Nanomaterials Application in Orthodontics

Enhancing orthodontic treatment control with fish scale-derived hydroxyapatite nanoparticles: Insights from an animal model study

Objectives

This study investigates the impact of injected fish-scale-derived hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (FsHA-NPs) on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and the width of the periodontal ligament (PDL) space.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-six Wistar rats underwent mesial orthodontic traction with a force of 50 g for 21 days. Following the application of the orthodontic appliance, the rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group, which received a 0.3 µg saline injection, and the experimental FsHA group, which received 100 mg/0.3 ml of FsHA-NPs after thorough characterisation. Injections were administered immediately after appliance application and repeated at 7 and 14 days. Statistical analysis was conducted with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.

Result

The experimental group exhibited a significant reduction in OTM at 7-, 14-, and 21-day post-force application. Additionally, a reduction in PDL width was observed in the mesiocervical and disto-apical regions of the mesial and distal roots of the first molar.

Conclusion

FsHA-NPs derived from biowaste fish scales exhibit promising potential as biomaterials for enhancing control over OTM. This study underscores the viability, accessibility, and safety of FsHA-NPs as a locally injectable material for orthodontic applications.

Physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the orthodontic adhesive doped with S-TiO2

Orthodontic adhesive doped with sulfur-modified TiO2 promotes antibacterial effect. The objective of the study was to characterize the physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the orthodontic bracket adhesive, doped with modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Sulfur-doped TiO2 was synthetized and morphological topography was analyzed with TEM and SEM imaging. The catalytic performance during the degradation of rhodamine B was assessed. Nanomaterial was added at four concentration (1, 3, 6, and 10 wt%) to a commercial orthodontic adhesive. The shear bond strength and microhardness of a resin-based orthodontic adhesive containing S-TiO2 were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of the pure and doped adhesives against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans was examined. As the results, the highest antimicrobial activity and good adhesive properties were noticed for light-cured orthodontic adhesive doped with 3% of S-TiO2. In this case, orthodontic adhesives with strong and long-lasting bactericidal properties can be created through the incorporation of modified TiO2 without negatively influencing microhardnesses, and bonding ability. White spot lesion and demineralization, which occurs very often in patients during orthodontic treatment, can be therefore minimized.

Graphene as a promising material in orthodontics: A review

Graphene is an extraordinary material with unique mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Additionally, it boasts high surface area and antimicrobial properties, making it an attractive option for researchers exploring innovative materials for biomedical applications. Although there have been various studies on graphene applications in different biomedical fields, limited reviews have been conducted on its use in dentistry, and no reviews have focused on its application in the orthodontic field. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of graphene-based materials, with an emphasis on their antibacterial mechanisms and the factors that influence these properties. Additionally, the review summarizes the dental applications of graphene, spotlighting the studies of its orthodontic application as they can be used to enhance the antibacterial and mechanical properties of orthodontic materials such as adhesives, archwires, and splints. Also, they can be utilized to enhance bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. An electronic search was carried out in Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library digital database platforms using graphene and orthodontics as keywords. The search was restricted to English language publications without a time limit. This review highlights the need for further laboratory and clinical research using graphene-based materials to improve the properties of orthodontic materials to make them available for clinical use.

Antibacterial Effect of the Nanoparticle-Incorporated Primers Commonly Used for Orthodontic Bonding

Background

Nanosized antibacterial agents can be used to prevent biofilm buildup on orthodontic appliances and auxiliaries, limiting microbial adherence and preventing caries. Nanoparticles (NPs) can enhance the antibacterial properties of orthodontic materials due to their smaller particle size and larger surface area.

Materials and Methods

The study's material analysis was divided into four groups, numbered I through IV, using Transbond XT Primer as a control and modifying group I by adding various antibacterial agents. 98.1 g of mutans-sanguis agar was dissolved in 1,000 ml of warm distilled water and autoclaved for 15 minutes at 121°C and 15 lb pressure. 176 disk specimens of 6 mm in diameter were created, sterilized in an autoclave, and heated to 60°C in a hot air oven for 1 hour. Ten milliliters of primer containing different antimicrobial agents was applied to the sterilized disks. Four petri plates were used for each concentration, with 16 disks in each group. 44 petri plates in all were utilized.

Results

The orthodontic primer modified by the addition of antibacterial agents showed a significantly increased antimicrobial activity, and nanobenzalkonium chloride (BAC) at 5% concentration showed the highest antimicrobial efficacy among all groups. Nanohydroxyapatite showed the least.

Conclusion

Within the confines of the current investigation, it was determined that the addition of antibacterial agents had significantly higher antimicrobial activity and BAC at 5% concentration had the highest antimicrobial efficacy of all the groups.

Nanotechnology in Orthodontics: Unveiling Pain Mechanisms, Innovations, and Future Prospects of Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery

Orthodontic pain is characterized by sensations of tingling, tooth discomfort, and intolerance. According to the oral health report, over forty percent of children and adolescents have undergone orthodontic treatment. The efficacy of orthodontic treatment involving braces can be compromised by the diverse levels of discomfort and suffering experienced by patients, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and reduced patient adherence. Nanotechnology has entered all areas of science and technology. This review provides an overview of nanoscience, its application in orthodontics, the underlying processes of orthodontic pain, effective treatment options, and a summary of recent research in Nano-dentistry. The uses of this technology in healthcare span a wide range, including enhanced diagnostics, biosensors, and targeted drug delivery. The reason for this is that nanomaterials possess distinct qualities that depend on their size, which can greatly enhance human well-being and contribute to better health when effectively utilized. The field of dentistry has also experienced significant advancements, particularly in the past decade, especially in the utilization of nanomaterials and technology. Over time, there has been an increase in the availability of dental nanomaterials, and a diverse array of these materials have been extensively studied for both commercial and therapeutic purposes.

Static friction, surface roughness, and antibacterial activity of orthodontic brackets coated with silver and silver chitosan nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

To determine the effect of silver and silver chitosan nanocoatings on monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets regarding friction, roughness, and antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans.

METHODS

A total of 99 upper right premolar brackets with a 0.022 × 0.025 -inch slot were divided into three groups, each 33 according to coating material; the non-coated group, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and silver chitosan nanoparticles (Ag-CsNPs) groups. Each group was equally subdivided into the following three subgroups regarding bracket materials: monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets. A universal testing machine determined static friction on a custom-made acrylic jig. Then a profilometer machine was used to collect roughness data, and finally, the anti-cariogenic effect was measured with the disc diffusion technique's "minimum zone of inhibition" against Streptococcus mutans. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare data between groups and subgroups, followed by the Bonferroni test for multiple pair-wise comparisons.

RESULTS

The nanocoating effect on ceramic brackets' static friction was non-significant. The AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coated metallic group revealed a significant increase in static friction-a significant effect of the nanocoating in the surface roughness of monocrystalline and polycrystalline ceramic brackets. A significant favorable effect of AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs against Streptococcus mutans was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coats are unsuitable for decreasing friction in metallic brackets or improving roughness in polycrystalline ceramic brackets. Nano coating can improve roughness in monocrystalline ceramic brackets. Coating brackets with AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs has a tremendous antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans, a substantial factor in the incidence of dental caries.

Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology in Dentistry

Dentistry is a branch of healthcare where nanobiotechnology is reverberating in multiple ways to produce beneficial outcomes. The purpose of this review is to bring into the awareness of the readers the various practical dimensions of the nano-dental complex (nanodentistry) in healthcare and how novelties linked with the field are revolutionizing dentistry. A methodological approach was adopted to collect the latest data on nanotechnology and dentistry from sources, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and official websites like the WHO. Nanodentistry is an emerging field in dentistry that involves the use of nanomaterials, nanorobots, and nanotechnology to diagnose, treat, and prevent dental diseases. The results summarize the descriptive analyses of the uses of nanodentistry within orthodontics, preventive dentistry, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, periodontics, dental surgeries, dental restoration technologies, and other areas of dentistry. The future directions of nano-industries and nano-healthcare have been included to link them with the oral healthcare sector, treatment plans, and improved medical services which could be explored in the future for advanced healthcare regulation. The major limitations to the use of dental nanoproducts are their cost-effectiveness and accessibility, especially in financially constrained countries. These data will help the readers to experience a detailed analysis and comprehensive covering of the diverse achievements of nanodentistry with past analyses, present scenarios, and future implications.

The Use of Graphene Oxide in Orthodontics-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Graphene-based materials have great prospects for application in dentistry and medicine due to their unique properties and biocompatibility with tissues. The literature on the use of graphene oxide in orthodontic treatment was reviewed.

METHODS

This systematic review followed the PRISMA protocol and was conducted by searching the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. The following search criteria were used to review the data on the topic under study: (Graphene oxide) AND (orthodontic) ALL FIELDS. For the Scopus database, results were narrowed to titles, authors, and keywords. A basic search structure was adopted for each database. Initially, a total of 74 articles were found in the considered databases. Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review.

RESULTS

Nine studies demonstrated the antibacterial properties of graphene oxide, which can reduce the demineralization of enamel during orthodontic treatment. Seven studies showed that it is biocompatible with oral tissues. Three studies presented that graphene oxide can reduce friction in the arch-bracket system. Two studies showed that it can improve the mechanical properties of orthodontic adhesives by reducing ARI (Adhesive Remnant Index). Three studies demonstrated that the use of graphene oxide in the appropriate concentration can also increase the SBS (shear bond strength) parameter. One research study showed that it can increase corrosion resistance. One research study suggested that it can be used to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement.

CONCLUSION

The studies included in the systematic review showed that graphene oxide has numerous applications in orthodontic treatment due to its properties.

Surface Characterization of Stainless Steel 316L Coated with Various Nanoparticle Types

Background

Material tribology has widely expanded in scope and depth and is extended from the mechanical field to the biomedical field. The present study aimed to characterize the nanocoating of highly pure (99.9%) niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), and vanadium (V) deposited on 316L stainless steel (SS) substrates which considered the most widely used alloys in the manufacturing of SS orthodontic components. To date, the coating of SS orthodontic archwires with Nb, Ta, and V using a plasma sputtering method has never been reported. Nanodeposition was performed using a DC plasma sputtering system with three different sputtering times (1, 2, and 3 hours).

Results

Structural and elemental analyses were conducted on the deposited coatings using XRD, FESEM, and EDS showing a unique phase of coating metals over their substrates with obvious homogeneous even deposition. A highly significant positive correlation was found between sputtering time and thickness of the achieved coatings. AFM revealed a reduction in the surface roughness of 316L SS substrates sputtered with all coating materials, significantly seen in V coatings.

Conclusions

Sputtering time and coating material play a significant role in terms of microstructure and topography of the achieved coatings being the best in the Ta group; moreover, surface roughness was significantly improved by V coatings. Likewise, it is found to be sputtering time independent for all used coatings.

Future of Orthodontics-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Emerging Trends in This Field

Technology is rapidly evolving in the modern world, and the accompanying developments due to its influence are shaping each and every aspect of our life, with the field of orthodontics being no exception. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine such trends in orthodontics and hypothesize which ones would emerge and continue in the near future. After a thorough search of online journals using keywords such as "3D printing," "Aligners," "Artificial intelligence," "Future trends," "Orthodontics," and "Teleorthodontics" across databases of PubMed-MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus, a total of 634 papers were initially recovered. Technological advancements in 3D printing, Computer-aided design and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), biopolymers and Teleorthodontics were the most important categories of development seen across the 17 studies that we selected for our review. All the investigations selected for this systematic review depicted aspects of orthodontics that were influenced by rapid technological changes and could potentially become mainstream in the coming times. However, caution was sought to be observed in the usage/adoption of some of these trends, with social media usage amongst both patients as well as orthodontists being a prime example of this.

Effect of Graphene Sheets Embedded Carbon Films on the Fretting Wear Behaviors of Orthodontic Archwire-Bracket Contacts

Carbon films were fabricated on the orthodontic stainless steel archwires by using a custom-designed electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma sputtering deposition system under electron irradiation with the variation of substrate bias voltages from +5 V to +50 V. Graphene sheets embedded carbon (GSEC) films were fabricated at a higher substrate bias voltage. The fretting friction and wear behaviors of the carbon film-coated archwires running against stainless steel brackets were evaluated by a home-built reciprocating sliding tribometer in artificial saliva environment. Stable and low friction coefficients of less than 0.10 were obtained with the increase of the GSEC film thickness and the introduction of the parallel micro-groove texture on the bracket slot surfaces. Particularly, the GSEC film did not wear out on the archwire after sliding against three-row micro-groove textured bracket for 10,000 times fretting tests; not only low friction coefficient (0.05) but also low wear rate (0.11 × 10^-6 mm³/Nm) of the GSEC film were achieved. The synergistic effects of the GSEC films deposited on the archwires and the micro-groove textures fabricated on the brackets contribute to the exceptional friction and wear behaviors of the archwire-bracket sliding contacts, suggesting great potential for the clinical orthodontic treatment applications.

Anti-Adherence and Antimicrobial Activities of Silver Nanoparticles against Serotypes C and K of Streptococcus mutans on Orthodontic Appliances

Background and Objectives: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the main microorganism associated with the presence of dental caries and specific serotypes of this bacteria have been related to several systemic diseases limiting general health. In orthodontics, white spot lesions (WSL), represent a great challenge for clinicians due to the great fluctuation of their prevalence and incidence during conventional orthodontic treatments. Although silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been demonstrated to have great antimicrobial properties in several microorganisms, including S. mutans bacteria, there is no available information about anti adherence and antimicrobial properties of AgNP exposed to two of the most relevant serotypes of S. mutans adhered on orthodontic materials used for conventional therapeutics. The objective of this study was to determine anti-adherence and antimicrobial levels of AgNP against serotypes c and k of S. mutans on conventional orthodontic appliances. Materials and Methods: An AgNP solution was prepared and characterized using dispersion light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities of AgNP were determined using minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and bacterial adherence testing against serotypes c and k of S. mutans clinically isolated and confirmed by PCR assay. Results: The prepared AgNP had spherical shapes with a good size distribution (29.3 ± 0.7 nm) with negative and well-defined electrical charges (−36.5 ± 5.7 mV). AgNP had good bacterial growth (55.7 ± 19.3 µg/mL for serotype c, and 111.4 ± 38.6 µg/mL for serotype k) and adherence inhibitions for all bacterial strains and orthodontic wires (p < 0.05). The serotype k showed statistically the highest microbial adherence (p < 0.05). The SS wires promoted more bacterial adhesion (149.0 ± 253.6 UFC/mL × 104) than CuNiTi (3.3 ± 6.0 UFC/mL × 104) and NiTi (101.1 ± 108.5 UFC/mL × 104) arches. SEM analysis suggests CuNiTi wires demonstrated better topographical conditions for bacterial adherence while AFM evaluation determined cell wall irregularities in bacterial cells exposed to AgNP. Conclusions: This study suggests the widespread use of AgNP as a potential anti-adherent and antimicrobial agent for the prevention of WSL during conventional orthodontic therapies and, collaterally, other systemic diseases.

Application of antibacterial nanoparticles in orthodontic materials

During the orthodontic process, increased microbial colonization and dental plaque formation on the orthodontic appliances and auxiliaries are major complications, causing oral infectious diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal diseases. To reduce plaque accumulation, antimicrobial materials are increasingly being investigated and applied to orthodontic appliances and auxiliaries by various methods. Through the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have been reported to exhibit excellent antibacterial properties and have been applied in orthodontic materials to decrease dental plaque accumulation. In this review, we present the current development, antibacterial mechanisms, biocompatibility, and application of antibacterial NPs in orthodontic materials.

Nanomaterials in Dentistry: Current Applications and Future Scope

Nanotechnology utilizes the mechanics to control the size and morphology of the particles in the required nano range for accomplishing the intended purposes. There was a time when it was predominantly applied only to the fields of matter physics or chemical engineering, but with time, biological scientists recognized its vast benefits and explored the advantages in their respective fields. This extension of nanotechnology in the field of dentistry is termed ‘Nanodentistry.’ It is revolutionizing every aspect of dentistry. It consists of therapeutic and diagnostic tools and supportive aids to maintain oral hygiene with the help of nanomaterials. Research in nanodentistry is evolving holistically but slowly with the advanced finding of symbiotic use of novel polymers, natural polymers, metals, minerals, and drugs. These materials, in association with nanotechnology, further assist in exploring the usage of nano dental adducts in prosthodontic, regeneration, orthodontic, etc. Moreover, drug release cargo abilities of the nano dental adduct provide an extra edge to dentistry over their conventional counterparts. Nano dentistry has expanded to every single branch of dentistry. In the present review, we will present a holistic view of the recent advances in the field of nanodentistry. The later part of the review compiled the ethical and regulatory challenges in the commercialization of the nanodentistry. This review tracks the advancement in nano dentistry in different but important domains of dentistry.

Emergence of Nano-Dentistry as a Reality of Contemporary Dentistry

(1) Background. Nanotechnology offers significant alternative ways to solve scientific, medical, and human health issues. Dental biomaterials were improved by nanotechnology. It manufactures better materials or improves the existing ones and forms the basis of novel methods for disease diagnosis and prevention. Modern nanotechnology makes oral health care services more acceptable for patients. Nanotechnology is now important area of research, covering a broad range of applications in dentistry. (2) Methods. Relevant literature from Scopus published in English was selected using the keywords “nanoparticle” and “dentistry”. To the selected articles we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria to choose the relevant ones. (3) Results. Based on the relevant articles, a literature review was prepared. This review provides an insight into the applications of nanotechnology in various branches of dentistry. We applied several regression models to fit number of papers versus time and chose the best one. We used it to construct the forecast and its 95%-confidence interval for the number of publications in 2022–2026. (4) Conclusions. It shows that a significant rise in papers is expected. This review familiarizes dentists with properties and benefits of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Additionally, it can help scientists to consider the direction of their research and to plan prospective research projects.

The Application of Nanoparticles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Diseases

Nanomedicine is currently showing great promise for new methods of diagnosing and treating many diseases, particularly in kidney disease and transplantation. The unique properties of nanoparticles arise from the diversity of size effects, used to design targeted nanoparticles for specific cells or tissues, taking renal clearance and tubular secretion mechanisms into account. The design of surface particles on nanoparticles offers a wide range of possibilities, among which antibodies play an important role. Nanoparticles find applications in encapsulated drug delivery systems containing immunosuppressants and other drugs, in imaging, gene therapies and many other branches of medicine. They have the potential to revolutionize kidney transplantation by reducing and preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury, more efficiently delivering drugs to the graft site while avoiding systemic effects, accurately localizing and visualising the diseased site and enabling continuous monitoring of graft function. So far, there are known nanoparticles with no toxic effects on human tissue, although further studies are still needed to confirm their safety.

Nanostructures as Targeted Therapeutics for Combating Oral Bacterial Diseases

Pathogenic oral biofilms are now recognized as a key virulence factor in many microorganisms that cause the heavy burden of oral infectious diseases. Recently, new investigations in the nanotechnology field have propelled the development of novel biomaterials and approaches to control bacterial biofilms, either independently or in combination with other substances such as drugs, bioactive molecules, and photosensitizers used in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to target different cells. Moreover, nanoparticles (NPs) showed some interesting capacity to reverse microbial dysbiosis, which is a major problem in oral biofilm formation. This review provides a perspective on oral bacterial biofilms targeted with NP-mediated treatment approaches. The first section aims to investigate the effect of NPs targeting oral bacterial biofilms. The second part of this review focuses on the application of NPs in aPDT and drug delivery systems.

Nanomaterials Application in Endodontics

In recent years, nanomaterials have become increasingly present in medicine, especially in dentistry. Their characteristics are proving to be very useful in clinical cases. Due to the intense research in the field of biomaterials and nanotechnology, the efficacy and possibilities of dental procedures have immensely expanded over the years. The nano size of materials allows them to exhibit properties not present in their larger-in-scale counterparts. The medical procedures in endodontics are time-consuming and mostly require several visits to be able to achieve the proper result. In this field of dentistry, there are still major issues about the removal of the mostly bacterial infection from the dental root canals. It has been confirmed that nanoparticles are much more efficient than traditional materials and appear to have superior properties when it comes to surface chemistry and bonding. Their unique antibacterial properties are also promising features in every medical procedure, especially in endodontics. High versatility of use of nanomaterials makes them a powerful tool in dental clinics, in a plethora of endodontic procedures, including pulp regeneration, drug delivery, root repair, disinfection, obturation and canal filling. This study focuses on summing up the current knowledge about the utility of nanomaterials in endodontics, their characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and provides a number of reasons why research in this field should be continued.