Dental News Roundup
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- Published: Friday, 29 October 2021 09:47
- Written by Chris Tapper
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Researchers have been using a new technique to analyse the impact of acid on dentine, in the hope that a deeper understanding of the process will improve restorations and aesthetics.
Scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey have been accelerating electrons to near light-speed in order to generate ‘bright X-rays,’ that scanned dentine samples while they were being treated with acid.
The research team studied the changes to the dentine structure caused by acid, over a period of six hours. They were then able to create the first ever time-resolved 3D study of the changes caused to the dentine (sometimes called a 4D study).
The research found that acid dissolves the materials in different structures within the dentine at different rates. The study has been published in the Dental Materials journal.
The University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry’s Dr Richard Shelton told the University of Birmingham website “Dental erosion is a common oral condition caused by chronic exposure to acids. Repeated acid exposure can lead to the irreversible loss of dental hard tissues. Dentine can become exposed to acid following severe enamel erosion, crown fracture, or gum recession which can cause hypersensitivity and other oral health problems, it’s therefore imperative that we improve our understanding of how acid damages teeth.”
The website said “Professor Gabriel Landini also of the University of Birmingham, added ‘We hope that our research will lead to improvements in treatments that can restore the structural integrity and aesthetics of teeth that have been damaged by acid.”’
“Dr Tan Sui Senior Lecturer in Materials Engineering at the University of Surrey, who led the research group, said ‘Relatively little is known about how exactly acid damages the dentine inside our teeth at a microstructural level. This new research technique changes that.’”
Caries Treatment Hope
Research being carried out at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with Indiana University, suggests that a therapy used to treat iron-deficiency anaemia, also holds promise for treating, preventing, and even diagnosing dental caries.
Science Daily said “FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticles, delivered in a mouth rinse, can suppress the growth of dental plaque and kill bacteria responsible for tooth decay.”
“The nanoparticles act as enzymes to activate hydrogen peroxide in a way that precisely targets harmful microbes and spares normal tissue.” The particles are sometimes known as “nanozymes.”
Science Daily said “A twice daily application of ferumoxytol, which activated hydrogen peroxide contained in a follow-up rinse, significantly reduced the build-up of harmful dental plaque and had a targeted effect on the bacteria largely responsible for tooth decay.”
The website reported Dr Hyun Koo, a professor in the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine declaring the mouthwash "Disrupts biofilms, particularly those formed by Streptococcus mutans, which cause caries, and it also reduced the extent of enamel decay.
“This is the first study we know of done in a clinical setting that demonstrates the therapeutic value of nanozymes against an infectious disease."
The study has been published in the journal Nano Letters.
In London…
For the past two years, a London dentist has dedicated every Sunday to treating members of the homeless community.
Dr Ghassan Al-shaikh Radi has treated hundreds of homeless people’s teeth free of charge, the MyLondon news website reported.
The dentist is the principal at Acton Town Dental practice.
Dr Al-shaikh Radi told MyLondon “There’s largely no provisions for homeless, only some hospitals for emergency services.”
“I’ve found we largely see two main groups in this community. You have the people in specific pain who need to get out of pain.”
“And then the people who want to turn the chapter. They want to start going to job interviews and start a relationship and if their teeth don’t look nice, it’s a burden to them. We want to keep them smiling.”
MyLondon said “What started out as a few appointments has grown into a huge community event where people can drop in for a dental check-up, with caterers providing hot meals and hairdressers volunteering to cut hair, all to the soundtrack of local musicians.”
The website reported that “There are 70 staff over three practices, who help out but try to make the weekly event have a ‘family orientated atmosphere.’
Dr Al-shaikh Radi’s employees, lab technicians and caterers all work for free, at a cost to the dental practice of nearly £1,000 a month.
Ghassan told MyLondon: “There’s largely no provisions for homeless, only some hospitals for emergency services.
The dentist works with Rudi Richardson, who used to be homeless but now works for a homeless charity called Open Soulz, a Faith-Based Christian charity that engages the homeless.
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