Enhancing the performance of dental composites with nanomaterial reinforcements via stereolithographic additive manufacturing

This study investigates the enhancement of mechanical and morphological properties of dental resin composites through the incorporation of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) using additive manufacturing techniques. hBN-modified resin (1 wt%) and BNNT-modified resin (0.1 wt%) were prepared separately, with BNNTs pre-dispersed in dimethylformamide (DMF) before mixing into the resin matrix. Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing was employed to fabricate dental structures. Compression tests were conducted on neat resin, hBN-reinforced resin, and BNNT-reinforced resin, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to analyze fracture mechanisms. Finite element method (FEM) simulations further explored the interactions within the composites. The compression strength of neat resin, hBN-reinforced resin, and BNNT-reinforced resin averaged 24.93 MPa, 25.92 MPa, and 36.31 MPa, respectively. SEM analysis revealed improved interfacial bonding, leading to enhanced load transfer and fracture resistance. FEM simulations corroborated these findings, highlighting the reinforcing effect of the nanomaterials. The integration of hBN and BNNTs into dental resin composites significantly improves their strength and durability. These advancements offer promising implications for the development of high-performance dental materials and their clinical applications.