ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the applications of nanotechnology that have been explored as part of dental resin composite restoratives. Dental composites are required to have high X-ray opacity so as to allow diagnostic examinations of the state of the material using dental X-ray radiography. Initial formulations of dental resin composites used ground vitreous quartz fillers that were approximately 150 microns in diameter. Porous particles have found applications in dental resin composites, which were first proposed by Bowen and Reed. Due to the beneficial effects of fluorides in teeth, maintaining basal levels of fluorides is beneficial to general dental health. Fluoride release thus remains an ‘extra feature’ of dental composites rather than a requirement. The compounds that are released range from antibacterial agents to fluorides. The resin monomers that have been explored for use as antibacterial compounds are usually quaternary ammonium salts that include methacrylate groups to allow polymerization.
