Microporous glassy fillers for dental composites.

A microporous filler giving greatly improved finish ability, systemic nontoxic X-ray opacification, low thermal expansion (27.2 x 10(-6)/degrees C), and satisfactory translucencies has been developed for dental composite resin restorations. These fillers are prepared from frits obtained by the low-temperature calcination of gelled inorganic sols followed by a pulsed high-temperature treatment. Composites prepared from these fillers are within the range of commercial products with regard to strength and setting contraction.