Dental restorations via 3D-printable biocomposite materials derived from natural sources

This study investigates the viability of additive manufacturing (AM) and create composite biomaterials for dental applications using natural sources. It has been demonstrated that one of the biggest obstacles to adults maintaining good oral health is dental costs. The application of biocompatible materials in dental restorations that conventional dentistry techniques would not otherwise be able to take into account. Using hydroxyapatite (HA), solid casts and scaffolds made of polylactic acid (PLA) or poly (-caprolactone) (PCL) were created. To ascertain the feasibility of using inexpensive AM for dental restoration, scaffolds were printed. In order to compare the cast and scaffold samples to other dental material properties, they underwent mechanical testing. The mechanical, biocompatibility, and remineralization properties of these biomaterials were also examined. In compression tests, a human tooth exhibits a peak stress of 194 MPa and an approximate modulus of 1,654 MPa. Dental ceramic has a modulus of 1,548 MPa and a peak stress of 55 MPa. Dental resin has a modulus of 833 MPa and a peak stress of 274 MPa. Amalgam's modulus is 1,438 MPa, and its peak stress is 115 MPa. The PLA+HA materials exhibited an average modulus of 4,244 MPa and a peak stress of 96 MPa under the same circumstances. In three-point bending tests, natural teeth showed an average modulus of 1,654 MPa and a peak stress of 194 MPa. While the PLA+HA composites demonstrated a compressive modulus of 139 MPa and a peak stress of 87 MPa, the PCL+HA composite materials had an average modulus of 66 MPa and a peak stress of 70 MPa. Given their ability to mimic the mechanical characteristics of natural teeth, these composites appear to have a bright future as alternatives to dental restoration materials. Biocompatibility was assessed using MTT assays for cell viability and cell count analysis. According to test results, materials with higher HA contents had the best cell viability and cellbiocomposite interactions, which may be relevant for the recovery of decayed teeth.

Author

• Miller, Lateefah

Identifier

hdl:10057/55546

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:soar.wichita.edu:10057/55546