Keynote Address: New Uses of Methacrylates and Alternative Monomers in Dental Materials

Abstract Body: The longstanding use of methacrylate monomers in dental materials spans many diverse application areas that include composites, adhesives, resin cements, sealants and resin-modified glass ionomers among others. The versatile nature of methacrylates derives from the relative ease with which secondary functionality can be incorporated and final polymer structure can be controlled. Predictable copolymerization behavior allows effective tailoring of polymer properties to address the varying imposed demands. However, considerations of incomplete polymerization or long-term polymer degradation, which both are accompanied by potential small molecule release, as well as issues of excessive polymerization stress development and tendencies towards brittle failure in highly crosslinked methacrylates has continued to drive the need for alternative monomers. This presentation will highlight strengths and weaknesses of methacrylate-based polymeric materials and extend into some examples of alternative versions of methacrylate materials as well as several different classes of monomers aimed at replacing methacrylates in some dental material applications.