NANCHANG, China: Social media adverts for whitening products show celebrities flaunting their pearly whites, putting pressure on consumers to conform to the ideal of white teeth. Patients can opt for over-the-counter or professional tooth whitening treatments, but both can harm the teeth. To combat this problem, Chinese researchers have now developed a new, less destructive method.
As is commonly known, teeth can become discoloured with the consumption of staining foods and drinks. As a result, many people turn to non-invasive whitening treatments. Currently, the most common bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide, but high concentrations can break down the enamel, causing sensitivity or even cell death.
Researchers and senior authors of a recent study Xiaolei Wang and Lan Liao, along with their colleagues at Nanchang University, investigated whether a different compound activated with blue light could act as a safer, yet still effective, alternative. The team modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles with polydopamine (nano-TiO2@PDA) so that they could be activated with blue light. In a proof-of-concept experiment, the particles were evenly coated on the surface of a tooth and irradiated with blue light.
After 4 hours of treatment, the whitening level was similar to that obtained with hydrogen peroxide-based agents. The researchers did not find significant enamel damage on the surface of the tooth, and the treatment was significantly less cytotoxic than hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the nano-TiO2@PDA therapy showed antibacterial activity against certain bacteria.
The study, titled “Blue-light -activated nano-TiO2@PDA for highly effective and nondestructive tooth whitening”, was published in ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering on 19 June 2018.
ZURICH, Switzerland: The German-speaking part of Switzerland is to follow the French part of the country and allow the public to bleach their teeth ...
SÃO PAULO, Brazil: In the scope of the Congresso Internacional de Odontologia de São Paulo (CIOSP), one of the most important dental ...
PONTA GROSSA, Brazil: According to the American Dental Association, mild to moderate tooth sensitivity during whitening procedures can occur in up to ...
Live webinar
Wed. 7 August 2024
3:30 am IST (New Delhi)
Live webinar
Wed. 7 August 2024
5:30 am IST (New Delhi)
Dr. Cameron Shahbazian DMD MBA
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
4:30 am IST (New Delhi)
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
10:00 pm IST (New Delhi)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
6:30 pm IST (New Delhi)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Fri. 23 August 2024
1:30 am IST (New Delhi)
Live webinar
Thu. 29 August 2024
5:30 am IST (New Delhi)