Pursuing the less-invasive caries treatment using hydrogen peroxide photolysis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19014
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57030:Conservative dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Midori Shirato 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (60708501)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 過酸化水素光分解殺菌法 / バイオフィルム / 低侵襲齲蝕治療 / ヒドロキシルラジカル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our research group has developed a novel bactericidal technique using one of the reactive oxygen species generated by irradiation to hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide photolysis). This technique has shown potent bactericidal effects against several oral bacteria in short time. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate if the technique has a possibility to be a new caries treatment. Through some experiments, it was found that the treatment of hydrogen peroxide photolysis exerted bactericidal effects against biofilms (=dental plaque) related to dental caries and inhibited demineralization. These results suggest that this technique could inhibit caries progression by its strong bactericidal effects and become an effective caries treatment.

Free Research Field

活性酸素制御学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年若年者の齲蝕有病率は大きく減少しているが、一生を通してみると大多数の国民が齲蝕を経験することが歯科疾患実態調査等で報告されている。齲蝕は痛みを伴い、進行すれば歯の喪失の原因ともなるためQOLに大きく関わる疾患である。本殺菌法は低侵襲で高効率な齲蝕治療法として確立できる可能性があり、この研究成果は広く国民のQOL維持・向上に貢献すると考えられ、学術的・社会的意義のある研究である。