Polymeric and Inorganic Nanoscopical Agents in Dentistry

Polymeric and inorganic nanoscopical agents are effective in reducing microbial infection in dentistry, according to a recent study published in the Acta Biomaterialia.

Introduction

The terms nanoparticle, nanomaterial, and nanotechnology came into use in the second half of the 20th century and are identified by researchers with innovation and progress in science and industry. Currently, a high-priority area in global science is the manufacturing of materials that contain particles comparable in size with molecules, which are called nanoparticles.

Applications in Dentistry

A promising application area of composite nanomaterials is medicine, including dentistry, in which they are used for diagnosis, dental prosthetics, and prevention and treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa and hard tissues of teeth.

Challenges in Dental Treatments

Failure of dental treatments is mainly due to the biofilm accumulated on the dental materials. Many investigations have been conducted on the advancements of antimicrobial dental materials. Polymeric and inorganic nanoscopical agents are capable of inhibiting microorganism proliferation. Applying them as fillers in dental materials can achieve enhanced microbicidal ability.

Research Overview

The present review provides a broad overview of the state-of-the-art research in the field of antimicrobial fillers which have been adopted for incorporation into dental materials over the last 5 years. The antibacterial agents and applications are described, with the aim of providing information for future investigations.

Microbial Infection and Dental Treatment

Microbial infection is the primary cause of dental treatment failure. The tooth surface normally loses some tooth minerals from the action of the acid formed by plaque bacteria after ingestion of foods containing fermentable carbohydrates. This mineral is normally replenished by the saliva between meals. However, when fermentable foods are eaten frequently, the low pH in the plaque is sustained and a net loss of minerals from the tooth occurs. This low pH selects for aciduric organisms, such as S. mutans and lactobacilli, which (especially S. mutans) store polysaccharides and continue to secrete acid long after the food has been swallowed.

Future Directions

The present review provides an overview of the state-of-art in the field of antimicrobial nanoscopical or polymeric fillers that have been applied in dental materials. Trends in the biotechnological development of these antimicrobial fillers over the last 5 years are reviewed to provide a backdrop for further advancement in this field of research.

Reference

Polymeric and inorganic nanoscopical antimicrobial fillers in dentistry by Pooyan Makvandi et al. published in the Acta Biomaterialia.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2019.09.025