Xiaoming Xu, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of biomaterials research at Lousiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Dentistry, has been awarded a four-year $1.77 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to develop new antibacterial, fluoride-releasing, and bioactive dental materials, including dental composites, bonding agents, and sealants.
Xu is working to develop the next generation of dental materials designed to reduce the secondary cavities that often develop around dental resin-based composite fillings as they shrink, causing them to fail, according to an LSU press release. The new materials are expected to reduce secondary cavities and to prolong the life of restorations.
"The development of these materials has the potential to make a huge impact on oral healthcare and oral health quality of life, in particular for the vast number of people at high risk for cavities -- children, the elderly, those medically compromised who suffer from xerostomia or dry mouth, and those with mental or physical challenges," Xu said in the release.
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