Initiator molecules were created and extensively tested in a synthetic chemistry laboratory. (Photo courtesy of Vienna University of Technology)

2014-5-14 | News Europe

VIENNA, Austria: In collaboration with global dental manufacturer Ivoclar Vivadent, researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have developed a new generation of photoactive materials based on the element germanium. Initial tests have shown that using the new material considerably reduces the duration of the hardening process for fillings.

In modern dentistry, restorations are increasingly made with amalgam alternatives, such as composites. The majority of composites contain photoactive organic resins that harden when they are exposed to light of a particular wavelength. “However, if a filling cannot be hardened in one step, the procedure has to be repeated several times. If the cavity is large, this can be rather uncomfortable for the patient,” explained Dr Robert Liska from the university’s Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry. 

The newly developed composite is based on germanium molecules. It contains 0.04 per cent of the material. According to the researchers, the molecule splits into two parts when exposed to blue light, creating radicals, which initiate a chain reaction: molecular compounds in the filling assemble into polymers and the material solidifies. 

Tests by Ivoclar Vivadent and mechanical investigations conducted at the university showed that the penetration depth could be increased from 2 mm to 4 mm with the new compound, reducing the duration of the procedure significantly. 

Both project parties announced that they are planning to extend their collective research in dental materials.