Resins: Reactor Response
S. C. Bayne 1
1 Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7450
A commentary is presented on the review paper by Dr. Braden on the state of the art of the "science of resins" in dentistry. The subject area is defined as principally including those materials involved with the denture-base applications. Recent studies involving investigations of structure and properties are noted. Most reports of properties have concentrated on physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The limited amount of information on biological properties is noted. The absence of clinical investigations of materials performance is emphasized. Future research strategies should concentrate on areas which involve clinical research information, other product properties, and the adaptation of new technology to these applications. CAD/CAM is suggested as an example of this new technology. Finally, investigators in the area are admonished to take advantage of information management systems, to collaborate more with each other, to collaborate more with industry, and to focus more on a few promising systems in order to produce significantly better denture-base materials for clinical practice.
