When you have a cavity, your dentist will typically fill it with a composite material to help prevent the cavity from developing further. Standard fillings can last for a few years, but they're often prone to wear and tear and can even fall out completely in some cases. New technology is being developed that can make cavity fillings last much longer through the use of a material called bioactive glass. Here is some information about this new dental development.

What Is Bioactive Glass?

Bioactive glass is a crushed glass that can interact well with the body. It has been used in the medical industry for decades to help heal some types of bone issues, but is now being looked at to work as a replacement for standard dental fillings as well. Your mouth is full of bacteria, and this glass is immune to it, which can help prolong its life as a filling. The glass is a compound that contains material like silicon and calcium oxide and looks like a powdered form of glass. The body knows the glass is there, and the material is very hard and stiff, which makes it a good candidate for a dental filling alternative. 

How Can Bioactive Glass Help?

Since this form of medical glass does not seem to be affected by bacteria, it can last much longer in the mouth. The bacteria does not penetrate it, which means it can help slow down tooth decay for the surrounding teeth as well as the tooth that contains the filling. In fact, some dentists are finding that this form of glass can also help to supplement minerals that are being lost in the tooth, adding improvements to the filling process. The glass also shows antimicrobial properties, which means it could be a breakthrough for the dental industry because it can actually slow down the tooth decay process.

Are Bioactive Glass Fillings Available?

While the research performed on bioactive glass to be used as a dental filling is promising, it is not readily available right now for dental patients. There have been some clinical trials performed on some patients to test its durability and effectiveness as a cavity filling. If the results of these trials prove to hold up, this new material could become more widely used in dentist offices around the country in the future. The use of bioactive glass could revolutionize the dental industry and patients will be able to have fillings that last a lot longer as well as help to fend off the development of more cavities. 

For more information, contact Image Dentistry or a similar location.