Newsletter
LOS ANGELES, USA: New research conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has demonstrated that using nanodiamonds to fortify gutta-percha, the predominant material used for obturation, could significantly improve outcomes in patients. In the study, nanodiamonds showed considerable advantages compared with conventional gutta-percha, suggesting that nanodiamond-enhanced gutta-percha could be used as an alternative filling material in future endodontic therapy.
Gutta-percha is malleable, inert and biocompatible, and is the standard of care for endodontic treatment today. However, it has been associated with a number of shortcomings, including leakage, root canal reinfection and poor mechanical properties. In order to address these issues, researchers have developed and tested nanodiamond-reinforced gutta-percha as an alternative root filling material.
Nanodiamonds are particles formed as byproducts of diamond refining and mining, and have been widely explored for use in dentistry, cancer therapy, imaging, regenerative medicine, and other applications.
In the current study, which used extracted human teeth, the enhanced material performed as effectively as conventional gutta-percha obturation material. In addition, the researchers observed that gutta-percha combined with nanodiamonds loaded with amoxicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to combat infection, effectively prevented bacterial growth.
During the next two years, the UCLA team plans to optimize the formulation of the new nanodiamond material and begin clinical trials at the university.
The study, titled "Nanodiamond–Gutta Percha Composite Biomaterials for Root Canal Therapy," was published online on Oct. 9 in the ACS Nano journal ahead of print.
From http://www.dental-tribune.com
