Zinc and Flouride Containing Bioactive Glasses in Dentistry

The bioactive glasses have been used in the medical field due to their wide spread benefits as implant coatings, bone substitutes and for treatment of dentine sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to incorporate zinc and fluoride in the bioactive glass for potential use in dentifrices as antibacterial and anticaries agents. A series of glass compositions based on SiO2, CaO, CaF2, MgO, and ZnO were prepared with varied amounts of ZnO content ranging from 0% to 15%. Glass synthesis was done by using melt-quench route and fine powder having particle size <38μm was obtained by grinding and sieving. Particle size analysis and Differential scanning calorimetry were performed on powder samples. The dissolution study was done in Tris buffer and Acetic acid. Zinc in bioactive glass caused a decrease in glass transition and crystallization temperature. The behavior of zinc free glass was entirely different from zinc containing glass in both Tris and acetic acid. There was rapid release of high concentrations of zinc along with other ions in acetic acid whereas relatively small amount was released in Tris. The fluoride release was slow and small concentrations were recorded in Tris while in acetic acid there was relatively high concentration of fluoride as compared to Tris. The release of calcium and magnesium has been affected in the presence of zinc in Tris and acetic acid. Zinc and fluoride containing bioglasses which are degradable in acetic acid were formulated. But the stability of glass in normal physiological condition has to be further improved with future research work.