Disclosing Agent for Resin-based Composites

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a composite disclosing agent to help dentists identify the margins of composite restorations and facilitate their complete removal without inducing trauma to sound tooth structure.
Hypothesis: A molecule with functional groups similar to resin composite matrix monomers can selectively adsorb to composite resin through Van Der Waals forces and not tooth enamel and thus be effectively used as a composite disclosing agent.
Methods:
We characterized the interaction of composite resin with various organic molecules with structures comparable to composite monomers alone or in combination with food dyes. The adhesion of these molecules to composite and tooth enamel and the ability to selectively stain composite was verified using spectrophotometry. The optimal staining conditions were confirmed clinically in a pilot study on orthodontic patients.
Results: Our hypothesis was confirmed, a molecule with phenyl groups resembling composite monomers, such as methyl salicylate, was able to bind to composite resin and serve as a primer for a disclosing agent. Results from ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate that methyl salicylate can effectively interact with composite resin and not the tooth enamel
Conclusions:
Molecules with similar structure to that of composite can successfully adsorb to its surface. In this context, substituted ortho-phenol molecules can be used to pre-treat composite resin and make it stainable by food dyes rich in aromatic rings such as Brilliant Blue and Philoxine B. This process can be used clinically to differentiate composite resin from the surrounding enamel.