Project: Safe Aesthetic Bioactive Dental Restorative Technology
Globally there are 2 types of restorative material that dentists use to treat tooth decay or caries: amalgam and composite. For several decades the focus has been on the biocompatibility of amalgam due to its toxic mercury component. This issue has contributed to the increased popularity of composite as dental restorative material. In fact, in the EU and the United States dental amalgam will be phased out legally over the next few years, providing composite the opportunity to grasp the reCOing parts of the global market._x000D__x000D_The resin-based composite has been used for about 35 years in dentistry practices for restorative use. The usp of composite is its perfect similarity to natural teeth. Although its manufacturers have done their best to optimize the physical properties, scientific studies have been revealing that composite has a toxic and mutagenic nature and it releases free radicals. Compared to amalgam’s mercury, which leaves the body, the hazardous substances that are released by composite accumulate in vital organs like the kidneys, liver and brains to reCO inside these organs for the rest of your life. Recent studies also showed that toxic substances even penetrate the dentist's gloves, so they are exposed to these effects on a daily basis._x000D__x000D_Supported by the fact that more and more facts about the toxic nature of composite will reach the governmental health departments, dentists and the public, it is a matter of time before legislation will be prepared and effectuated to ban composite . The first step has already been taken: the use of Bisphenol A, one of the toxic components of composite is officially prohibited for young children’s products and packaging products. However, banning of composite can only be at stake when there is an alternative, and so far there is none._x000D__x000D_Dentists have been educated to use composite and most of them have been using composite for many years in their dental practice. There is no alternative that provides the excellent appearance that patients desire. Some attempts were made to develop a new generation restorative product, but none of them were successful as a result of poor aesthetical or mechanical properties and the strong lobby of the composite supply chain._x000D__x000D_An independent consortium of 2 SME’s intends to develop this alternative to the hazardous composite that will turn the weaknesses of the previous attempts into strong competitive advantages; a Dutch chemical and medical oriented SME, GCP Dental BV, that developed the first generation of glass based dental products for permanent use in the past and Cera Dynamics Ltd, an English specialist manufacturer of technical glass products join forces._x000D__x000D_Strengthened by a convincing Proof of Concept and by the support of an international group of Universities, their goal is to develop a new generation of non-hazardous dental restorative material that provides patients with beautiful teeth and superb mechanical properties. Moreover, this material will be able to repair itself during its life time._x000D__x000D_This project will bring about novel techniques and materials as bio-compatible substances, (in)organic and fibrous materials. These will be converted into a new technology that will provide fast and error free applicability, which is necessary to be successful in a cost oriented market in which dentists only have some calculated minutes to treat a patient. In the next years chair time will even be shortened and “every minute counts”._x000D__x000D_Owing to national priorities and allocation of budgets in the past, the science of dentistry in the UK has preceded its competitors in the last decades. The scientific level of experimental dentistry in the UK is unmatched in the world. To be successful with its breakthrough technology the Consortium needed to tie the Queen Mary University of London and the University of Warwick to her consortium in a subcontractor role. But that's not all: a Scientific Advisory Board has been formed to advise and evaluate the approach and findings of the project. This Advisory Board consists of an expert group of professors in dentistry, connected to international universities._x000D__x000D_Meanwhile, an estimated 5 billion people of the global population suffer from tooth decay. In industrial countries dental disease treatment accounts for between 5% and 10% of total health care costs, exceeding the cost of treating cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis._x000D__x000D_Due to the fact that current market players are tied to composite and amalgam, the new technology is expected to be an eye opener to the global dentistry industry. With a strong communication- and marketing strategy that combines push activities to convince dentists with pull initiatives to inform patients and relevant organizations, the technology is expected to penetrate the continental markets. The technology itself will offer potential for lucrative spin-offs which seem within the grasp of the Consortium._x000D_
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Acronym
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SAB-DRT
(Reference Number: 8303)
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Duration
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01/01/2014 - 31/12/2016
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Project Topic
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Composite is the most popular dental restoration material, although studies showed it is hazardous to patients. Because there is no alternative, composite reCOs in use. This project aims to develop a safe restoration material with superior mechanical properties providing patients beautiful teeth.
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 10
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Project partner
