Bioactive Glass May Someday Replace Minerals Lost In Tooth Decay

Bioactive glass may one day help reduce the ability of bacteria to attack composite tooth fillings. With future research, it may even been used to replace minerals lost from tooth decay, according to a new study. 

"Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades," said Jamie Kruzic, a professor and expert in advanced structural and biomaterials in the OSU College of Engineering, in a news release. "This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings," he said. "The bacteria in the mouth that help cause cavities don't seem to like this type of glass and are less likely to colonize on fillings that incorporate it. This could have a significant impact on the future of dentistry."

During the study, researchers examined extracted human molars to produce simulated tooth restoration samples in their experiments. Findings showed that it should be rather simple to incorporate bioactive glass into existing formulations for composite tooth fillings.

Fillings made with bioactive glass should slow secondary tooth decay, and also provide some minerals that could help replace those being lost, researchers say. The combination of these two forces should result in a tooth filling that works just as well, but lasts longer.

The antimicrobial effect of bioactive glass is attributed, in part, to the release of ions such as those from calcium and phosphate that have a toxic effect on oral bacteria and tend to neutralize the local acidic environment.

"My collaborators and I have already shown in previous studies that composites containing up to 15 percent bioactive glass, by weight, can have mechanical properties comparable, or superior to commercial composites now being used," Kruzic concluded.

The study is published in the journal Dental Materials.

Related Articles

Tooth Enamel Originated In Our Skin?

Smokers At Higher Risk Of Losing Teeth

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sistersite, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).