Dental materials with antibiofilm properties

Area of Science:

• Oral microbiology
• Biomaterials science
• Dental materials science

Background:

• Oral bacteria form biofilms on teeth and dental materials, impacting oral health.
• Dental materials play a crucial role in restoring oral function and preventing biofilm formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the features of oral biofilm formation on various surfaces.
• To evaluate the antibiofilm properties of dental materials.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an electronic literature search from 1987 to 2013.
• Utilized PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google search engines.
• Keywords included: antibiofilm, dental material, oral biofilm, and restorative material.

Main Results:

• 179 citations were selected, highlighting biofilm formation on hard tissues and diverse dental materials.
• Biofilms contribute to dental hard tissue destruction and infection.
• New dental materials with antimicrobial designs show enhanced antibiofilm properties.

Conclusions:

• Many dental materials inhibit bacterial adhesion, growth, or kill microbes in biofilms.
• Incorporating antibacterial agents can enhance antibiofilm activity without compromising mechanical properties.
• Further randomized, double-blind clinical studies are necessary to validate long-term efficacy.