Nanocharacterization in Dentistry

Abstract

About 80% of US adults have some form of dental disease. There are a variety of new dental products available, ranging from implants to oral hygiene products that rely on nanoscale properties. Here, the application of AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) and optical interferometry to a range of dentistry issues, including characterization of dental enamel, oral bacteria, biofilms and the role of surface proteins in biochemical and nanomechanical properties of bacterial adhesins, is reviewed. We also include studies of new products blocking dentine tubules to alleviate hypersensitivity; antimicrobial effects of mouthwash and characterizing nanoparticle coated dental implants. An outlook on future “nanodentistry” developments such as saliva exosomes based diagnostics, designing biocompatible, antimicrobial dental implants and personalized dental healthcare is presented.

Preparation and characterization of a BisGMA-resin dental restorative composites with glass, silica and titania fillers

“…In fact, the densities of the various fi ller materials are rather different: 2.6 g/ cm 3 for silica and 3.9 g/cm 3 for titania, according to the manufacturers' data sheets, and 1.1 g/cm 3 and 2.4 g/cm 3 for bare resin and glass, as determined by us by weighting and differential volumetric measurements of water in graduated cylinders. Therefore, 10%wt corresponds to volume loadings of 4.7, 4.4 and 2.7% for glass, silica and titania, respectively, whereas 50%wt corresponds to 31, 29 and 20% for the same sequence of materials.…”

“…In fact, despite the recent advancements both in chemistry of the resins and in development of novel nanoparticles and related technologies 2,3) , many combinations thereof have to be explored and the respective recipes have to be optimized yet. The main issue with the dental resin composites is that still their mechanical properties can only barely approach those of dental amalgam 4) .…”

Critical review on biofilm methods

“…It has also proven useful for quantitative biofilm analysis, especially to confirm findings obtained by quantitative (viable count, CV staining) or other imaging (light microscopy, SEM) techniques (Ansari et al, 2013;Chatterjee et al, 2014;Li et al, 2015;Salunke et al, 2014). Among the characteristics of the sample surface examined, height and roughness analyses from AFM images allow quantification of biofilm biomass in terms of thickness and EPS amount, respectively (Ansari et al, 2013;Chatterjee et al, 2014;Danin et al, 2015;Li et al, 2015;Mangalappalli-Illathu et al, 2008;Nandakumar et al, 2004;Qin et al, 2009;Sharma et al, 2010).…”

Nanodentistry: A Paradigm Shift-from Fiction to Reality

“…Nanoscale Observation of Dentine Surfaces and Collagen Network [10] Dental pain such as toothache is a commonly experienced problem and a major reason why patients visit the dentist, thus making the study of tooth enamel, dentine, and its collagen network a necessary endeavour. Microscopic tubes, called dentine tubules, run through dentine, from the pulp beneath, to the junction with the enamel above, down to the nerves.…”