Quaternary ammonium compounds in dental restorative materials.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have been used widely in medicine, owing to their antimicrobial properties. They also have strong permeability, stable performance, low skin irritation, low toxicity, low corrosion, lasting biological effects and so on, comparing with other antimicrobial agents. At the end of last century, polymerizable quaternary ammonium antimicrobial monomers had been synthesized and applied in dentistry, in order to reduce or prevent microbial biofilm formation on dental materials surfaces. This review aims to discuss the current progress of QACs applied in composite resin, adhesive systems, acrylic resin, glass ionomer cement and endodontic materials, regarding to their antimicrobial potential, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility.