Evaluation of antibacterial and remineralizing nanocomposite and adhesive in rat tooth cavity model

Novel antibacterial and remineralizing dental restorative materials were tested in rat teeth in vivo for the first time. Composite and adhesive containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) and antibacterial dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) exhibited milder pulpal inflammation and much greater tertiary dentin formation, than a commercial adhesive and composite control. Therefore, the novel nanocomposite and adhesive containing NACP and DMADDM are promising as a new therapeutic restorative system to not only combat oral pathogens and biofilm acids as shown previously, but also facilitate the healing of the dentin-pulp complex.