Fig 1.
SEM images of filler particles and brushite.
Fig 2.
Tooth brushing apparatus.
Fig 3.
Composite disc A) mass and B) volume changes in deionized water as a function of square root (SQRT) of time, t, over 7 weeks.
Error bars are SD (n = 3).
Fig 4.
A) BFS and B) BFM of experimental composites before and after immersion in deionized water or SBF for up to 4 weeks.
The boxes represent the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3), the horizontal lines in the box represent the median, the whiskers represent the maximum and minimum values, and “+” represents the mean value (n = 8). Lines indicate no significant differences (p>0.05).
Fig 5.
SEM images of HA formation on composite surface after 1 and 4 weeks immersion in SBF.
Fig 6.
A) Percentage mass and volume loss after tooth brushing for 20 minutes with pumice and B) “Initial” roughness (after water immersion for 7 weeks but before wear) and final roughness after the wear test.
The boxes represent the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3), the horizontal lines in the box represent the median, the whiskers represent the maximum and minimum values, and “+” represents the mean value (n = 8). Same letters indicate no significant differences (p>0.05).
Fig 7.
Surface morphology of fracture (core) or worn surfaces.
The blue arrows indicate dicalciumphosphate precipitation in fracture surfaces of A) F1 and B) F2 composites. Yellow arrows indicate exposed filler particles whilst green and red arrows indicate holes consistent with loss of PLS and other fillers respectively on brushed surfaces of C) F1 and D) F2. Brushed E) Z250 and F) Gradia surfaces have fewer larger holes.