Nanodiamonds fortify a material used in root canal procedure could
significantly improve outcomes for patients, say UCLA School of
Dentistry researchers.
A paper on their research is published in the current issue of the peer-reviewed journal ACS Nano.
Nanodiamonds are tiny particles formed as byproducts of diamond refining and mining. Thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, they have been widely explored for use in dentistry, cancer therapy, imaging and regenerative medicine, among other applications.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is to save a badly infected tooth. The dentist call it endodontic therapy and they deep clean the infected root of the tooth.
Advertisement
Each year, more than 15 million root canal procedures are performed in the United States. Dentists' goal is to save their patients' teeth from infected dental "pulp" -- the part of the tooth that includes blood vessels and nerve tissue. During a root canal, inflamed dental pulp is removed and the empty space is then filled in with a polymer called gutta percha, which is used in part because it does not react within the body. But some root canals don't entirely remove the infection, and residual infection after root canals can lead to tooth loss.
In addition, traditional gutta percha has certain shortcomings, including a limited capacity to ward off infection and less-than-optimal rigidity.
![Root Canal Treatment - Animation]( "Root Canal Treatment - Animation")
Are you going to have root canal treatment? Refer to this cartoon display that uses slide animation along with text to simplify its complexity.
To overcome those issues, the UCLA team developed and tested two types of reinforced gutta percha: One strengthened with nanodiamonds and another strengthened with nanodiamonds that had been pre-loaded with antibiotics.
To evaluate the first type, Sue Vin Kim and Adelheid Nerisa Limansubroto, study co-authors who are UCLA Dentistry students, filled actual teeth from human patients. Using conventional radiography and micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT, they showed that the nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha could be used to fill the tooth. Like the traditional formulation, the nanodiamond-enhanced compound did leave small gaps in the canal -- where harmful bacteria could grow -- but the CT imaging showed that the enhanced material filled the space just as effectively as traditional gutta percha.
"Validating this novel material in teeth extracted from patients serves as a strong foundation for the potential translation of nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha toward clinical testing," said Dean Ho, a senior author of the study and a professor of oral biology and medicine and co-director of UCLA Dentistry's Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology.
In the research's second phase, the scientists tested nanodiamonds that had been loaded with amoxicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to combat infection. The drug-reinforced nanodiamonds, when combined with the gutta percha, effectively prevented bacteria growth.
"The nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha combines many desirable properties into a single platform, including vastly improved mechanical characteristics and the ability to combat bacterial infection following a root canal," said Dong-Keun Lee, a postdoctoral scholar in Ho's lab.
The study involved UCLA researchers with expertise in a wide range of disciplines -- materials science, nanotechnology, drug delivery, toxicology, oral radiology, endodontics, microbiology and other fields.
"Through their ingenuity and collaboration, Professor Ho's team is poised to transform the way that dentistry is practiced," said Dr. No-Hee Park, dean of UCLA Dentistry and a co-author of the study.
During the next two years, the team plans optimize the formulation of the nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha and begin clinical trials at UCLA.
Source: Eurekalert
Root Canal Treatment - Animation
Are you going to have root canal treatment? Refer to this cartoon display that uses slide animation along with text to simplify its complexity.
Advertisement
To overcome those issues, the UCLA team developed and tested two types of reinforced gutta percha: One strengthened with nanodiamonds and another strengthened with nanodiamonds that had been pre-loaded with antibiotics.
To evaluate the first type, Sue Vin Kim and Adelheid Nerisa Limansubroto, study co-authors who are UCLA Dentistry students, filled actual teeth from human patients. Using conventional radiography and micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT, they showed that the nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha could be used to fill the tooth. Like the traditional formulation, the nanodiamond-enhanced compound did leave small gaps in the canal -- where harmful bacteria could grow -- but the CT imaging showed that the enhanced material filled the space just as effectively as traditional gutta percha.
"Validating this novel material in teeth extracted from patients serves as a strong foundation for the potential translation of nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha toward clinical testing," said Dean Ho, a senior author of the study and a professor of oral biology and medicine and co-director of UCLA Dentistry's Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology.
In the research's second phase, the scientists tested nanodiamonds that had been loaded with amoxicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to combat infection. The drug-reinforced nanodiamonds, when combined with the gutta percha, effectively prevented bacteria growth.
"The nanodiamond-enhanced gutta percha combines many desirable properties into a single platform, including vastly improved mechanical characteristics and the ability to combat bacterial infection following a root canal," said Dong-Keun Lee, a postdoctoral scholar in Ho's lab.
The study involved UCLA researchers with expertise in a wide range of disciplines -- materials science, nanotechnology, drug delivery, toxicology, oral radiology, endodontics, microbiology and other fields.
"Through their ingenuity and collaboration, Professor Ho's team is poised to transform the way that dentistry is practiced," said Dr. No-Hee Park, dean of UCLA Dentistry and a co-author of the study.
During the next two years, the team plans optimize the formulation of the nanodiamond-reinforced gutta percha and begin clinical trials at UCLA.
Source: Eurekalert
Foods That Stain your Teeth
Want to get whiter teeth? Food with high acid content and stains like cola, tea and sauces can make your teeth look yellow. Check this list to keep your pearly whites healthy and attractive.
Advertisement
 Diamonds can be Used to Identify Cancerous Tumors at an Early StageBy attaching hyperpolarized diamonds to molecules targeting cancers the technique can allow tracking of the molecules' movement in the body. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Dental News
New study highlights the development of an innovative adhesive patch capable of treating two common oral health disorders.
Dental anxiety is the fear, anxiety, or stress associated with things like needles, drills, or the dental setting in general that may delay or avoid dental treatment.
Does missing teeth replacement strength memory loss? Yes, the replacement of missing teeth with fixed prostheses may protect against cognitive decline.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized risk factor for dementia, and increasing evidence shows that tooth loss is also associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
Soft gums tend to show high susceptibility to the disruption of gum health because of mechanotransduction-mediated proinflammatory responses in gingival fibroblasts.