SelenBio has received Food and Drug Administration approval for its DenteShield line of sealants and primers, which are designed to inhibit bacteria colonization responsible for plaque, decay, white spot lesions, and gingival inflammation. These products are available through Patterson Dental and Midwest Dental.
DenteShield uses selenium, an element that’s common in the human body. When it is incorporated into an organic molecule, it can take an electron from sulfur and give it to oxygen to generate superoxide, which kills bacteria on contact, according to the company. It also kills bacteria specifically where necessary. And as a catalytic mechanism, the process keeps going.
And while silver and copper have been used in similar ways to kill bacteria, SelenBio notes that selenium is comparatively inexpensive. Plus, the company says, silver and copper lack selenium’s specificity. DenteShield remains permanently bound to dental surfaces and does not leach or travel elsewhere in the mouth or body, SelenBio says.
According to SelenBio, DenteShield has been shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of plaque and caries formation, demineralization and formation of white spot lesions, reoccurrence of caries following treatment or fillings, decay of sealed teeth due to bacteria microleakage, gingival inflammation, and periodontal disease.
Related Articles
Silver Proves Sterling in Fighting Implant Infections
Report Supports Benefits of School-Based Sealant Programs
Oral Bacteria May Indicate Likelihood of Childhood Obesity
