A new dental filling material uses parts from the human body for controversial ingredients in existing composite or plastic, fillings is currently being developed. The new material appears stronger and longer lasting with the potential for reducing painful filling cracks and emergency visits to the dentist.
Julian X.X. Zhu and colleagues point out that dentists increasingly are using white fillings made from plastic. This is because the traditional fillings contain mercury, which has raised health concerns consumers and environmental issues. Even so, many plastic fillings contain controversial ingredients linked to premature cracking of fillings and slowly release bisphenol A, which is potentially toxic to humans and the environment.
The new materials developed do not contain any of these controversial or potentially harmful effects. The use bile acids which are produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder to aid in fat digestion. Laboratory studies show the bile acid-derived resins form a hard, durable plastic that resists cracking better than existing composites.
Adapted from materials provided by American Chemical Society