New Dental Material Can Resist Biofilm Growth And Kills Bacteria

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an antibacterial resin for dental procedures such as cavity fillings. They hope that the material can provide improved fillings that resist tooth decay and last longer. Conventional materials for dental fillings are prone to being covered in plaque, a sticky biofilm that can lead to tooth decay and filling failure. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are working on developing something better. “Dental biomaterials such as these,” said Geelsu Hwang, a researcher involved in the study, “need to achieve two goals: first, they should kill pathogenic microbes effectively, and, second, they need to withstand severe mechanical stress, as happens when we bite and chew.” Hwang and his colleagues have developed a new dental resin that contains the antimicrobial agent imidazolium. In a key development, the researchers chemically linked the antibacterial agent to the resin, so that it would not leach out into the oral cavity, but would only kill bacteria that come in contact with the resin. “This can reduce the likelihood of antimicrobial resistance,” said Hwang. This approach also means that the resin is unlikely to produce any toxicity in the mouth, but can still be effective at killing microbes on its surface. The researchers tested the material ’s ability to kill microbes and prevent the growth of biofilms, while also ensuring that it had the required mechanical strength to provide a durable filling....
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentistry Source Type: news