Future resin-based dental materials must combat the reasons current materials fail, mainly secondary caries and fracture, but still be easy for the dentist to use and safe for the patient.

NIOM guest-researcher Jingwei He has successfully synthesized a BPA-free monomer, which has been evaluated for experimental materials. The conclusion is that the new monomer has potential to be used in commercial dental composites.

Our patients want safe restorations that retain their function for as long as possible. Preventing recurrent caries and improved handling are the best approaches to optimize quality and safety of dental materials, a recent article from NIOM scientists concluded.