Reviewed by Alex SmithNov 23 2021
As a first-ever breakthrough, scientists from the University of Queensland, Australia, have leveraged nanotechnology to devise efficient methods to deal with tooth sensitivity.
Image Credit: The University of Queensland
According to Dr. Chun Xu from the School of Dentistry of the University of Queensland, the method could offer long-term pain relief that is highly effective for people with sensitive teeth than the options available at present.
Dentin tubules are located in the dentin, one of the layers below the enamel surface of your teeth. When tooth enamel has been worn down, and the dentin are exposed, eating or drinking something cold or hot can cause a sudden sharp flash of pain. The nanomaterials used in this preclinical study can rapidly block the exposed dentin tubules and prevent the unpleasant pain.
Dr. Chun Xu, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland
“Our approach acts faster and lasts longer than current treatment options. The materials could be developed into a paste, so people who have sensitive teeth could simply apply this paste to the tooth and massage for one to three minutes. The next step is clinical trials,” added Xu.
Nearly 74% of the population is affected by tooth sensitivity, which at times severely affects the quality of life and necessitates costly treatment.
If clinical trials are successful people will benefit from this new method that can be used at home, without the need to go to a dentist in the near future. We hope this study encourages more research using nanotechnology to address dental problems.
Dr. Chun Xu, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland
Furthermore, the group included scientists from the Australian Institute for Nanotechnology (AIBN) and Bioengineering of the University of Queensland.
Journal Reference:
Cao, Y., et al. (2021) Calcium-Doped Silica Nanoparticles Mixed with Phosphate-Doped Silica Nanoparticles for Rapid and Stable Occlusion of Dentin Tubules. ACS Applied Nano Materials. doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c01365.