Antibacterial Properties of Nanoparticles in Dental Restorative Materials. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Background and objectives:
Nanotechnology has become a significant area of research
focused mainly on increasing the antibacterial and mechanical properties of dental materials.
The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine and quantitatively analyze
the current evidence for the addition of di erent nanoparticles into dental restorative materials,
to determine whether their incorporation increases the antibacterial/antimicrobial properties of
the materials.
• Materials and Methods:
A literature search was performed in the Pubmed, Scopus,
and Embase databases, up to December 2018, following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Results:
A total of 624 papers were identified in the initial search.
After screening the texts and applying
inclusion criteria, only 11 of these were selected for quantitative analysis.
The incorporation of nanoparticles led to a significant increase (p-value < 0.01) in the antibacterial capacity of all the
dental materials synthesized in comparison with control materials.
• Conclusion:
The incorporationof nanoparticles into dental restorative materials was a favorable option;
the antibacterial activity of nanoparticle-modified dental materials was significantly higher compared with the original
unmodified materials.
TiO2 nanoparticles providing the greatest benefits.
However, the high
heterogeneity among the articles reviewed points to the need for further research and the application
of standardized research protocols.
