maximum Example 6 M1 (100) PF1 (50) 603 10 PF3 (100) 485 15 Yellow- No 1.4 blue maximum Example 7 M1 (100) PF1 (75) 603 13 PF4 (75) 760 13 Orange No 1.2 maximum Example 8 M1 (100) PF2 (100) 758 14 PF3 (50) 485 12 Red-purple No 2.1 maximum Example 9 M2 (100) PF6 (75) 600 13 PF5 (75) 746 13 Orange No 1.2 maximum Comparative M1 (100) PF1 (150) 603 14 Yellow No 1.5 Example 1 maximum Comparative M1 (100) PF2 (150) 758 14 Red No 1.4 Example 2 maximum Comparative M1 (100) PF7 (150) 405 6 None No 1.6 Example 3 maximum Comparative M1 (100) PF8 (150) No None No 2 Example 4 maximum maximum Comparative M1 (100) PF9 (150) 741 Pale red No 2.1 Example 5 maximum Comparative M2 (100) PF1 (150) 4.5 Example 6

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Color tone Color tone Color tone Color tone Color tone Color tone adaptability adaptability adaptability adaptability adaptability adaptability (Low- (High- (Low- (High- (Low- (High- chromaticity chromaticity chromaticity chromaticity chromaticity chromaticity model model model model model model Model tooth) tooth) tooth) tooth) tooth) tooth) tooth Filling site A system A system B system B system C system C system Example 1 Lower Central part A A A A B B right of occlusal No. 6 surface Example 2 Lower Central part A A A A B B right of occlusal No. 6 surface Example 3 Lower Central part A A A A B B right of occlusal No. 6 surface Example 4 Lower Central part B B A A A A right of occlusal No. 6 surface Example 5 Lower Incisal part B B A A A A right No. 1 Example 6 Lower Incisal part A A A A A A right No. 1 Example 7 Lower Central part A A A A B B right of occlusal No. 6 surface Example 8 Lower Central part A A B B A A right of occlusal No. 6 aurrace Example 9 Lower Central part A A A A B B right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part B B A A B B Example 1 right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part A A B B B B Example 2 right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part D D D D D D Example 3 right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part D D D D D D Example 4 right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part C C C C C C Example 5 right of occlusal No. 6 surface Comparative Lower Central part C B D D D D Example 6 right of occlusal No. 6 surface

[0112] As is understood from the results of Examples 1 to 9, it can be seen that when the requirement defined in the present invention is satisfied, the dental curable composition exhibits a colored light induced by interference of light on a black background and has satisfactory color tone adaptability, and the change over time in the color tone of the cured product thus obtainable is small.

[0113] Furthermore, as is understood from the results of Examples 1 to 3, it can be seen that by varying the mixing ratio of the spherical filler (B) and the spherical filler (C), a spectral reflectance of the colored light that corresponds to the mixing ratio of the spherical fillers on a black background is exhibited.

[0114] As is understood from the results of Examples 4 to 6, it can be seen that in a case in which a filler having an average primary particle diameter of 230 nm is used as the spherical filler (B) and a filler having an average primary particle diameter of 178 nm is used as the spherical filler (C), adaptability to B system (red-yellow) and C system (gray) according to Shade Guide VITAPAN Classical, and to the incisal part is obtained. Furthermore, it can be seen that as the incorporation amount of the spherical filler (C) increases, the adaptability to C system and the incisal part is enhanced.

[0115] As is understood from the results of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, in a case in which the spherical filler (C) is not used, satisfactory color tone adaptability is exhibited toward any one of A system (red-brown) and B system (red-yellow) according to Shade Guide VITAPAN Classical; however, the color tone range exhibiting satisfactory color tone adaptability is narrower than that of Examples 1 to 9.

[0116] As is understood from the results of Comparative Examples 3 to 5, it can be seen that when the requirement defined in the present invention is not satisfied, the dental curable composition does not exhibit colored light on a black background (Comparative Example 3: the average primary particle diameter of the spherical filler is 80 nm, Comparative Example 4: the shape of the filler is irregular), has a weak colored light (Comparative Example 5: the abundance of the average particle-sized particles of the spherical filler is 87%), and has poor color tone adaptability.

[0117] As is understood from the results of Comparative Example 6, for a dental curable composition having the color tone adjusted (color tone matching A system of a high-chromaticity model tooth (corresponding to A4)) by adding pigments, the spectral reflectance was measured on a black background color and a white background color using a color difference meter (manufactured by Tokyo Denshoku Co., Ltd., TC-1800MKII), and it was observed that the dental curable composition exhibits spectral reflection characteristics according to the added pigments on both the black background color and the white background color. The color tone adaptability to a color tone that matched A system of a high-chromaticity model tooth (corresponding to A4) was satisfactory; however, the color tone adaptability to other model teeth was low. Furthermore, the change in color tone over time was large.

[0118] The disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-082024 filed on Apr. 18, 2017, are incorporated in their entirety in the present specification by reference.