| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T22: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Next Generation Biomaterials
|
| Presentation Title |
Electrocatalytic Probe for the Disinfection of Dental Pulp |
| Author(s) |
Krista Carlson, John Colombo, Jerry R. Howard |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jerry R. Howard |
| Abstract Scope |
Pulpitis results from the attachment of a diverse population of microbes to teeth and dental pulp surfaces, which then form complex, multi-organism biofilms. Currently, the most effective way to remove biofilms is through mechanical disruption as their complex extracellular matrix renders them resistant to pharmacologically-based treatments. However, direct mechanical disruption is challenging because it is difficult to access and remove the biofilm without damaging the in situ dental pulp tissue. We have developed an electrocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based probe, which could be used by the general dentist to provide localized delivery of oxidants directly to biofilms. The probe was applied to a mixture of salivary bacteria and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs). After a 15 s exposure, bacterial cells were destroyed and maximum destruction occurred after 100 s. There was no significant apoptosis or necrosis at any exposure time (up to 300 s) of the SHED cells. |