Nanodiamonds May Promote Long-Term Success of Root Canal Treatment
Nanodiamonds, tiny carbon particles so small that millions can fit on the head of a pin, may provide a therapeutic barrier that can prevent infection following root canal therapy, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry and Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Nanodiamonds, tiny carbon particles so small that millions can fit on the head of a pin, may provide a therapeutic barrier that can prevent infection following root canal therapy, according to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry and Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. In their paper, “Clinical Validation of a Nanodiamond-Embedded Thermoplastic Biomaterial,” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team notes clinical trials show nanodiamonds helped protect disinfected root canals after the nerve and pulp were removed.
The team tested nanodiamond-embedded gutta-percha (NDGP) in subjects undergoing root canal therapy to determine if combining nanodiamonds with gutta-percha could help block bacteria from infiltrating the tooth after the procedure — potentially leading to infection and the need for retreatment. Nanodiamonds have been shown to be an effective delivery agent for a wide range of drugs, and NDGP has the potential to provide enhanced protection in the event gutta-percha used to fill endodontically treated canals allows pockets or breaks where bacteria can infiltrate and proliferate. The researchers, who report the test subjects healed without subsequent infection, also note that NDGP proved more resistant to buckling and breaking than conventional gutta-percha.
