Just surfing the Interwebs and came across a story that I feel like I should have known about sooner….
Three dental students in Saskatchewan have received accolades for developing a mercury-free metal filling material. Apparently it retains all the strength, ease of placement, and other positive attributes of traditional amalgam—and it may offer antimicrobial properties too. Why is this not a bigger deal??!! Are any manufacturers clamoring for this formula or licensing rights??!! While it's not the stuff of cosmetic dentistry, the need for inexpensive filling material that's perceived as safe remains strong.
The three female dental students are quick to point out that their research began in 2011 more as “a response to patient demand than an issue of safety.” Working with a biomedical engineer, they replaced the mercury component in amalgam with a silver solution and ceramic nanoparticles.
The material was used to fill extracted teeth that were tested by exposing them to conditions similar to those in the oral cavity. The new malleable material was found to provide a close gap-free fit.
The findings were presented at the University of Saskatchewan's research competition in 2013, which earned the researchers first prize. At the Canadian national research competition in Vancouver in 2014, the group again took top honors.
The researchers note that the formula still needs to undergo work — toxicity, corrosion, and wear testing, and more — before it's even considered an option for marketing to the dental profession. That said, the preliminary research is being acknowledged as ‘promising.’
This could be HUGE!!! We’ll be watching.