Optimized selection of nanohydroxyapatite‐filled dental restorative composites formulation for best physico‐mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties using hybrid analytical hierarchy process‐multi‐objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis approach

The present research explored and optimized dental restorative composite (DRC) materials filled with nanohydroxyapatite (n‐HAP) based on their physico‐mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. In the same context, hybrid analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multi‐objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA) approach was proposed to select the best DRC with optimal combination of physico‐mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Seven formulations based on Bis‐GMA as a base monomer with APTES ((3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane) and MPTS ((3‐methacryloxypropyl) trimethoxy silane) silane‐treated n‐HAP as a filler were developed and examined for different characteristics. The experiments performed for evaluating various properties of fabricated DRCs formulations are as per the ASTM and ISO 4049 standards. The experimental results proved that APTES‐ and MPTS‐treated n‐HAP enhances the physico‐mechanical as well as chemical and thermal performance significantly. The DRCs show better sorption and solubility behavior when silane‐treated n‐HAP filler increases and remains in the acceptable range. The optimization of prepared samples was carried out in two phases: (a) finding weight of each attributes using AHP approach and (b) ranking the samples with MOORA approach. The hybrid AHP‐MOORA results depict that optimal combination of physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal characteristics was exhibited by the DRC sample with 8 wt% MPTS‐treated n‐HAP filler.