Andre Galembeck
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
Title: Silver nanoparticles: An alternative approach to treat dental caries
Biography
Biography: Andre Galembeck
Abstract
The use of silver in oral care is known for centuries and have recently renewed, since nanotechnology evolved and the outstanding antimicrobial properties of nanostructured silver-based formulations have been demonstrated against many different microorganisms. Several promising new technologies are currently under development and our group have recently demonstrated that formulations based on silver nanoparticles can be effective for caries arrestment without staining teeth, which make them a very attractive alternative to the ???milling and filling??? approach. Untreated dental caries in children remains a public health challenge in developing countries that affects future dental health, growth and cognitive development. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of formulations containing silver nanoparticles (AgNP) against Streptococcus mutans were evaluated and compared to chlorhexidine and silver diamine fluoride (SDF). AgNPs is as effective as SDF in much lower doses and are non-cytotoxic. The clinical trials were carried out in children (6 - 9 years old) and the formulations were applied to deciduous teeth.