Nanotechnology seems to be a huge buzzword in the dental industry right now. In composites, "nano-filled" resins have seen a massive surge in marketing. This trend will only continue upward over the next few years. One area where I would not have expected to see nano technology make a splash would be in the world of preventative dentistry.
Science News is reporting that 2 scientists used nano technology to polish enamel to such a point that plaque could no longer adhere to it. Igor Sokolov and Ravi Gaikwad from Clarkson University used techniques from the semiconductor industry to polish enamel down to "nanoscale roughness."
To overcome plaque aggregation is to overcome the beast that is biofilm. Biofilm research is huge right now and researchers are starting to realize how big of an enemy biofilms really are. I can't say that I know very much about biofilms other than what we all learned in dental school, however that should change soon. I am a member of the local chapter of the Seattle Study Club and in April we are bringing in Dr. J. William Costerton who is the world's leading researcher on biofilms and actually coined the term biofilm. I think that most of us underestimate how formidable of an opponent biofilms actually are.
As far as nano-polishing of enamel, I have a few questions about its practicality. Can we effectively polish teeth to this level intraorally without frying pulps from heat build up? If so, I'm sure polishing the buccal of a central incisor is a no brainer, but how do we polish the distal of #15? What about interproximals? Can we nano-polish interproximally without obliterating contact? Obviously, this technology has a long way to go before becoming clinically viable, but I find the application of the technology interesting.
To overcome plaque aggregation is to overcome the beast that is biofilm. Biofilm research is huge right now and researchers are starting to realize how big of an enemy biofilms really are. I can't say that I know very much about biofilms other than what we all learned in dental school, however that should change soon. I am a member of the local chapter of the Seattle Study Club and in April we are bringing in Dr. J. William Costerton who is the world's leading researcher on biofilms and actually coined the term biofilm. I think that most of us underestimate how formidable of an opponent biofilms actually are.
As far as nano-polishing of enamel, I have a few questions about its practicality. Can we effectively polish teeth to this level intraorally without frying pulps from heat build up? If so, I'm sure polishing the buccal of a central incisor is a no brainer, but how do we polish the distal of #15? What about interproximals? Can we nano-polish interproximally without obliterating contact? Obviously, this technology has a long way to go before becoming clinically viable, but I find the application of the technology interesting.