Nanospheres and Dentistry?

By Christopher Moore

You probably thought the first real application of nano-scale structures would be for computing, didn’t you?

It appears researchers are studying ways to use nanospheres to fill the tiny holes we all have in our teeth. The result: stronger, less sensitive choppers.

ScienceBlog reports:

Preliminary research presented today at the Institute of Physics conference EMAG-NANO 2005 shows that creating tiny spheres of a ceramic material called hydroxyapatite could be a long term solution or cure for sensitive teeth.

Hydroxyapatite is a ceramic material, and apparently plays well with tooth and bone, which is why it is currently widely used afor bone grafts and dental coatings.

The problem? The research team has not been able to synthesize hydroxyapatite into nano-spheres. Preliminary studies have been carried out using silica nanospheres (SiO2).

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