VISIBLE-LIGHT CURED BIOMATERIALS

The development of tooth colored polymeric filling materials over the past 50 years is described. Organo functional silanes are widely used to preserve resin-filler bonds for long service in wet fields. Set times must range from 60 seconds to 300 seconds, with 90% of full properties (such as compressive strengths of 45,000 psi and bond strengths to enamel and dentin and cementum of 2000 psi) being achieved within 1 hr or less. Cure mechanisms available to the dentist have evolved from two container resin-catalyst formulas to single container ultra-violet light cured formulas, and more recently to visible light cured systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each cure method is reviewed.