New dental material resists plaque and kills microbes. Researchers have evaluated a new dental material tethered with an antimicrobial compound that can not only kill bacteria but can also resist biofilm growth. In addition, unlike some drug-infused materials, it is effective with minimal toxicity to the surrounding tissue, as it contains a low dose of the antimicrobial agent that kills only the bacteria that come in contact with it. Source 5n.
This is exciting news but it doesn't sound like something that dentists will be happy about because it means less chance of return visits. Also doesn't the anti-bacterial properties mean that resistance can be built over time?
The fight against tooth decay gets help with a new smart material. When patients go to the dentist to fill a cavity, they're trying to solve a problem -- not create a new one. But many dental patients get some bad news: bacteria can dig under their tooth-colored fillings and cause new cavities, called recurrent caries. U of T researchers designed a novel solution: a filling material with tiny particles containing antimicrobial drugs, designed to stop bacteria in its tracks. Source 4s.