Abstract: A three-dimensional, biocompatible scaffold precursor composition for room-temperature printing a bio-compatible polymer/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold includes a room-temperature slurry, comprising a mixture of a sold phase that includes a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP; Ca4(PO4)2O) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA; CaHPO4), and a liquid phase that includes a polymer in a solvent. The solvent may be Ethanol (EtOH) or Tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the polymer may be polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polycaprolactone (PCL), or poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). The slurry is printed at room temperature in aqueous phosphate (NaH2PO4) bath, which works as hardening accelerator, forming the polymer/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold.

Abstract: Disclosed are 3D-printed scaffolds having high bone cement content, and in particular, high hydroxyapatite (HA) content. The disclosed methods and compositions provide the ability to print biocompatible scaffolds having patient-specific geometries with controlled porosity, microstructure, osteoconductivity, and mechanical strength. The scaffolds may be used for in vitro and in vivo craniofacial and dental applications.

Abstract: A three-dimensional, biocompatible scaffold precursor composition for room-temperature printing a bio-compatible polymer/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold includes a room-temperature slurry, comprising a mixture of a sold phase that includes a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP; Ca4(PO4)2O) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA; CaHPO4), and a liquid phase that includes a polymer in a solvent. The solvent may be Ethanol (EtOH) or Tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the polymer may be polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polycaprolactone (PCL), or poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA).

Abstract: A carbonated hydroxyapatite cement (CHC) precursor composition for an electron paramagnetic resonance dosimeter includes a cement powder and a cement liquid in a powder/liquid ration of 0.5 to 5. The includes one or more phosphate compounds selected from a group of monocalcium phosphate anhydrous, monocalcium phosphate monohydrate, dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, amorphous calcium phosphate, ?-tricalcium phosphate, ?-tricalcium phosphate, and tetracalcium phosphate. The cement liquid is an aqueous phosphate solution having a total phosphate concentration in a range of 0.005 to 2.4 moles per liter (mol/L).

Abstract: An electron paramagnetic resonance device includes a crystalline, emission-sensitive mass and a housing containing the device. The mass includes structurally incorporated carbonate content in a range of about 3% by weight to about 10% by weight of the mass, one or more structurally incorporated non-calcium metallic cations, and one or more structurally incorporated phosphate anions. When irradiated with a known source, the EPR device may function as a reference. When unirradiated, the EPR may function as a dosimeter. As a dosimeter, the EPR device may be used as a personal dosimeter or as a monitor for inanimate objects being subjected to radiation sources. The EPR dosimeter may be used for both gamma radiation and neutron radiation measurements.

Abstract: A dosimeter for EPR dosimetry systems includes a carbonated hydroxyapatite cement formed by mixing a cement powder and a cement liquid in a ratio of a range of about 0.5 to 5.0 powder-to-liquid ratio. The cement powder includes one or more calcium phosphate compounds and one or more carbonate compounds. The cement liquid includes a sodium phosphate solution. The cement, when irradiated by a radiation source, is capable of producing a measurable signal as a spectrally clean EPR spectrum. Furthermore, the measurable signal is proportional to the received radiation dose.

Abstract: An electron paramagnetic resonance device includes a crystalline, emission-sensitive mass and a housing containing the device. The mass includes structurally incorporated carbonate content in a range of about 3% by weight to about 10% by weight of the mass, one or more structurally incorporated non-calcium metallic cations, and one or more structurally incorporated phosphate anions. When irradiated with a known source, the EPR device may function as a reference. When unirradiated, the EPR may function as a dosimeter. As a dosimeter, the EPR device may be used as a personal dosimeter or as a monitor for inanimate objects being subjected to radiation sources. The EPR dosimeter may be used for both gamma radiation and neutron radiation measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Abstract: A dosimeter for EPR dosimetry systems includes a carbonated hydroxyapatite cement formed by mixing a cement powder and a cement liquid in a ratio of a range of about 0.5 to 5.0 powder-to-liquid ratio. The cement powder includes one or more calcium phosphate compounds and one or more carbonate compounds. The cement liquid includes a sodium phosphate solution. The cement, when irradiated by a radiation source, is capable of producing a measurable signal as a spectrally clean EPR spectrum.

Abstract: Disclosed are dual-phase cement precursor systems and related methods and kits. The cement precursor systems are composed of a first and second discrete phases, at least one of which is aqueous. When combined, the cement precursor phases form a cement that is suitable as a bone graft material for bone repair procedures. In preferred embodiments, the materials are highly biocompatible, osteoinductive, and bioresorbable. A number of different but not mutually exclusive cement chemistries may be employed in the cement precursor systems. For instance, hydrogel-forming polymer cements, carboxyl/calcium cements, or calcium phosphate cements may be employed.

Abstract: Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are endodontic filling materials and methods. A method for filling a dental root canal may include providing a hydrosetting filling material and inserting the hydrosetting filling material into the dental root canal, the material setting in the root canal to form a biocompatible filling. The hydrosetting filling material comprises a hydrogel former and a filler. The hydrogel former is at least one of a reactive organic hydrogel formers, an inorganic hydrogel formers, and a non-reactive organic hydrogel formers, and the filler is at least one of a self-hardening and a non-hardening filler. Plural filling material precursor compositions that collectively contain hydrogel formers and fillers may be provided.

Abstract: Mouth rinses, dentifrices, lozenges, confections, chewing gums, and similar delivery vehicles containing non-toxic soluble calcium are used prior to administration of a fluoride-containing composition to increase the effectiveness of the fluoride therapy. An effective amount of calcium is released into the oral cavity and allowed to penetrate into the oral tissue. Calcium-bound fluoride deposits form in the oral tissue upon subsequent administration of the fluoride-containing composition to provide increased salivary, plaque and oral tissue fluoride concentrations.

Abstract: Mouth rinses, dentifrices, lozenges, confections, chewing gums, and similar delivery vehicles containing non-toxic soluble calcium are used prior to administration of a fluoride-containing composition to increase the effectiveness of the fluoride therapy. An effective amount of calcium is released into the oral cavity and allowed to penetrate into the oral tissue. Calcium-bound fluoride deposits form in the oral tissue upon subsequent administration of the fluoride-containing composition to provide increased salivary, plaque and oral tissue fluoride concentrations.

Abstract: Disclosed are dental compositions and methods. In accordance with one embodiment, a dental composition includes calcium, fluorine, which is generally present in the form of fluoride, and phosphate or another stabilizing anion. The composition is stable as against precipitation of calcium fluoride during transport and storage, but is unstable against the precipitation of calcium fluoride in the oral cavity of a human. In many embodiments, the amount of fluoride may be less than the amount of fluoride used in a comparable composition intended for a similar purpose. A dental method comprises applying the composition to the oral cavity of a patient, whereupon calcium fluoride precipitates from the composition.

Abstract: A method for preparing uniquely sized nanoparticles of CaF2 by simultaneously spray drying a first NH4F and a biocompatible salt solution and a second Ca(OH)2 and biocompatible salt solution to form CaF2 solid particles in a soluble salt matrix wherein the salt is more soluble than CaF2. The salt matrix may then be dissolved and the separate CaF2 nanosized particles collected for use as a dental therapeutic material. The technique is useful in the preparation of other discrete, nanoparticle sized compounds and combinations by carefully choosing the solvents and solutes of the two spray dried solutions.

Abstract: Disclosed are dual-phase cement precursor systems and associated methods and kits. The cement precursor systems comprises at least first and second phases each containing a calcium phosphate compound. When mixed, the first and second cement precursor phases form a biocompatible cement. The disclosed systems include an organic acid in an amount effective to enhance the working time of the cement precursor composition, and also include a setting accelerator. In some embodiments, one or more of the calcium phosphate compounds is provided in the form of particles with a nonmonomial particle sized distribution.

Abstract: This study reports in vitro and in vivo properties of fluorapatite (FA)-forming calcium phosphate cements (CPCs). Experimental cements contained from (0 to 3.1) mass % of F, corresponding to presence of FA at levels of approximately (0 to 87) mass %. The crystallinity of the apatitic cement product increased greatly with the FA content. When implanted subcutaneously in rats, the in vivo resorption rate decreased significantly with increasing FA content. The cement with the highest FA content was not resorbed in soft tissue, making it biocompatible and bioinert CPC. These bioinert CPCs are candidates for use in useful applications where slow or no resorption of the implant is required to achieve the desired clinical outcome.