Fred Berk, Vice President of Pulpdent, answers some frequently asked questions about ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE and why it is set to revolutionize restorative dentistry.

Click here to read ACTIVA BioACTIVE FAQ – Part 2

What is ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE?
ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE products from Pulpdent are aesthetic, dental restorative materials that behave in a manner similar to that of natural teeth. They are flowable, resin-based bioactive restoratives with the same indications as traditional and flowable composites, and syringe-dispensing provides ease of application. These innovative bioactive products stimulate the formation of hydroxyapatite and chemically bond to teeth, helping to seal them against secondary decay.

What are bioactive materials?
Bioactive dental materials imitate nature, play a dynamic role in the mouth and deliver the minerals teeth need to stay healthy. They are moisture-friendly materials that stimulate the natural remineralisation process with the release and recharge of beneficial ions, such as calcium, phosphate and fluoride. In the presence of saliva, they elicit a biological response that forms a layer of apatite and a natural bond at the material-tooth interface.

How was ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE developed?
ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE was developed over the course of almost 20 years. The mouth is a wet environment, but traditional dental resins are hydrophobic. We had a different idea and developed resin materials that are moisture tolerant and work favorably in the moist oral environment.

We looked at provisional materials and saw that acrylics and bisacrylics were brittle. We recognized that there was a need for more fracture-resistant materials. We synthesized a new molecule, which we patented, by splicing a synthetic rubber molecule into a diurethane dimethacrylate molecule. Studies consistently show that the addition of this molecule to a resin provides far greater toughness, fracture resistance, deflection at break, flexural strength, and flexural fatigue values than all other dental materials.

We are processing glass and silica fillers for composite materials all the time. Our research team began to put these various chemistries and fillers together in different ways to develop products for various dental applications. This is how ACTIVA was born.

References

http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/dental/article/close-look-how-pulpdent-s-activa-bioactive-material-was-created?page=0,1. Accessed 23 August 2017

http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/apex360/2017/04/activa-bioactive-the-story-behind-pulpdent-s-breakthrough-bioactive-restorative.html. Accessed 23 August 2017

About PULPDENT® Corporation 
PULPDENT® Corporation is a family-owned dental research, manufacturing company and leader in bioactive dental materials. ACTIVA BioACTIVE™, developed by PULPDENT, is a bioactive restorative material that behaves much like natural teeth and stimulates the formation of apatite (the building blocks of teeth), chemically bonds to teeth and helps protect against decay. PULPDENT celebrates its 70th anniversary this year with continued commitment to product innovation, clinical education and patient-centered care. To stay updated on bioactivity and learn about the Heroic Dentistry Series, which demonstrates ACTIVA’s unprecedented capabilities, visit the Pulpdent blog.