INTRODUCTION
Basic properties of dental materials for restorative
treatment, such as mechanical, physical and bonding
properties, have been greatly improved as a result of
numerous investigations, and many of recent
products on the market exhibit excellent/acceptable
clinical performance. Such improvement of
restorative materials has contributed to the recovery
of ideal anatomical form and function with less
removal of tooth structure, leading the way to
aesthetic restorative treatments and minimal
intervention dentistry. Accordingly, it is proposed
that innovation of restorative materials in the new
era could be directed toward a new dimension:
development of materials with gbio-active functionsh
to provide therapeutic effects.
@@As one bio-active function proposed for
restorative materials, antibacterial activity can be
highlighted for the restorative treatment of caries.
The ability to control bacteria would be advantageous
to eliminate the risk of further demineralization and
cavitation, since dental caries is an infectious disease
and eradication of cariogenic bacteria is the
important principle. We have been conducting
research on development of various antibacterial
resins by incorporation of a novel monomer
12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide
(MDPB), which has antibacterial activity. The
antibacterial adhesive incorporating this monomer
has been successfully developed and is commercially
available. In this review paper, our research work on
MDPB, including its possible use for future
treatment, is summarized. In addition, the
development of novel glass-ionomer cements
containing chlorhexidine for atraumatic restorative
treatment (ART) is also addressed.