Soon: Tooth filling containing 'bioactive glass' for longer life

A piece of glass in your mouth could hurt you, or maybe not. A team of researchers at the Oregon State University has discovered that an unusual type of glass called “bioactive” glass could be used to suppress the ability of the bacteria to destroy composite tooth fillings.

The researchers believe that the bioactive glass can even supply minerals that are lost as a part of tooth decay. The previously unrecognised abilities of the bioactive glass can, thus, help prolong the life of composite tooth fillings.

The research team says that using bioactive glass to prolong the life of composite tooth filling could be the next big thing in the field of dental treatment. It is estimated that each year, nearly 122 million Americans undergo restoration of their tooth filling that has an average life span of six years. In such a scenario, use of bioactive glass to prolong the dental composite lifespan could be a boon.

Bioactive glass is actually a type of crushed glass with an ability to interact with the human body. It looks like a powdered glass and is made up of silicon oxide, calcium oxide and phosphorus oxide.

Bioactive glass has been in use for certain types of bone healing procedures for decades. The researchers say that they have just started to explore the application of bioactive glass in dentistry and the results seem promising.

"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," said Professor Jamie Kruzic, in a statement.

While a majority of the biomedical products are inert, this material is “bioactive,” suggesting that the body identified it and reacts to it. The researchers say that due to its stiffness and hardness, it can replace the inert glass fillers that are currently used with polymers to create composite tooth fillings.

The complete details of the study have been published in the journal Dental Materials.

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