It’s rare for a root canal to fail to entirely remove an infection. However, with over fifteen million root canals performed in the United States every year, it’s not unheard of for a patient to lose additional tooth structure after their treatment. That is why a recent development from a team at the UCLA School of Dentistry is presenting dental professionals with some exciting new possibilities.
The purpose of this research was to explore the dental potential of nanodiamonds, microscopic diamond particles produced as a byproduct of refining and mining diamonds. Such particles have already demonstrated a lot of medicinal uses, including cancer treatment and regenerative processes. The UCLA team created two forms of tooth filling reinforced with nanodiamonds, one of which was pre-loaded with antibiotics. They then used these fillings in the teeth of human patients to test their ability to resist infection. The findings of the study were promising, and the team plans to optimize their formula and begin clinical trials over the course of the next two years.
