Objectives Fluoride (F) releasing dental restoratives are promising to promote remineralization and combat caries. The objectives of this study were to develop nanocomposite containing calcium fluoride nanoparticles (nCaF2), and to investigate the long-term mechanical durability including wear, thermal-cycling and long-term water-aging behavior. Methods Two types of fillers were used: nCaF2 with a diameter of 53 nm, and glass particles of 1.4 μm. Four composites were fabricated with fillers of: (1) 0% nCaF2 + 65% glass; (2) 10% nCaF2 + 55% glass; (3) 20% nCaF2 + 45% glass; (4) 30% nCaF2 + 35% glass. Three commercial materials were also tested. Specimens were subjected to thermal-cycling between 5 °C and 60 °C for 105 cycles, three-body wear for 4×105 cycles, and water-aging for 2 years. Results After thermal-cycling, the nCaF2 nanocomposites had flexural strengths in the range of 100-150 MPa, five times higher than the 20-30 MPa for resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI). The wear scar depth showed an increasing trend with increasing nCaF2 filler level. Wear of nCaF2 nanocomposites was within the range of wear for commercial controls. Water-aging decreased the strength of all materials. At 2 years, flexural strength was 94 MPa for nanocomposite with 10% nCaF2, 60 MPa with 20% nCaF2, and 48 MPa with 30% nCaF2. They are 3-6 fold higher than the 15 MPa for RMGI (p < 0.05). SEM revealed air bubbles and cracks in a RMGI, while composite control and nCaF2 nanocomposites appeared dense and solid. Significance Combining nCaF2 with glass particles yielded nanocomposites with long-term mechanical properties that were comparable to those of a commercial composite with little F release, and much better than those of RMGI controls. These strong long-term properties, together with their F release being comparable to RMGI as previously reported, indicate that the nCaF2 nanocomposites are promising for load-bearing and caries-inhibiting restorations.

Objectives Biofilm acids contribute to secondary caries which is a reason for restoration failure. Previous studies synthesized nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) and dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM). The objectives of this study were to develop DMAHMD-NACP nanocomposite for double benefits of antibacterial and remineralization capabilities, and investigate the DMAHMD mass fraction effects on fracture toughness and biofilm response of NACP nanocomposite for the first time. Methods DMAHDM was incorporated into NACP nanocomposite at mass fractions of 0% (control), 0.75%, 1.5%, 2.25% and 3%. A single edge V-notched beam method was used to measure fracture toughness Kic. A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model using human saliva as inoculum was used to measure the antibacterial properties of composites. Results Kic was about 1 MPa·m1/2 for all composite (mean ± sd; n = 6). Adding DMAHDM from 0% to 3% did not affect Kic (p > 0.1). Lactic acid production by biofilms on composite containing 3% DMAHDM was reduced to less than 1% of that on composite control. Metabolic activity of adherent biofilms on composite containing 3% DMAHDM was reduced to 4% of that on composite control. Biofilm colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were reduced by three orders of magnitude on NACP nanocomposite containing 3% DMAHDM. Conclusions DMAHDM-NACP nanocomposite had good fracture resistance, strong antibacterial potency, and NACP for remineralization (shown in previous studies). The DMAHDM-NACP nanocomposite may be promising for caries-inhibiting dental restorations, and the method of using double agents (DMAHDM and NACP) may have a wide applicability to other dental materials including bonding agents and cements.

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