Caries-Prone Primary Teeth: A Hidden Reason and Prophylactic Treatment in the Viewpoint of Materials Science.

Dental caries, the most prevalent chronic disease across all age groups, has a high prevalence, particularly among children. However, there is no specific and effective treatment for the prevention of caries in primary teeth (Pr.T.), which stems from a lack of knowledge regarding the basic nature of the tooth surface. Herein, we observed that the adhesion energies of the caries-related bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis to Pr.T were approximately 10 and 5.5 times higher than those to permanent teeth (Pe.T). A lower degree of mineralization and more hydrophilic characteristics of the Pr.T enamel account for this discrepancy. Accordingly, we proposed that the on-target modification of both hydroxyapatite and organic components on Pr.T by dual modification would render a sufficient hydration layer. This resulted in an approximately 11-time decrease in bacterial adhesion energy after treatment. In contrast, a single hydroxyapatite modification on Pe.T and young permanent teeth (Y.Pe.T) was sufficient to achieve a similar effect. Theoretical simulation further verified the rationality of the approach. Our findings may help understand the reason for Pr.T being caries-prone and provide references for treatment using resin restorations. This strategy offers valuable insights into daily oral hygiene and dental prophylactic treatment in children.

Protein-mediated anti-adhesion surface against oral bacteria.

Biomedical materials, such as orthopedic biomaterials, have a great impact on improving life quality and self-esteem of human beings. However, the usage of fixed appliances during dental treatment often increases the difficulty of oral cleaning and enlarges the adhesion opportunity of oral bacteria. Furthermore, the existing anti-adhesion coatings, such as polyethylene glycol derivatives and zwitterionic polymers, have not been universally accepted in the oral environment due to their intrinsic problems. Herein, inspired by the anti-adhesion capability of bovine serum albumin, we report a facile protein-based anti-bacterial surface, showing excellent anti-adhesion performance toward oral bacteria. This protein-mediated anti-adhesion strategy may provide a promising clue for developing new anti-bacterial biomaterials, such as dental fixed appliances, restorative materials and medical mouthwashes.