Evaluation of relationship among filler amount, degree of conversion, and cytotoxicity: Approaching performance enhancement novel design for dental Bis-GMA/UDMA/TEGDMA composite

Dental composites of A2 color using Bis-GMA, urethane dimethacrylate and triethyleneglycol dimethycrylate resins (70/20/10), and silica filler (70 wt%, 75 wt%, and 80 wt%), a hybrid of nano- and microsilica particles, are made and subjected to the following tests: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and also cytotoxicity. FTIR results show that an increase in filler amount yields to a decrease in degree of conversion. Therefore, there should be a compromise between degree of conversion and the filler amount. SEM images manifest the uniformity of silica particles. It is shown from the cytotoxicity tests that as the unreacted monomers increased, the biocompatibility of the composites decreased. [GRAPHICS] .