Nanodiamonds Could Put a Sparkle in Your Smile

Published:October 10th, 2013

Image courtesy of Alicia SolarioEvery girl knows diamonds are forever, and although they’re more traditionally used in jewellery than in teeth, a recent study has shown they could really put a sparkle in your smile. Researchers from the UCLA School of Dentistry in collaboration with researchers from the NanoCarbon Research Institute in Japan have discovered that nanodiamonds could improve the longevity of dental implants. Nanodiamonds are extremely tiny diamonds that are produced as a side effect of conventional mining processes, so they’re not really like the sparkly ones you wear on your fingers.

Nanodiamonds and their use in Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great invention and are regarded by many dentists as being the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. However it is quite a complex technique and it’s not suitable for everyone. Even though implant surgery has a success rate of around 95%, certain people are more at risk of implant failure. For instance people who have osteonecrosis can find their dental implants fail.

Osteonecrosis is a disease that can often occur as a side effect of treatment for cancer, and it causes bones to break down as they no longer receive the necessary nutrients from blood flowing through the bone. It’s something that can be quite debilitating and anyone who has dental implants and osteonecrosis can face having costly treatments to try to save them. It can involve quite invasive surgery designed to place the growth promoting proteins in the jawbone on a special type of sponge. It’s been found that nanodiamonds could be used to deliver these proteins in a way that is far less invasive, for example through an oral rinse or through an injection. This is great news for anyone who has this condition, and it’s thought that nanodiamonds could be used in a range of other applications including dentistry.

It is likely to be quite some time before this new technique is widely available, but in the meantime if you’re in good general health and have one or two teeth missing then it’s well worth thinking about dental implants as a way of replacing them. It’s true that the overall cost can be a little higher, but studies have shown dental implants to be cost-effective in the longer term, and if they are properly cared for they could last for many years or even your entire life.

Looking For a More Conventional Way to Brighten Your Smile?
If you already have a healthy set of teeth and gums then you’re probably looking at more conventional ways of putting a sparkle into your smile. One of the easiest ways to do so is to use one of the many home teeth whitening kits on the market today. These are perfectly safe provided you get a dental checkup beforehand. This is important as it will help ensure your teeth and gums don’t have any signs of diseases that could otherwise lead to unwanted sensitivity from the bleaching gel. These types of case can be extremely effective if you use them wisely, and it’s important to make sure you follow the instructions to the letter as they are designed to give you the best possible results and to leave you with a gleaming white smile that has been safely achieved.


About the author

Alison, is a UK born and educated dental professional with over 25 years experience.

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