Development of an Experimental Filling Material based on Alkoxysilane-Methacrylates-Condensates (ORMOCER®)

Objectives: Condensated alkoxysilane-methacrylates (some of them are known as Ormocers®) have advantages on different physical properties like high biocompatibility and low polymerization shrinkage. In addition increased flexural strength and modulus of elasticity can be achieved by using especially in the Ormocers® implemented Oxozirconiumclusters (ZC) and/or SiO₂ nanoparticles (SN). This study presents an example of a new filling material with a pure Ormocer® resin matrix. The presented physical properties are compared with a state of the art composite.

Methods: The composites were made using different combinations and concentrations of a matrix with Ormocer® alone or with Oxozirconiumcluster (Zr₄O₂(O-methacrylate)₁₂) and/or SiO₂-nanoparticles. The matrix was filled with Ba-glass-filler. Reference material was Tetric Ceram (IvoclarVivadent). The specimens for flexural strength and modulus of elasticity were measured according to EN-ISO 4049. An universal Zwick machine was used to determine the results. Volumetric shrinkage was measured on a dilatometer (Watts).

ANOVA was used to determine inter group differences and Pearson used for correlation.

Results:

There was no statistically difference for flexural strength nor for modulus of elasticity (p<0.05). A statistically lower shrinkage was determined between OR and TC.

Conclusion: It was shown, that an Ormocer based filling material shows equivalent physical properties compared to a conventional composite based on methacrylate monomers.