Search Results (6)

Background: Early caries management is essential to enable reversal of white spot lesions without the further need for operative interventions, especially in primary dentition. Silver-based compounds can be quite effective in arresting caries lesions; however, a major drawback is teeth staining. This study aimed to evaluate the remineralization potential and aesthetic effects of novel, green-synthesized nano-silver fluoride (NSF) on artificial white spot lesions in primary teeth in comparison to 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and silver diamine fluoride/potassium iodide (SDF/KI). Materials and Methods: NSF was synthesized using green tea extract. Sixty primary teeth specimens with artificial enamel lesions were randomly divided into five groups depending on the applied material: 38% SDF, 38% SDF/KI, single and double application of NSF, and control group. Treatments were followed by pH cycling. Surface microhardness and photographic analysis were conducted to assess remineralization and staining. Statistical analysis was conducted using non-parametric tests including Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction. Results: The greatest increase in microhardness was observed in the group receiving double NSF application. Its remineralizing potential was comparable to that of 38% SDF/KI, with no statistically significant difference (p = 1.000). Importantly, NSF-treated samples exhibited no teeth discoloration, unlike the black staining observed in SDF and SDF/KI groups. Conclusions: Green-synthesized NSF is a promising alternative to conventional SDF and SDF/KI, offering remineralization benefits without compromising aesthetics. The eco-friendly formulation and non-staining properties support its potential for clinical use in pediatric dentistry. Full article

Silver nanoparticles have unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that make them attractive for medical applications. They have gained attention in dentistry for their potential use in caries management. This study reviews the different synthesis methods of silver nanoparticles and the application of them for caries management. Silver nanoparticles are tiny silver and are typically less than 100 nanometres in size. They have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, making them highly reactive and allowing them to interact with bacteria and other materials at the molecular level. Silver nanoparticles have low toxicity and biocompatibility. Researchers have employed various methods to synthesise silver nanoparticles, including chemical, physical, and biological methods. By controlling the process, silver nanoparticles have defined sizes, shapes, and surface properties for wide use. Silver nanoparticles exhibit strong antibacterial properties, capable of inhibiting a broad range of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. They inhibit the growth of cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans. They can disrupt bacterial cell membranes, interfere with enzyme activity, and inhibit bacterial replication. Silver nanoparticles can inhibit biofilm formation, reducing the risk of caries development. Additionally, nano silver fluoride prevents dental caries by promoting tooth remineralisation. They can interact with the tooth structure and enhance the deposition of hydroxyapatite, aiding in repairing early-stage carious lesions. Silver nanoparticles can also be incorporated into dental restorative materials such as composite resins and glass ionomer cements. The incorporation can enhance the material’s antibacterial properties, reducing the risk of secondary caries and improving the longevity of the restoration. Full article

Dentists used silver-containing solutions for deep cavity disinfection before restoration. This review aims to identify the silver-containing solutions reported in the literature for deep cavity disinfection and summarize their effects on dental pulp. An extensive search was performed using the search words “(silver) AND (dental pulp OR pulp)” in ProQuest, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science to identify English publications on silver-containing solutions for cavity conditioning. The pulpal response to the included silver-containing solutions was summarized. The initial search identified 4112 publications and 14 publications met the inclusion criteria. Silver fluoride, silver nitrate, silver diamine nitrate, silver diamine fluoride, and nano-silver fluoride were used in deep cavities for antimicrobial purposes. Indirect silver fluoride application induced pulp inflammation and reparative dentine in most cases, and pulp necrosis in some cases. Direct silver nitrate application caused blood clots and a wide inflammatory band in the pulp, whilst indirect silver nitrate application caused hypoplasia in shallow cavities and partial pulp necrosis in deep cavities. Direct silver diamine fluoride application induced pulp necrosis, while indirect silver diamine fluoride application induced a mild inflammatory response and reparative dentine formation. No evidence of the dental pulpal response to silver diamine nitrate or nano-silver fluoride was available in the literature. Full article

Topical cariostatic agents have become a reasonable alternative for managing dental caries in young children. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a practical topical approach to arrest caries and avoid extensive and risky dental treatment. However, the literature demonstrates a parental hesitation towards accepting SDF because of black unaesthetic tooth discolouration following application. The rapid oxidation of ionic silver darkens demineralised tooth structure permanently. In this regard, nano-metallic antimicrobials could augment or substitute for silver, and thereby enhance SDF aesthetic performance. Recently, biomedical research has drawn attention to selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) due to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral potencies. Various in vitro studies have examined the effect of SeNPs on the virulence of bacteria. This narrative review explores practical issues when using SDF and suggests future directions to develop it, focusing on antimicrobial metals. Several methods are described that could be followed to reduce the discolouration concern, including the use of nanoparticles of silver, of silver fluoride, or of selenium or other metals with antimicrobial actions. There could also be value in using remineralising agents other than fluoride, such as NPs of hydroxyapatite. There could be variations made to formulations in order to lower the levels of silver and fluoride in the SDF or even to replace one or both of the silver and fluoride components completely. Moreover, since oxidation processes appear central to the chemistry of the staining, adding SeNPs which have antioxidant actions could have an anti-staining benefit; SeNPs could be used for their antimicrobial actions as well. Future research should address the topic of selenium chemistry to optimise how SeNPs would be used with or in place of ionic silver. Incorporating other antimicrobial metals as nanoparticles should also be explored, taking into account the optimal physicochemical parameters for each of these. Full article

The current work focuses on the development of a novel electrospun silk fibroin (SF) nonwoven mat as a GTR membrane with antibacterial, biomineralization and biocompatible properties. The γ-poly glutamic acid (γ-PGA)-capped nano silver fluoride (NSF) and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) were first synthesized, which were dip-coated onto electrospun silk fibroin mats (NSF-SF and SDF-SF). UV-Vis spectroscopy and TEM depicted the formation of silver nanoparticles. NSF-SF and SDF-SF demonstrated antibacterial properties (against Porphyromonas gingivalis) with 3.1 and 6.7 folds higher relative to SF, respectively. Post-mineralization in simulated body fluid, the NSF-SF effectively promoted apatite precipitation (Ca/P ~1.67), while the SDF-SF depicted deposition of silver nanoparticles, assessed by SEM-EDS. According to the FTIR-ATR deconvolution analysis, NSF-SF portrayed ~75% estimated hydroxyapatite crystallinity index (CI), whereas pure SF and SDF-SF demonstrated ~60%. The biocompatibility of NSF-SF was ~82% when compared to the control, while SDF-coated samples revealed in vitro cytotoxicity, further needing in vivo studies for a definite conclusion. Furthermore, the NSF-SF revealed the highest tensile strength of 0.32 N/mm and 1.76% elongation at break. Therefore, it is substantiated that the novel bioactive and antibacterial NSF-SF membranes can serve as a potential candidate, shedding light on further in-depth analysis for GTR applications. Full article

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a piezoelectric material with outstanding physical and mechanical properties. The piezoelectric properties depend on the β-phase content of this polymer, while the physical and mechanical properties depend on the morphology and degree of crystallinity of the material. Silver has antibacterial effects, and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have large surface areas rich in electrons. In this paper, we produced electrospun PVDF fibrous mats that contained different contents of Ag-NPs between 0% and 1.0%. The β-content in PVDF was found to increase by about 8% for Ag-NPs content of 0.4–0.6%. The electrospun fiber mats had a higher β-crystalline content, nano-pores were visible on the fiber surfaces, and the tensile strength and thermal stability were improved. Dielectric analysis indicated weak interfacial adhesion between the PVDF and Ag-NPs. Good piezoelectric response was observed in the electrospun fibers containing 0.4% AgNPs, which shows a good correlation between the β-crystalline phase content of the composites and its energy-harvesting application. Full article