title: Multifunctional poly(alkyl methacrylate) films for dental care.
abstract: Towards the evaluation of non-permanent dental coatings for their capacity to impart dental-care benefits, thin films of a homologous series of comb-like poly(alkyl methacrylate)s (ethyl to octadecyl) have been deposited, from aqueous latex formulations, onto dentally relevant substrates. AFM studies have shown that the thickness (40-300 nm) and surface roughness (8-12 nm) of coherent polymer films are influenced by the degree of polymerization and by the length of the pendant chain. Of the polymers under consideration, poly(butyl methacrylate) formed a close-packed film that conferred to dental substrates a high degree of inhibition to acid-mediated erosion (about 27%), as evaluated by released-phosphate determinations. The potential utility of the coatings to act as anti-sensitivity barriers has been evaluated by determining the hydraulic conductance of coated bovine-dentine substrates; single treatments of dentine discs with poly(butyl methacrylate) or with poly(ethyl methacrylate) effected mean respective reductions in fluid flow of about 23% with respect to water-treated controls; repeated applications of the poly(butyl methacrylate) latex led to mean reductions in fluid flow of about 80%. Chromometric measurements have shown that pellicle-coated hydroxyapatite discs treated with poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(hexyl methacrylate) or poly(lauryl methacrylate) exhibit significant resistance to staining by food chromogens.
authors.affiliation: University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: Birthe V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nevell
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbu
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Gareth D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsibouklis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D003745:Dental Enamel Permeability; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D003765:Models, Dental; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000517:prevention & control; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003764:Dental Materials; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C068872:polybutyl methacrylate; D017886:Durapatite