# Synergistic degradation of the bonded interface: A new approach to evaluate the bond strength of dental restoration

> **NIH NIH R03** · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · 2022 · $172,278

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
After nearly seven decades of research, dental composites restorations continue to show limited clinical
service, with more than 50% of placed bonded restorations failing in less than ten years. Pathogenic bacteria
and human salivary enzymes produce detrimental products that degrade dental resins and adhesives. As a
result, the bond strength is debilitated, which increases the progression of secondary caries, premature failure
of restoration, and tooth loss. Current approaches to evaluate the effects of biodegradation sources on bond
strength are failing to replicate clinical conditions in a laboratory setting. Our goal is to develop an
experimental approach for accurately predicting composite restorations' lifetime using realistic environments.
Our innovative approach significantly improves existing methods by challenging bonded interfaces to different
degradative sources simultaneously. In this study, we proposed to find the specific contribution of the main
degradative sources (salivary enzymes, bacteria enzymes and acids, and cyclic mechanical loading) after
working in synergy on bond strength reduction (aim 1). We will also evaluate the bond strength durability of
dentin/resin composites interfaces within a clinically relevant microbiome environment. This project will
assess the degradation of the tooth-restoration interface under representative oral conditions and will help
elucidate the individual and synergistic effects of the primary degradative sources on bond strength durability.
The application of this novel approach will help improve the prediction of the durability of composite
restorations, thereby rendering the restorative treatment more predictable

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10371304
- **Project number:** 1R03DE030562-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Anne Sampaio de Melo
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $172,278
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-03-11 → 2024-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10371304

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10371304, Synergistic degradation of the bonded interface: A new approach to evaluate the bond strength of dental restoration (1R03DE030562-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10371304. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*