One package, shelf-stable photo-curable band cement

Abstract

A one package, shelf-stable, light-curing orthodontic band cement is disclosed. That cement comprises about 35 to about 80 weight percent finely divided inorganic filler, about 15 to about 45 weight percent of one or more dimethacrylate esters, zero to about 30 weight percent of one or more diluent mono- or trimethacrylate esters, about 5 to about 25 weight percent of one or more dimethacrylate esters containing two carboxylic acid groups and a photo-curing system present in an amount sufficient to effect cure within about two minutes or less upon direct irradiation of the cement with light. The cement's weight ratio of the dimethacrylate ester portion plus diluent mono- or trimethacrylate ester portion to the two carboxylic acid-containing dimethacrylate ester portion is about 3:1 to about 1.5:1. All of the methacrylates present constitute about 20 to about 65 weight percent of the cement. A process for using the cement to affix an orthodontic band to a tooth is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.