THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP NEW ANDIMPROVED BIOCOMPATIBLE RESTORATIVE RESINS FOR USE IN DENTISTRY.

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP NEW ANDIMPROVED BIOCOMPATIBLE RESTORATIVE RESINS FOR USE IN DENTISTRY. THE STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING THIS OBJECTIVE IS TOTAILOR-MAKE LIQUID, HIGH-MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYMERS THAT CAN BE CROSSLINKED WITH MINIMAL SHRINKAGE TO HARD, OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT COATINGS WITH GOOD ADHESION TO ENAMEL, DENTIN, AND GLASS FILLERS. GUMBS WILL DESIGN AND SYNTHESIZE LIQUID POLYMERS WITH REACTIVE GROUPS TO PERMIT CROSSLINKING, POLAR GROUPS TO INCREASE ADHESION, AND HYDROPHOBIC UNITS FOR LOW- WATER SORPTION. THE PROPOSED SYNTHETIC PROCESS IS VERSATILETO PERMIT OPTIMIZATION OF THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE RESIN. STRUCTURE-PROPERTY STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO FIND WAYS TO ACHIEVE MINIMAL SHRINKAGEON POLYMERIZATION, INCREASE THE VOLUME OF FILLER IN DENTAL COMPOSITES, REDUCE SORPTION, PROMOTE ADHESION, AND GENERALLYOPTIMIZE THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL STABILITY OF THE CURED RESIN. VIRTUALLY ALL DENTAL COMPOSITES AND SEALANTS IN USE TODAY CONTAIN THE DENTAL MONOMER BIS-GMA. THE HIGH VISCOSITY OF THIS MONOMER REQUIRES THE USE OF DILUENT MONOMERS TO ACHIEVE A WORKABLE VISCOSITY. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCREASE IN SHRINKAGE DURING THE HARDENING PROCESS, CAUSING A SHEARING STRESS AND A MARGINAL GAP BETWEEN THE CAVITY WALL AND THE RESTORATION.