Schott showcases new dental glass powders at IDS

Mar 26, 2009

At the International Dental Show (IDS) this week in Cologne, Germany, Schott presented the world's first nanofine dental glass powder, comprising particles only 180 nanometers (nm) in size, according to the company. The new material is intended to create longer-lasting fillings and a more attractive appearance, the company stated.

Schott already supplies ultrapure dental glasses in 5 to 0.4 micrometer grain sizes. Many dental composite manufacturers currently use Schott UltraFine for their products, according to the company.

Schott's technology group has succeeded in improving the grain size from ultrafine to nanofine by further developing its patented multistage grinding process, the company said. The resulting particles are an average of 180 nm in size, with a tolerance of only 30 nm and a very narrow grain size distribution.

"The nanofine filler particles improve the appearance and ability to polish the composites and, therefore, also their resistance to wear," noted Dr. Jörn Besinger, head of development at Schott Electronic Packaging, where the powder was developed, in a press release. "In order to make it easier to process this nanofine powder, we offer NanoFine 180 with dispersing aids on an optional basis that prevent agglomerates from forming."

The powder can also be combined with coarser particles to increase the packing density of the glass particles contained in the material, thus reducing polymerization shrinkage, he added.

At IDS, Schott also showcased other inert types of glass. In addition to glasses that contain barium and strontium and highly radiopaque glasses for root canal fillings, glass powders that contain zirconium are now also being offered, the company stated.