Abstract: A method of controlled curing by a metathesis reaction upon mixing its components, the method including the step of mixing an olefin-containing substrate, a metathesis catalyst, and a reaction control agent. The metathesis catalyst is a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, such as one containing an alkylidene ligand with basicity higher than that of tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy3) and a neutral electron donor ligand with a basicity lower than that of PCy3, whereby the catalyst initiates the metathesis reaction of the composition upon mixing with the substrate. The reaction control agent is effective to slow the progress of the metathesis reaction and prevent its completion in the absence of an elevated temperature. The control agent may be a hydrocarbon containing carbon-carbon double bonds and/or triple bonds, or maybe a modified hydrocarbon with one or more Group 14 or 15 atoms.

Abstract: A composition curable by a metathesis reaction upon mixing its components and comprising an olefin-containing substrate, a metathesis catalyst, and a reaction control agent for slowing the progress of the metathesis reaction. The metathesis catalyst is a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, such as one containing an alkylidene ligand with basicity higher than that of tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy3) and a neutral electron donor ligand with a basicity lower than that of PCy3, whereby the catalyst initiates the metathesis reaction of the composition upon mixing with the substrate. The reaction control agent is an organic compound that contains carbon-carbon double and/or triple bonds and one or more Group 14 atoms and is present in an amount effective to slow the progress of the metathesis reaction.

Abstract: Dental composite filler materials comprise particles coated via an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The coating material has a different composition than the core particle. The difference in composition permits fine control over the refractive index of the coated particles, allowing good matching tooth enamel and to the binder materials used in the composite.

Abstract: A composition for use as a dental impression material including a polymerizable resin consisting of oligomers or polymers functionalized with groups curable by ring opening metathesis polymerization. These oligomers or polymers are end-capped and/or tethered with said functional groups. The composition also includes a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, whereby the catalyst initiates ring-opening metathesis polymerization of the composition. The invention includes a paste/paste system in which a base paste includes the polymerizable oligomer or polymer and an inorganic dental filler system and in which a catalyst paste includes the catalyst dissolved in an inert solvent and an inorganic dental filler system.

Abstract: A composition curable by a metathesis reaction and comprising an olefin-containing resin system and metathesis catalyst. The resin system comprises siloxane-based oligomers or polymers end-capped and/or tethered with olefin functional groups that are capable of undergoing a metathesis reaction. The composition also includes a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, whereby the catalyst initiates the metathesis reaction of the composition. The oligomer or polymer may be, for example, one or a combination of a telechelic polydimethylsiloxane end-capped with norbornenylethyl groups, a polydimethylsiloxane tethered and end-capped with norbornenylethyl groups, a tri-functional polydimethylsiloxane end-capped with norbornenylethyl groups, or a quadri-functional polydimethylsiloxane end-capped with norbornenylethyl groups. The catalyst may be, for example, a ruthenium carbene complex, such as 1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-(imidazolidinylidene) dichloro(o-isopropoxyphenylmethylene) ruthenium.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition including a resin system comprising oligomers or polymers functionalized with groups curable by ring opening metathesis polymerization, a metathesis catalyst, and a catalyst accelerator. In examples of the present invention, the composition includes a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst capable of initiating ring-opening metathesis polymerization of the composition and a silicone-based sulfosuccinate salt capable of accelerating the polymerization initiated by the catalyst. In another example, the invention includes a paste/paste system in which a base paste includes the polymerizable oligomer or polymer and the catalyst accelerator and in which a catalyst paste includes the catalyst dissolved in an inert solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental composite which has the high strength required for load-bearing restorations, yet maintains a glossy appearance, even after substantial wear. Through the use of particles having a mean particle size between about 0.05 &mgr;m and about 0.50 &mgr;m, the composite is useful in stress bearing restorations and in cosmetic restorations. The structural filler used is typically ground to a mean particle size of less than 0.5 &mgr;m and also includes a nanofiller having discrete particles of a mean particle size less than 100 nm to improve handling and mechanical characteristics. The preferred dental composites maintain their surface finish even after substantial use and also have the strength properties of hybrid composite resins.

Abstract: A dental composite having high filler loading and low shrinkage thereby providing good strength and marginal integrity. Through the use of prepolymerized filler particles in combination with a structural filler and a nanofiller, the composite exhibits very low shrinkage and is useful in stress bearing restorations and in cosmetic restorations. The structural filler used is ground to a mean particle size of less than 0.5 &mgr;m and the nanofiller has discrete particles of a mean particle size less than 100 nm to improve handling and mechanical characteristics. The prepolymerized filler particles also allow for less viscosity and better handling characteristics of the composite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental composite which has the high strength required for load-bearing restorations, yet maintains a glossy appearance, even after substantial wear. Through the use of particles having a mean particle size between about 0.05 &mgr;m and about 0.50 &mgr;m, the composite is useful in stress bearing restorations and in cosmetic restorations. The structural filler used is typically ground to a mean particle size of less than 0.5 &mgr;m and also includes a nanofiller having discrete particles of a mean particle size less than 100 nm to improve handling and mechanical characteristics. The preferred dental composites maintain their surface finish even after substantial use and also have the strength properties of hybrid composite resins.

Abstract: A composition for use as a dental impression material including a polymerizable telechelic oligomer or polymer curable by ring-opening metathesis polymerization, a filler system, and a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, whereby the catalyst initiates ring-opening metathesis polymerization of the composition. The invention includes a paste/paste system in which a base paste includes the polymerizable telechelic oligomer or polymer and a filler system and in which a catalyst paste includes the catalyst dissolved in an inert solvent and a filler system. The telechelic oligomer or polymer may be, for example, a polydimethylsiloxane end-functionalized with norbornenyl groups. The catalyst may be, for example, a ruthenium carbene complex with a ligand having a basicity higher than tricyclohexylphosphine. The composition of the present invention exhibits reduced sensitivity to sulfur impurities.

Abstract: A composition for use as a dental impression material including a polymerizable resin consisting of oligomers or polymers functionalized with groups curable by ring opening metathesis polymerization. These oligomers or polymers are end-capped and/or tethered with said functional groups. The composition also includes a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst, whereby the catalyst initiates ring-opening metathesis polymerization of the composition. The invention includes a paste/paste system in which a base paste includes the polymerizable oligomer or polymer and an inorganic dental filler system and in which a catalyst paste includes the catalyst dissolved in an inert solvent and an inorganic dental filler system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin-based dental restorative that exhibits high condensability, low volumetric shrinkage and low shrinkage stress. To this end, one or more of a rheological modifier, dispersant and fluorocopolymer are mixed with a methacrylate resin and a fine mineral filler in amounts effective to improve the condensability of the resulting composite to achieve amalgam-like condensation, to reduce the volumetric shrinkage during polymerization, to improve wear resistance, and to provide a composite with generally improved physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin-based dental restorative that exhibits high condensability, low volumetric shrinkage and low shrinkage stress. To this end, one or more of a rheological modifier, dispersant and fluorocopolymer are mixed with a methacrylate resin and a fine mineral filler in amounts effective to improve the condensability of the resulting composite to achieve amalgam-like condensation, to reduce the volumetric shrinkage to less than about 2% during polymerization, to improve wear resistance, and to provide a composite with generally improved physical properties.

Abstract: A polymerizable monophosphate ester dispersant, a highly-filled nonaqueous suspension containing the polymerizable monophosphate ester dispersant, and a method for forming cured articles by copolymerization of the resin matrix and dispersant in the suspension. Inclusion of the dispersant in a suspension of resin and solid particulate material enables an increase in the solid loading, which results in reduced shrinkage, a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and generally improved physical properties in an article cured therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin-based dental restorative that exhibits low volumetric shrinkage, high filler loading and the high strength required for load bearing restorations, yet maintains a glossy appearance, even after substantial wear. To this end, a dispersant is mixed with a methacrylate resin and a structural filler having a mean particle size between about 0.05 &mgr;m and about 0.50 &mgr;m. The composite is useful in stress bearing restorations and in cosmetic restorations. The structural filler used is typically ground to a mean particle size of less than 0.5 &mgr;m and also includes a microfill having a mean particle size less than 0.05 &mgr;m to improve handling and mechanical characteristics. The preferred dental composites maintain their surface finish even after substantial use and also have the strength properties of hybrid composite resins.

Abstract: There is provided a resin-containing dental composite including a dispersed phase, reinforcing, translucent filler having about 25-80% by volume of the filler particles in the particle size range from about 0.2 &mgr;m to about 0.6 &mgr;m whereby the composite has a self-opalescing quality. Without the addition of opalescence-imparting pigments, a dental restorative composite is provided that displays opalescence to the visible eye, which gives the restoration the appearance of a vital, natural tooth. Preferably, the refractive indices of the resin and the translucent filler are the same or substantially similar, both advantageously being within the range of 1.45-1.60. Further, to prevent the opal effect from being masked, the dental restorative composite advantageously comprises less than 0.0021% by weight yellow hue pigments such that the composite formulation is relatively colorless.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin-based dental restorative that exhibits high condensability, low volumetric shrinkage and low shrinkage stress. To this end, one or more of a rheological modifier, dispersant and fluorocopolymer are mixed with a methacrylate resin and a fine mineral filler in amounts effective to improve the condensability of the resulting composite to achieve amalgam-like condensation, to reduce the volumetric shrinkage to less than about 2% during polymerization, to improve wear resistance, and to provide a composite with generally improved physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental composite which has the high strength required for load bearing restorations, yet maintains a glossy appearance, even after substantial wear. Through the use of particles having a mean particle size between about 0.05 .mu.m and about 0.50 .mu.m, the composite is useful in stress bearing restorations and in cosmetic restorations. The structural filler used is typically ground to a mean particle size of less than 0.5 .mu.m and also includes a microfill having a mean particle size less than 0.05 .mu.m to improve handling and mechanical characteristics. The preferred dental composites maintain their surface finish even after substantial use and also have the strength properties of hybrid composite resins. The structural filler is ground, typically by agitator milling, to the preferred particle size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vibratory mill for grinding dental filler having a grinding chamber, preferably coated with an abrasion resistant polymer, the grinding chamber being charged with glass beads having a diameter in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 10.00 mm, and a refractive index substantially matching that of the dental filler to be ground. There is further provided a method of using this mill and media to provide substantially pure ground particles having an average particle size less than the average wavelength of visible light that, when incorporated into a dental restorative composite, impart good optical properties to the cured material.

Abstract: A homogeneous microfilled dental composite material comprised of a mixture of polymerizable monomers and an inorganic filler, wherein said filler is comprised of silane treated fused silica aggregates having a size ranging from submicron to about 160 .mu.m. The aggregates are comprised of agglomerates of fumed silica having an average agglomerate size in the range of approximately 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, and the agglomerates are comprised of primary particles of fumed silica having an average particle size in the range of approximately 1 to 100 nm. The primary particles are interconnected by siloxane bridges formed by burning an organosilane coating on the fumed silica.