Abstract: A cationically curable composition for dental use containing a cationic polymerization initiator (I) and cationically polymerizable monomers (II), the cationically polymerizable monomers (II) containing an oxetane compound and an epoxy compound or an alkenyl ether compound at a ratio of amounts that satisfy the conditions expressed by the following formula, (a×A):(b×B)=91:9 to 45:55 wherein A is a mol number of the oxetane compound, “a” is an average number of the oxetane functional group contained in one molecule of the oxetane compound, B is a mol number of the epoxy compound or the alkenyl ether compound, and “b” is an average number of the epoxy functional group contained in one molecule of the epoxy compound or an average number of the alkenyl ether functional group contained in one molecule of the alkenyl ether compound.

Abstract: A photocationic polymerization initiator comprising (A) a photo acid-generating compound and (B) a fused polycyclic aromatic compound, wherein said fused polycyclic aromatic compound has a molecular structure in which a fused aromatic ring is further condensed with a non-aromatic ring, and at least one of the atoms constituting said non-aromatic ring directly bonded to a common atom in the fused aromatic ring and the non-aromatic ring, is a saturated carbon atom, said saturated carbon atom having at least one hydrogen atom. Upon blending the photopolymerizable monomer with the photocationic polymerization initiator, there is obtained a photocationically polymerizable composition having a high sensitivity for the visible light rays, which is useful for dental applications, exhibiting a sufficiently high curing rate and offering sufficient depth of curing upon the irradiation with light for only a short period of time.

Abstract: This invention discloses a dental adhesive composition comprising (A) a polymerizable monomer comprising an acidic-group containing polymerizable monomer such as 11-methacryloyloxy-1,1-undecane dicarboxylic acid, (B) a mixed filler of a spherical filler substantially consisting of a non-crosslinking polymethyl methacrylate and a spherical filler substantially consisting of a non-crosslinking polyethyl methacrylate; and (C) a polymerization initiator; and a dental adhesive kit comprising the above dental adhesive composition in combination with a dental primer comprising (D) an acidic-group containing polymerizable monomer, (E) an aryl borate, (F) an organosulfinic acid salt and (G) water. The dental adhesive composition exhibits good operability and improved adhesion performance.

Abstract: Streptococcus mutans in saliva or dental plaque collected from the oral cavity can be measured by the method of the present invention conveniently with high sensitivity without the performance of any complex procedure, such as culturing. The reactivity of the antibody of the present invention against Streptococcus mutans is 1000-fold or more greater than its reactivity against each of Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus sanguis.