Could a new treatment be the key to ending plaque build-up?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 29th January 2022
As professionals, we know that plaque accumulation is the root cause of a number of oral issues. Decay, gingivitis – these common problems persist because plaque management among patients isn’t always exemplary. Indeed, statistics suggest that even in today’s world of water flossers, interdental brushes and wider understanding of interdental hygiene that two thirds of the UK public still have visible plaque.[i]
But what if there were a way to prevent plaque accumulation – or at the very least destroy the harmful plaque bacteria that does lead to oral issues? A new piece of research has found a significant link between iron-deficiency anaemia and severe tooth decay. A result of this is, it has now been suggested that treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia may also be effective at preventing plaque build-up and destroying harmful oral bacteria.[ii]
An iron-oxide nanoparticle-containing solution called ferumoxytol and hydrogen peroxide have been tested against tooth enamel to assess this hypothesis, resulting in promising outcomes. This “Nanozyme” treatment when used twice daily significantly reduced the build-up of harmful dental plaque and effectively targeted the bacteria responsible for dental decay.[iii]
The implications of this treatment are enormous, especially when we consider that as a solution, patients could easily adopt this into their daily oral hygiene routines. If this treatment continues to prove effective and does eventually become available to the general public, this could significantly lower plaque levels, help prevent decay and gum disease and make our jobs much easier as professionals when it comes to helping patients to adopting effective at-home oral hygiene routines.
Nanozyme therapy in general is a fascinating concept. Nanomaterials with distinct enzyme-like qualities, nanozymes are categorised as a form of nanobot – a concept I have often written about as they could, without any exaggeration, absolutely revolutionise healthcare in the near future.
While, as ever, I must end this piece with the confirmation that we cannot know what the future may bring, the fact that treatments like this are being tested is very exciting indeed. It’s amazing how fast new areas such as nanozymes are developing, and we as professionals need to keep pace so that we are ready to adopt these radical new treatments as soon as they become available.
Ultimately, plaque is our most persistent enemy in dentistry, so any breakthrough treatment that can help us eliminate plaque build-up is something to be celebrated. I, for one, am very excited to see how nanozyme technology will progress!
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[i] Oral Health foundation. Oral Health Statistics in the UK. Link: https://www.dentalhealth.org/oral-health-statistics [Last accessed October 21].
[ii] Science Daily. ‘Nanozyme’ Therapy Prevents Harmful Dental Plaque Build-Up. Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025172130.htm [Last accessed October 21].
[iii] Science Daily. ‘Nanozyme’ Therapy Prevents Harmful Dental Plaque Build-Up. Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025172130.htm [Last accessed October 21].
