Surface Response of Fluorine Polymer-Incorporated Resin Composites to Cariogenic Biofilm Adherence

Abstract

Experimental resin composites with incorporated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles were developed, which theoretically could improve the surface properties of the materials, including the inhibition of bacterial adherence. To assess the surface properties in relation to biofilm formation and detachment, 23.1% (wt/wt) linear PTFE particles (FL-30) and cross-linked PTFE particles (FC-30) were incorporated into pure resin composites. Pure PTFE plates and pure resin composites without PTFE (F-0) were used as control specimens. Sucrose-dependent Streptococcus mutans biofilms were formed on the specimen blocks inside an oral biofilm reactor for various time periods and analyzed with or without application of driving forces. In addition, water contact angles and surface roughness were measured. The water contact angles of FL-30 (61.2°) and FC-30 (65.8°) were larger than that of F-0 (48.5°). The largest contact angle (107°) was detected on pure PTFE plates. However, the surfaces of FL-30, FC-30, and pure PTFE plates were rougher than that of F-0. Although the surface properties of the materials differed in terms of contact angles and roughness, these factors seemed not to affect biofilm formation on the surfaces within 5 h. Pure PTFE plates harbored almost the same amounts of biofilm as F-0. However, when a very strong driving force was applied, it was clear that there were significantly smaller amounts of biofilms retained on pure PTFE plates, which showed contact angles much higher than those of the other materials. Hydrophobicity of the resin composite was improved by incorporation of PTFE fillers. However, surface resistance against biofilm formation was not improved.

Inhibition of Biofilm Formation using Newly Developed Coating Materials with Self-cleaning Properties

“…Specimens (4×4×1.5 mm 3 ) were prepared after spin-coating each substrate with 5 μl of FAAO coating material as described above. Four specimens from each group were placed on a Teflon holder of an oral biofilm reactor (OBR) 14,15) by using red utility wax (GC, Tokyo, Japan). This was done so that only the experimental surface was exposed for biofilm formation.…”

Effect of PMMA filler particles addition on the physical properties of resin composite

“…Lower wettability of composite resin surface and less water sorption contribute to the reduction of staining 18) . However, no conclusive correlation was found between surface wettability of composite resin and biofilm formation 11) . Adherence of oral pathogens to the biomaterial surfaces is affected by chemical composition, surface energy, surface roughness, and presence of functional groups on the surface, which will eventually result in biofilm formation.…”

“…In an attempt to improve surface resistance of composite against biofilm formation, Gyo et al 11) developed an experimental methacrylate-based resin composite with incorporated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles. In their experiment, the hydrophobicity of the resin composite was improved by incorporation of PTFE fillers; however, surface resistance against biofilm formation was not improved.…”

An artificial biofilm induced secondary caries model for in vitro studies

“…15 An oral biofilm reactor (OBR) has been used to study oral biofilms in vitro simulating the human oral environment. 16,17 Using the OBR, artificial caries lesions were produced on bovine enamel at the interface of resin restorations by forming cariogenic biofilms, mainly for the expeditious preclinical testing of new dental materials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a new model of biofilm induced secondary caries to evaluate the efficacy of caries inhibiting dental items in vitro.…”