933 Orthodontic Trend Assessment of Four Decades using DI and ABOGS

Location: Exhibit Hall D (Miami Beach Convention Center) A. LANGSTON, S. CHOGLE, S. SHAIKH, M. SANKARAN, S. QUTUBUDDIN, A. MICKEL, S. POTLURI, and S. ALHASSAN, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH Objectives: Polymer nanocomposites(PNCs) are a new class of materials consisting of nanoparticles at very small quantities dispersed within a polymer matrix. The extent of nanoparticle dispersion in the matrix is an important property. Depending on several factors such as the type of nanomaterial, the interaction between the nanoparticle and the matrix and the physical methods used for dispersion, the nanoparticle may be exfoliated (ie. fully dispersed at a nano-scale), intercalated (partially dispersed), or remain aggregated. Exfoliated nanocomposite usually results in substantially enhanced physical properties; dimensional stability, stiffness, mechanical and thermal properties and improved drug elution characteristics. This study investigates the use of PNCs as potentially useful materials in Endodontic surgery and to determine qualitatively the degree of dispersion of various nanoparticles namely, organoclays(OC), carbon nanotubes(CNT), and Graphene in a dental monomer matrix using Transmission Electron Microscopy.