bacteria

Antibiotic resistance: what should dentists know

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An interesting article titled “Antibiotic resistance: The silent pandemia” appears in the International Dental Journal on January 12 2023 written by Angel-Orión Salgad Peralvo and et. al. The article discusses a call to action for dentists worldwide to cut back on their antibiotic prescribing habits arguing that 66% of antiobitics prescibed is not warranted. In the article the authors mention that dentists prescribe 10% of all antibiotics in the world. However, the way they see it, antibiotics being overly prescribed can contribute to the worldwide development of antimicrobial resistance. Antibitoics are used in dentistry for preventive purposes and to avoid systemic bacteraemia in patients at risk or to prevent possible bacterial contamination during surgery. Yet the resistance problem increases medical costs and increases mortality. Therefore they feel that dentists should change the way they prescribe antiobitics as the resistance problem … Read more

Antimicrobial Gel To Improve Root Canal Procedures

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The American Association of Endodontists estimates that more than 15 million root canals are done each year. During the procedure, the tooth’s pulp and nerve are removed before the tooth is cleaned and sealed. In some cases bacteria, viruses, or yeasts contaminate the tooth which leads to additional follow up dental work having to be performed such as an additional root canal. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Dentistry have developed an injectable antimicrobial gel that could disinfect a tooth during a root canal procedure. The gel has advantages over traditional medications used as antibacterial agents, including calcium hydroxide. The gel offers extended and significantly longer residual antibacterial properties. The gel is biocompatible and contains a low concentration of antimicrobial elements. The researchers feel that creating an antimicrobial space is important during clinical regenerative endodontic procedures. The gel provides sustained antimicrobial properties even when it is … Read more

Dental Material that Kills Bacteria and Resists Biofilm Growth

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Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a dental material tethered with an antimicrobial compound that can kill bacteria and resist biofilm growth. The material is also effective with minimal toxicity to the surrounding tissue, as it contains a low dose of the antimicrobial agent that kills only the bacteria that crosses it’s path. The researchers were motivated to develop a new dental material because the current composite materials to perform restorative procedures, such as filling cavities, are vulnerable to the growth of plaque, the biofilm that leads to tooth decay. The researchers had two goals in mind when developing the dental biomaterial: 1) kill pathogenic microbes effectively, and 2) withstand severe mechanical stress. The newly developed material is composed of a resin embedded with the antibacterial agent imidazolium. Unlike some traditional biomaterials that slowly release a drug, this material is non-leachable … Read more

Prevent cavities in sensitive teeth

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People with sensitive teeth know that taking a sip of an ice cold drink can cause a painful jolt in the mouth. There are different approaches to treat this condition but the treatment usually does not last very long. Research appearing in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces shows the development of a new material with an extract from green tea that can help treat sensitive teeth and even help prevent cavities. Tooth sensitivity occurs when the protective layers of teeth are worn away and exposing the bony tissue called dentin. Dentin contains microscopic hollow tubes which allow hot and cold liquids and food to contact the underlying nerve endings in the teeth leading to pain. Unprotected dentin is vulnerable to having cavities form around it. Placing a mineral called nanohydroxyapatite in these tubes has often been used to treat sensitive teeth. … Read more

Bacterium goes from the mouth to the heart to cause disease

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The human mouth can have more than 700 different species of bacteria. Under normal circumstances these microbes co-exist as part of our resident oral microbiota but when they spread to other tissues via the blood stream, the results can be catastrophic. Researchers from the University of Bristol have revealed a potentially key molecular process that occurs in the case of infective endocarditis, a type of cardiovascular disease in which bacteria cause unwanted blood clots to form on heart valves. If untreated, this condition is fatal and even with treatment, mortality rates are high. There are over 2,000 cases of infective endocarditis in the United Kingdom (UK) annually and the amount is rising. The research involved the use of the UK national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source. Using this giant X-ray microscope the team was able to visualise the structure and … Read more