The service performance of current dental composite materials, such as anterior and posterior restoratives and/or veneer cements, needs to be improved. As part of a comprehensive effort to find ways to improve such materials, we have launched a broad spectrum study of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of photopolymerizable or visible light cured (VLC) dental composites. The commercially available VLC materials being studied are shown in Table 1. A generic or neat resin VLC system is also being characterized by SEM and TEM, to more fully understand formulation variables and their effects on properties.At a recent dental research meeting, we reported on the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) characterization of the materials in Table 1. It was shown by DSC and DMA that the materials are substantially undercured by commonly used VLC techniques. Post curing in an oral cavity or a dry environment at 37 to 50°C for 7 or more hours substantially enhances the cure of the materials.
