Dental restorative materials

1. A composition for dental restoration, comprising a glass ionomer dental cement and an effective amount of a casein phosphopeptide(CPP)-amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) complex and/or casein phosphopeptide(CPP)-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (ACFP) complex.

2. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CPP comprises the amino acid sequence -Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-.

3. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ACP is formed under alkaline conditions.

4. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ACFP is formed under alkaline conditions.

5. A composition according to claim 4 , wherein the ACFP also contains ACP, wherein ACP and ACFP are in the ratio of n:1, where n is an integer ≧1.

6. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.01 to 80% by weight.

7. A composition according to claim 1 , having a pH from 2 to 10.

8. A composition according to claim 7 , wherein the pH is from 5 to 9.

9. A composition according to claim 8 , wherein the pH is from 7 to 9.

10. A kit of parts including (a) a glass ionomer dental cement and (b) CPP-ACP complex and/or CPP-ACFP complex, together with instructions for their use for the preparation of a composition according to claim 1 .

11. A kit of parts including (a) a glass ionomer dental cement, (b) casein phosphopeptides, (c) calcium ions, and (d) phosphate ions, together with instructions for their use for the preparation of a composition according to claim 1 .

12. A kit of parts according to claim 11 , further including fluoride ions.

13. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein the ACP is formed under alkaline conditions.

14. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.5 to 10% by weight.

15. A composition according to claim 3 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.5 to 10% by weight.

16. A composition according to claim 4 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.5 to 10% by weight.

17. A composition according to claim 5 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.5 to 10% by weight.

18. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the CPP-ACP complex or CPP-ACFP complex is 0.5 to 10% by weight.

19. A composition according to claim 18 , wherein the effective amount is 1 to 5% by weight.

20. A kit of parts including (a) a glass ionomer dental cement and (b) CPP-ACP complex and/or CPP-ACFP complex, together with instructions for their use for the preparation of a composition according to claim 2 .

21. A kit of parts including (a) a glass ionomer dental cement, (b) casein phosphopeptides, (c) calcium ions, and (d) phosphate ions, together with instructions for their use for the preparation of a composition according to claim 2 .

22. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphopeptide is obtained by tryptic digest of casein.

23. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the phosphopeptide is obtained by chemical or recombinant synthesis.

24. A composition for dental restoration, comprising a glass ionomer dental cement and 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of a releasable casein phosphopeptide (CPP)-amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) complex and/or casein phosphopeptide (CPP)-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate.

25. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the microtensile bond strength and/or compressive strength of the dental restorative is greater than the dental cement in the absence of the CPP-ACP complex and/or CPP-ACFP complex.

26. A composition according to claim 25 , wherein the CPP comprises the amino acid sequence -Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-.

27. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the ACP is formed under alkaline conditions.

28. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the ACFP is formed under alkaline conditions.