Antibacterial effects of metal oxides-containing nanomaterials in dentistry

The development of dental nanomaterials with antibacterial properties represents a new step against antibacterial resistance, but there are concerns regarding the efficacy of the antibacterial effects of nanoparticles when mixing them with other materials or when using them for surface coating materials. The objective of this review article is to summarize the experimental data regarding the antibacterial effects of metal oxide-containing nanomaterials used in dentistry. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the most studied nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties in dentistry. Most of the dental materials (cements, resin composites, mouthwashes, dental implants) containing metal oxide nanoparticles exhibited in vitro antibacterial activities. One study found that zinc oxide nanoparticles incorporated into glass ionomer cement did not promote antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. There are only few comparative data on the antibacterial behavior of different types of nanoparticles in dental materials. Metal oxide nanoparticles are a promising future direction for dental materials with antibacterial properties.