Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition No.3, 2017

4 UK NEWS Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 3/2017 Reduced peri-implantitis risk Plymouth researchers successfully test effectiveness of a dual-layered silver–HA nano-coating on titanium alloy implants By DTI implants, PLYMOUTH, UK: Investigating the effect of a new approach using a combination of silver, titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite (HA) nano-coatings on the surface of titanium alloy re- searchers from Plymouth have found that the method was suc- cessful inhibiting bacterial growth and reducing the forma- tion of bacterial biofilm. In addi- tion, the coating created a surface with anti-biofilm properties, thus supporting successful integra- tion of the implants into sur- rounding bone and accelerating bone healing. in dental One of the main reasons for dental implant failure is peri-im- plantitis, an inflammatory process affecting the soft and hard tissue surrounding implants caused by pathogenic microbes that develop into biofilms. Current ap- proaches to managing the develop- ment of biofilms include applica- tion of antimicrobial coatings loaded with antibiotics or chlorhex- idine. However, these are usually only short-term measures. In addi- tion, chlorhexidine has been re- ported to be potentially toxic to hu- man cells. Investigating a new approach to the prevention of biofilm, research- ers from the School of Biological Sciences, Peninsula Schools of Medi- cine and Dentistry, and School of En- gineering at the University of Plym- outh tested the effectiveness of a du- al-layered silver–HA nano-coating on titanium alloy medical implants. The antibacterial performance of the coating was quantitatively assessed by measuring the growth of Strepto- coccus sanguinis, the proportion of live and dead cells, and lactate production by the microbes over 24 hours. The results showed that the combination successfully inhibited bacterial growth and reduced the formation of bacterial biofilm on the surface of the implants by 97.5 per cent. Uncoated controls and tita- nium dioxide nano-coatings showed no antibacterial effect. According to the researchers, no dissolution was detected for the HA nano-coatings. Thus, application of a dual-layered silver–HA nano-coating on titanium alloy implants further created a surface with anti-biofilm properties without compromising the HA biocompatibility required for successful osseointegration and ac- celerated bone healing. “In this cross-faculty study we have identified the means to protect dental implants against the most common cause of their failure. The potential of our work for increased patient comfort and satisfaction, and reduced costs, is great and we look forward to translating our find- ings into clinical practice,” com- mented Prof. Christopher Tredwin, Head of the Peninsula Dental School. In the next step, the eff ectiveness of the approach needs to be tested in vivo, according to the re- searchers. The study, titled “Antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition by surface modified titanium alloy medical implants following applica- tion of silver, titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite nanocoatings”, was published online on 17 March in the Nanotoxicology Journal. British dentist known as “World’s fittest old-age pensioner” dies at age 97 Kings College dental researcher receives international honours By DTI SAN FRANCISCO, US: One of the world’s most important awards for techniques to measure erosive tooth wear in the prosthodontics field. Over the past 20 years, among other things, he conducted also been instrumental in bring- ing teaching on implants to un- dergraduates and at a level that is consistent with the expectations Dr Charles Eugster (Photograph courtesy of Tarsh Consulting, UK) By DTI LONDON, UK: Most people of ad- vanced age tend to prefer activi- ties like gardening or watching TV. Not Dr Charles Eugster; just last year, the 97-year-old Brit broke the 200 m world record in the over- 95s age group. This week, the “World’s fittest old-age pensioner” and veteran dental surgeon died due to complications after heart failure, according to his publicist. In addition to the 200 m re- cord he broke at the 2016 British Masters Indoor Championships in London, Eugster holds the 400 m record and several long-jump re- cords for his age group. Recently, he competed at the World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor in Daegu in South Korea. Born in London just after World War I, he graduated with a dental surgery degree from Guy’s Hospital in 1948. In addition to this, he obtained degrees from universities in Zurich in Switzer- land, where he also temporarily worked as a clinical instructor, Heidelberg in Germany and Chi- cago in the US. Eugster was in pri- vate practice until 1975 and con- tinued to publish a newsletter on clinical dentistry in three lan- guages for three decades after his retirement. Earlier this year, he published his first book, Age is Just a Number. He gave his last interview on ITV’s This Morning programme, during which he criticised the way ageing is treated in today’s society and spoke out in favour of lifelong learning. “We, along with everyone who knew Charles, are incredibly sad to lose such a truly inspirational fig- ure,” his publicist said on Face- book. “He has shown, by remarka- ble example, how fantastic life can be in older old age. It has been a privilege to work with and learn from Charles.” research in dental medicine has been given to an academic from the UK. Prof. David Bartlett from King’s College London Dental In- stitute was presented with the Dis- tinguished Scientist Award in Re- search in Prosthodontics and Im- plants at the recent General Ses- sion and Exhibition of the International Association for Den- tal Research (IADR) in San Fran- cisco in the US. With the award, one of the highest honours bestowed by the research association, Bartlett was recognised for outstanding re- search accomplishments, includ- ing conducting laboratory investi- gations and developing clinical internationally three large prevalence studies and collaborated to publish the only systematic re- views on that particular topic in the literature. He also published data from a study of 1,010 18- to 30-year-olds, together with an assessment of risk, and undertook a pan-Euro- pean study of more than 3,500 participants to establish the risk factors of erosion. Currently Head of Prostho- dontics at King’s College London Dental Institute, Bartlett has de- veloped teaching in the specialty to make it more relevant to mod- ern general dental practice. He has of dental students, the institute said. and In addition to research in implants, prosthodontics IADR honours research in 16 more categories, including periodontol- ogy and regenerative dentistry. The awards are sponsored by prominent dental companies, such as Dentsply Sirona, DMG and Unilever. IADR held its recent meeting in conjunction with the 46th an- nual meeting of the American As- sociation for Dental Research and the 41st annual meeting of the Ca- nadian Association for Dental Re- search in March in San Francisco.

Pages Overview