New stable tooth replacement made of glass ceramic

New very stable dental prosthesis made of glass ceramic

07.03.2012

Scientists from Jena have succeeded in developing a novel extremely stable dental prosthesis made of glass ceramic. Prosthetics companies are already queuing up. The glass ceramic is to be used in addition to dentures possibly as a bone substitute in the human body.

Super ceramic is five times stronger than previous dentures
Christian Rüssel and his team from the Otto Schott Institute for Glass Chemistry at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena have succeeded in developing a super ceramic for dentures. The scientists are talking about a revolution in the production of crowns, bridges and inlays, because the new material is not only much more stable, it also looks more natural. „We have about five times the strength of comparable denture ceramics available today, "explains the director of the institute, and prosthetic companies quickly became aware of the invention and are already queuing up.

The requirements for artificial teeth are next to a high stability even with the hardest food, durability, natural appearance, low weight and affordability. In addition, they must not trigger allergic reactions. The new glass-ceramic restorations largely fulfill these requirements. So far, the strength was the biggest obstacle. „What the hardest material of the human body, the natural enamel, has to withstand, also applies to dentures such as inlays and bridges. "The material previously used for dentures in terms of strength and stability is particularly problematic for bridges However, ceramics have fulfilled this requirement, and the researchers have succeeded in making the glass ceramic translucent. „The enamel is also partially translucent, which should be the ceramic as well“, reports the glass chemist. With the new material, the dentures look much more natural.

Modified starting materials give glass ceramic strength and translucency
Their glass materials have significantly improved properties compared to previously used materials due to their starting materials and their processing. Magnesium, aluminum and silicon oxide are heated in a controlled manner to obtain their nanocrystalline structure. The materials are first melted at 1,500 degrees Celsius. Then cool these are finely minced. This is followed by repeated melting and cooling of the material. Then the glass ceramic is heated to 1,000 degrees Celsius, resulting in nanocrystals. „If the material crystallizes too much, it becomes opaque and looks like gypsum, "explains the trunk.

The average size of the crystals is a maximum of 100 nanometers, which corresponds to one millionth of a millimeter. „They are too small to scatter the light strongly, and therefore the ceramic translucent acts as a natural tooth, "says the glass chemist.It will probably take some time before the glass ceramic from Jena is used in German dentures. „If we come to an agreement with a company, the material will be on the market in two years' time, explains Rüssel, adding that the coloring of the material is still a small obstacle, because the patients want a denture that matches the color of the other teeth Team are currently working on a corresponding color scale.

The glass chemists from Jena have been working on solid ceramics for a long time, which could be used for example in new hard disks for computers. But even a use for artificial bones in the human body is conceivable. The scientists have already produced auditory bones, skull plates and wedges for hip deformity from glass-ceramic.

Those who care for their teeth rarely need dentures
Studies show that good dental care pays off into old age. Dr. Jens Thomsen, prophylaxis dentist from Hamburg, explains that teeth and gums change with age. Nevertheless, one could say with certainty that teeth would not be easy due to the age. A Swedish long-term study proves this: each patient lost less than one tooth during thorough dental care within 30 years. This also applied to subjects who were between 50 and 80 years old at the end of the study.

In addition to dental floss, small interdental brushes, which can penetrate with their microfine bristles into almost all interstices, also belong to the thorough dental care. Their handling is often easier than flossing. In both cases, the application is worthwhile, because who starts early with a thorough dental care, not only avoids expensive dental bills, but also reduces the risk of painful inflammation, bleeding gums, bad breath and tooth decay.

Dental care should start in children from the first tooth
It is a misconception that milk teeth do not have to be treated as thoroughly as they will fail anyway. Thomsen explains that healthy deciduous teeth are the basis for healthy teeth in adulthood. He advises parents to get their children used to thorough dental care as early as possible, preferably with the first tooth. When tooth decay occurs, it is almost always an old tooth decay that breaks out again. People who did not have tooth decay in childhood would generally not get it later.

To care for the first teeth, for example, milk tooth wipes could be used, which should be used after each meal. For this, parents simply clean the teeth and gums of their children with a cloth that is placed around the finger. (Ag)

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Picture: Claudia Heck