Silica Particles Can Be Used To Repair Damaged Teeth

In the UK, University of Birmingham researchers have made an incredible dental advancement in the fight against tooth decay and the treatment of sensitive teeth.

The study showed that sub-micron silica particles can be used to insert important compounds into teeth with damage, through tubles in the dentine, according to the press release.

"The dentine of our teeth have numerous microscopic holes, which are the entrances to tubules that run through to the nerve. When your outer enamel is breached, the exposure of these tubules is really noticeable," Professor Damien Walmsley, from the School of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, said. "If you drink something cold, you can feel the sensitivity in your teeth because these tubules run directly through to the nerve and the soft tissue of the tooth."

The research team's plan was to use a multifunctional agent to help repair and restore teeth, using those same tubules. This would protect the teeth from further infection that could cause permanent damage, according to Walmsley.

Compounds of calcium fluoride, combinations of carbonate-hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and bioactive glass have all been used in prior attempts, but they sometimes aggregate on delivery to the tubules, preventing them from entering the one to four microns wide opening, according to MedicalXpress.

In contrast, the Birmingham team prepared its sub-micron silica particles with a surface coating to reduce the chance of aggregation.

"These silica particles are available in a range of sizes, from nanometer to sub-micron, without altering their porous nature. It is this that makes them an ideal container for calcium based compounds to restore the teeth, and antibacterial compounds to protect them," Professor Zoe Pikramenou, from the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, said. "All we needed to do was find the right way of coating them to get them to their target. We have found that different coatings does change the way that they interact with the tooth surface." 

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