Application deadline: 3rd March
Interviews to be held: 31 March 2021
Abstract
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent global diseases that continues to be a major problem for both adults and children. The global restorative dentistry market size has grown from $12.52 billion in 2014 to $15.6 billion in 2019 with an average annual growth rate of 4.5%1.
Resin composites are the most commonly used direct restorative material for restoring both posterior and anterior teeth. Despite modern resin composite restorations offer pleasing aesthetics and satisfactory clinical longevity, an annual failure rate of 1-4%2 was reported mainly due to fracture or secondary caries. Replacement of failed restorations consumes a significant amount of clinical time and imposes high financial costs for both health care systems and patient (e.g. £62.10 under NHS for 2020).
Graphene has been introduced to resin composites and resulted in improved physico-mechanical properties3,4 and increased antibacterial activities. However the potential for clinical application was significantly limited by aesthetics. A pilot study5 (led by the applicants) incorporating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a structural analogue of graphene with similar layered structure into UDMA resin composites, showed increased flexural strength without detrimental impact on curability. The study indicated that hBN has the potential as a reinforcing filler for dental resin composites and generated interests both in academia and industry. However, numerous challenges still remains in achieving the optimal resin composite formulation. Although hBN has been incorporated in epoxy resin composite system, there is very limited published literature for dental applications. Cytotoxicity and wear characteristics of hBN resin composites are important for clinical application however remain unknown.
Main questions to be answered
This fundamental translational research project therefore aims to develop hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) reinforced light curable dental resin composites with improved mechanical properties that are biologically safe for clinical application. A series of model resin composites with hBN and boron barium silicate glasses will be formulated and a range of clinical relevant properties will be characterised following ISO standard ISO 4049-2019 Polymer based restorative materials and methods recommended by Academy of Dental Materials. A collection of commercial resin composites will be used as control.
The questions to be answered include:
1. Reinforcing mechanism of hBN for light curable resin composites
2. Degradation of hBN reinforced resin composites
3. Cytotoxicity of hBN reinforced resin composites
4. The influence of hBN on the wear characteristics of resin
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Biomedical Materials
This project is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Biomedical Materials. All available projects are listed here.
Find out how to apply, with full details on eligibility and funding here.
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