Preparo e avaliação de compósitos contendo nova matriz inorgânica monomodal submicrométrica

Abstract

In this study dental composites containing a novel monomodal inorganic matrix based on submicron Ba-Al-Si glass particles (NanoFine NF180, Schott) were prepared and evaluated. Composites with particles of similar composition but micron-sized (UltraFine UF1.0, Schott) served as a reference. The study was carried out in two phases: (i) characterization of the inorganic particles, involving x-ray microanalysis and granulometry; (ii) preparation and characterization of micron and submicron composites involving analysis of the morphology of the composites and measurements of radiopacity, degree of C=C conversion, hardness, flexural strength and modulus, work-of-fracture, surface roughness and gloss before and after toothbrushing abrasion and compressive creep. The composites were formulated from the same co-monomer based on Bis-GMA, Bis-EMA8, UDMA and TEGDMA at a 7:7:5:1 (w/w) ratio, with photoinitiators added. A mass of 75% of micron and 78% of submicron particles were incorporated based on pilot studies. Quantitative data restricted to direct comparisons between the composites were analyzed using t-tests. Roughness and gloss data for the comparison between the composites before and after toothbrushing were submitted to Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test (5%). Both inorganic systems showed narrow grain size range (175±30 and 1000±200nm), with differences restricted to the size and specific area of the particles, which determined differences in the amount of silane used (13% for submicron and 3.2% for micron particles). Particles from both systems were homogeneously dispersed in the resin phase, although the submicron particles occupied larger area of the material s surface. The composites showed statistically similar results for radiopacity, flexural strength, work-of-fracture, and creep. The submicron composite had significantly higher hardness than the micron composite, whereas significantly lower flexural modulus and C=C conversion. No significant differences in roughness between the composites were observed before toothbrushing, while the submicron composite showed significantly higher gloss. The abrasion increased significantly the roughness and reduced the gloss of both materials. Surface roughness was still similar and the gloss of the submicron composite significantly higher after toothbrushing. In conclusion, the monomodal submicron glass filler system tested showed potential for application in the development of restorative dental composites, especially because of the esthetic properties compared with the micron system