New York University scientists are developing a zinc-based treatment for cavities that could eliminate the need for drilling and filling, while also avoiding the black staining that limits use of existing products.
Marc Walters, a professor of chemistry at NYU, has created a colourless compound called zinc tetramine difluoride, which forms zinc oxide crystals deep inside dentin tubules. The treatment not only blocks pain and tooth sensitivity but also slowly releases antimicrobial zinc to combat decay-causing bacteria.
“Once your teeth are treated with silver diamine fluoride, that stain is permanent, which is a barrier for many people wanting to use the product,” Walters said in a statement.
Tooth decay in permanent teeth is the world’s most common health condition, affecting nearly 3.7 billion people, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease 2021 report.
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How the treatment works
The zinc-based agent begins as a liquid, sensitive to concentration and pH. When brushed onto a tooth, the conditions inside dentin tubules prompt a chemical reaction that transforms it into a solid. This seals off the tubules, blocking pain pathways while releasing zinc to suppress harmful bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.
Walters’s team has applied for patents in several countries and is developing related compounds to expand potential uses.
Silver diamine fluoride’s drawback
The approach builds on the success of silver diamine fluoride, an FDA-approved treatment that is inexpensive, easy to apply and effective at halting early cavities. It is often used in schools, rural areas with limited access to dentists, or for patients with disabilities.
However, when silver interacts with tooth decay, it permanently turns treated areas black. While this may be acceptable for molars or baby teeth, it deters use on visible teeth.
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Related: Silver Diamine Fluoride
Industry collaboration
Walters’s zinc technology caught the attention of Southern Dental Industries (SDI), an Australian company specializing in restorative dental materials, including silver diamine fluoride. SDI has licensed the technology and is working with NYU on further development.
At NYU College of Dentistry, Walters is also collaborating with Deepak Saxena, professor of molecular pathobiology and director of research innovation. Saxena co-founded the startup Periomics Care, which focuses on oral health product development.
“As soon as I met Marc and I saw his enthusiasm, I decided that we should work together and try to make this a commercial product,” Saxena said.
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