
Nanos and dental care

Nanos and dental care
By the AVICENN team – Last added July 2022
What nanomaterials can be found in dental products?
In the field of dentistry as in other fields, it is difficult to distinguish today between “promises” still in the research & development stage and nano applications that are actually commercialized. Nanoparticles have been used in dental composites for decades.
In France, the 2017 R-Nano report card counts three “entities” (companies) that reported nano for “manufacture of instruments and supplies for medical and dental use.”
It allows the identification of several substances declared in nanoparticulate form as being used in the manufacture of “dental products” (or “for dental use”): aluminum oxide, iron oxide, silica (without however providing further details on the manufacturers or the type of products, properties or quantity of the registered nano substances).
According to Gardon-Mollard, Ph.D., a doctor of Dental Surgery, nanoparticlesWho‘s1Afraid of Dental Material Toxicity, The Dentalist, October 2019:
- in sealing cements (zinc oxyphosphates, CVIMAR…)
- in calcium silicates (Biodentine)
- in impression materials (elastomers)
- in composites and adhesives, dispersed mainly during polishing operations if these are carried out without spray or vacuum.

- In French :
- Nanoparticles and Dental Biomaterials, Elisabeth Dursun, 21st Public Health Day, ASPBD, November 4, 2021 (from the 33rd minute)
- Invention: Bringing smiles back with nanomaterials, European Patent Office (EPO), April 2021
- Nanoparticles – Part 1: Description, potential health risks and applications in dentistry, Julie Gorse, Jean-Pierre Attal, Élisabeth Dursun, BioMatériaux Cliniques, 6(1), March 2021
- Nanoparticles in odontology, Julie Gorse, thesis, University of Paris, UFR of Odontology – Montrouge, November 2020
- Development in Iran of dental adhesive manufacturing technology, IRNA (Iran), September 2020
- Who is afraid of the Toxicity of Dental Materials?The Dentalist, October 2019
- Contribution of nanotechnologies to the treatment of periodontitis: systematic literature review, Thesis by Nicolas Moignot, Université Paris Descartes, Sciences du Vivant, 2019
- An army of microrobots to clean plaque, Futura Sciences, May 2, 2019: “Iron oxide nanoparticle-based microrobots can remove bacterial biofilms while being precisely directed by magnets”
- “Forever” fillings now a reality?, Sputnik France, January 31, 2018: Canadian researchers have developed a new type of filling that protects teeth from microbial attack thanks to antibiotic nanoparticles embedded in the filling, the journal Nature Communications announced
- Nanos: a filling that kills bacteria and remineralizes the tooth, Techniques de l’ingénieur, May 2012: calcium phosphate nanoparticles (to regenerate tooth minerals) and silver nanoparticles (antibacterial).
- Nanoparticles in dental products, Candulor, date ?
- Biological evaluation of medical devices containing nanomaterials, Afssaps (now ANSM), February 2011 (“Dental and orthopedic products”, pages 21-24)
- In English:
- UQ’s advanced nanotechnology to improve success of dental implants, The University of Queensland, June 11, 2020
- Applications of nano-materials in diverse dentistry regimes, Foong L et al, RSC Adv. 10: 15430-15460, 2020
- Nanoparticles as Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Remineralizing Agents in Oral Care Cosmetics: A Review of the Current Situation, Nanomaterials, Carrouel F et al, 10(1), 140, 2020
- Mathym’s products, currently used in dental products (France), date ?
- Researchers use antibacterial nanoparticles to prolong dental restorations, Dental Tribune, May 10, 2019
- “A safe and effective way to whiten teeth with nanoparticles,“ Nanowerk with American Chemical Society (ACS), July 2018
- Nanoparticles used in dentistry: A review, Priyadarsini S et al, Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research, 8(1): 58-67, 2018
- Metal TiO2 nanotube layers for the treatment of dental implant infections, Roguska A et al, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2018
- Application of Nanomaterials in Dentistry, Qasim S., Rehman IU, in: Micro and Nanomanufacturing, Volume II, Jackson M., Ahmed W. (eds) Springer, Cham, 2018
- to complete…
What is known about the associated risks?
Routes of exposure and risks
Few “general public” resources on the risks specifically related to nanoparticles in dental products are available online.
According to the professionals, the nanoparticles are confined in a resin that, once hardened, prevents the nanoparticles from coming off. Only a very small number of nanoparticles would be likely to be ingested as a result of wear or abrasion of products – but in much smaller proportions than those fromfood or toothpaste, lipsticks and lip balms, etc.
But what is true for the consumer is less true for professionals: as the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work points out, ” Milling, drilling, grinding and polishing of applied medical materials containing nanomaterials during dental and surgical procedures represent possible exposure situations. This is the case, for example, in the treatment of caries in dental care, where fillings containing nanomaterials (e.g., nanoceramic fillings) are usually placed and adjusted to the anatomical shape by grinding the surface with high-speed tools. During this procedure, there is a risk that nanoparticles will disperse into the air and be inhaled by the patient and medical personnel.”2Nanomaterials in healthcare: occupational hazards and their prevention, EU OSHA, E-facts 73, 2013.
These situations of exposure to nanomaterials exist throughout the life cycle of the material. The prosthetist, during the elaboration of the material, can be exposed to it by inhalation. In the case of polishing or removal of a material, it is the patient and the practitioner who may be exposed, by inhalation – and to a lesser extent by swallowing for the patient3Cf. presentation by Prof. Elisabeth Dursun,“Nanoparticles and dental biomaterials” at the 21st Public Health Day, organized by ASPBD on November 4, 2021, 0:45′..
However, it is still too rare to see real benefit/risk approaches and prevention seems to be very weak to date.
- In French :
- Nanoparticles and Dental Biomaterials, Elisabeth Dursun, 21st Public Health Day, ASPBD, November 4, 2021 (from the 33rd minute)
- Guide du cabinet de santé écoresponsable, Alice Baras, Presses de l’EHESP, October 2021
- Eco-responsible approach in the dental office, Alice Baras, Association Dentaire Francaise (ADF), September 2021
- Nanoparticles in odontology, Julie Gorse, thesis, University of Paris, UFR of Odontology – Montrouge, November 2020
- Who is afraid of the Toxicity of Dental Materials?The Dentalist, October 2019
- After food, the suspension of titanium dioxide in toothpastes and medicines?AVICENN, Veillenanos.fr, March 2019
- Investigation report on the presence of titanium dioxide in toothpastes, Act for the Environment, March 2019
- Nanoparticles in dental products, Candulor, date ?
- In English:
- Progress of Nanomaterials in Preventative and Restorative Dentistry, Rattan S et al, Recent Progress in Materials, 2022
-
Nanoparticles as Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Remineralizing Agents in Oral Care Cosmetics: A Review of the Current Situation, Nanomaterials, Carrouel F et al, 10(1), 140, 2020
- Use of nanomaterials in dentistry: covariates of risk and benefit perceptions among dentists and dental hygienists in Norway, Xenaki V et al, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 78(2), 2020
- Nanomaterials in dentistry: a cornerstone or a black box?, Pokrowiecki R et al, Nanomedicine, 13(6), 2018
- Can degradation products released from dental implants affect peri-implant tissues, Noronha Oliveira M et al, Journal of periondontal research, 53(1): 1-11, February 2018
- Histologic investigation of cytotoxicity of nanocomposite particles used for direct restorations in dentistry in rat models, Gimaletdinova AM et al, Kazan medical journal, 98(5), 2017
- Biological evaluation of medical devices containing nanomaterials, Afssaps (now ANSM), February 2011 (“Dental and orthopedic products”, pages 21-24)
- to complete…
What precautionary measures?
Some precautionary operating measures can be adopted during milling, polishing, etc. operations to limit, in fine, the exposure to nanomaterials. Élisabeth Dursun cites some of them in her intervention of November 2021Cf.4intervention of Prof. Élisabeth Dursun, “Nanoparticles and dental biomaterials” organized by the ASPBD on November 4, 2021 during the 21st day of public health, based on recommendations of the French-speaking Society of Dental Biomaterials (SFBD) :
- Carve out the restoration in detail before setting, to reduce the amount of material milled for finishing and polishing
- use water to cool and vacuum more efficiently during polishing
- ventilate the premises frequently
- protect staff:
- Wear a FFP3 mask when polishing, as well as glasses
- ask the assistants to move away during the polishing
- prefer powder/liquid capsule systems
- use the dam for finishing when the occlusion is not involved
- pay particular attention to vulnerable patients (asthma, chronic bronchial obstruction, etc.)
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Les dernières actualités
D’autres fiches pour approfondir
Les prochains RDV nanos
- International Conference from June 22 to 23, 2023
- Organizers: OECD, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection(BMUV)
- Website: https: //www.bmuv.de/…
- From July 3 to 15, 2023 in São Paulo
- Organizer: FABESP
- Application from November 18 to February 05. Registration fees and travel expenses are covered.
- Speakers: see the complete program here.
This sheet was originally created in February 2019
Notes & références
- 1Afraid of Dental Material Toxicity, The Dentalist, October 2019
- 2Nanomaterials in healthcare: occupational hazards and their prevention, EU OSHA, E-facts 73, 2013
- 3Cf. presentation by Prof. Elisabeth Dursun,“Nanoparticles and dental biomaterials” at the 21st Public Health Day, organized by ASPBD on November 4, 2021, 0:45′.
- 4intervention of Prof. Élisabeth Dursun, “Nanoparticles and dental biomaterials” organized by the ASPBD on November 4, 2021 during the 21st day of public health