Dental News - Researched Dental News
Can Antibacterial Fillings Combat Recurring Tooth Decay?
Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Researchers have found potent antibacterial capabilities in dental restoratives – also known as filling materials. Tooth decay is among the costliest and most widespread bacterial diseases. Virulent bacteria cause the acidification of tooth enamel and dentin, which, in turn, causes secondary tooth decay. This disease is a major causative factor for dental restorative material failure and affects an estimated 100 million patients a year at an estimated cost of over $30 billion.
Researchers have found potent antibacterial capabilities in dental restoratives – also known as filling materials. Tooth decay is among the costliest and most widespread bacterial diseases. Virulent bacteria cause the acidification of tooth enamel and dentin, which, in turn, causes secondary tooth decay. This disease is a major causative factor for dental restorative material failure and affects an estimated 100 million patients a year at an estimated cost of over $30 billion.
Watching Cement Dry Could Help Dental Fillings Last Longer
Scientists led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Aberystwyth University have revealed sweet points for dental fillings, where cement used to fill cracks regain elasticity before hardening indefinitely. This could have implications for creating more durable and longer-lasting fillings in the future. Typical dental glass cement, a United Kingdom innovation, is made from glass powder, liquid polymer and water, and is the preferred non-toxic choice, as defined by the United Nations and EU Commission, to mercury amalgam, which has be...