Methods of preparing polymerizable dental compositions with improved taste or aroma, and that prevent oxygen-inhibited layer

Abstract

Described are methods of improving cure of polymerizable dental materials by preventing oxygen inhibition; preferred embodiments relate to methods wherein the dental compositions comprises a polymerizable sealant and the barrier material comprises an essential oil.

1 . A method of applying a polymerizable dental sealant to a tooth, the method including applying a barrier material to the sealant and polymerizing the sealant.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier material masks a flavor of the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier material provides an oxygen barrier to prevent oxygen from contacting the polymerizable dental material, to prevent the oxygen from inhibiting polymerization of the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier material comprises an oil.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier material comprises an essential oil.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the essential oil is chosen from the group consisting of soybean oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, orange oil, eucalyptus oil, cod liver oil, castor oil, and a combination of two or more of these oils.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier material comprises a flavoring.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymerizable dental material is free-radically polymerizable.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymerizable dental sealant comprises a resin, a resin composite, a compomer, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method comprises applying a liquid barrier material to the sealant by dropping, spreading, spraying, or brushing the liquid barrier material onto the sealant.  
     
     
         11 . A method of applying a polymerizable dental material to a tooth, the method including applying a barrier material comprising an essential oil to the polymerizable dental material, then polymerizing the polymerizable material.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the barrier material masks a flavor of the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the barrier material provides an oxygen barrier to prevent oxygen from contacting the polymerizable dental material, to prevent the oxygen from inhibiting polymerization of the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the essential oil is chosen from the group consisting of soybean oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, orange oil, eucalyptus oil, cod liver oil, castor oil, and a combination of two or more of these oils.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the barrier material further comprises a flavoring.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymerizable dental material is free-radically polymerizable.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymerizable dental material comprises a resin, a resin composite, a compomer, a glass ionomer, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the method comprises applying a liquid barrier material to the polymerizable dental material by dropping, spreading, spraying, or brushing the liquid barrier material onto the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         19 . A method of applying a polymerizable dental sealant to a tooth, the method comprising 
 preparing a tooth surface using an etchant,    applying a polymerizable dental sealant to the etched surface,    applying a barrier material to an exposed surface of the sealant, and    polymerizing the sealant.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the sealant is applied to a fissure.  
     
     
         21 . A method of preventing tooth decay by the applying to a tooth a pit and fissure sealant, the method comprising 
 applying a polymerizable pit and fissure sealant to the tooth,    applying a liquid barrier material to the sealant, the barrier material comprising an oil,    polymerizing the sealant.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising rinsing the barrier material from the tooth.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the oil comprises an essential oil.  
     
     
         24 . A method of curing a polymerizable dental material, the method comprising reducing the amount of oxygen contacting the polymerizable dental material by providing a barrier material comprising an essential oil on the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein polymerization of the polymerizable dental material is inhibited by oxygen.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the method prevents the formation of an oxygen-inhibited layer in the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the barrier material consists essentially of an essential oil or a mixture of essential oils, optionally, in combination with a flavoring.  
     
     
         28 . A composition comprising a polymerizable dental material applied to a tooth, and an oxygen barrier material comprising an essential oil disposed on a surface of the polymerizable dental material.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the polymerizable dental material is a sealant.