Nanotechnology in Dentistry Could Save Us… Or Could Kill Us

We've been talking recently about silver nanoparticles and if nanosilver will be the new amalgam. This week, we'll try to piece together some of the scientific evidence about nanotechnology.

Nanomaterials have been defined by the EPA as "particles that have been intentionally produced to have at least one dimension that measures between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers." That’s pretty tiny, given that there are one billion nanometers in one meter.

Why Newly-Discovered Ingredients Do Not Always Belong in Toothpaste

People tend to get enthusiastic about new technologies, but sometimes being an early adopter isn't a good idea.

Case in point: Doramad toothpaste, manufactured in Germany between 1940-45. The toothpaste contained radioactive thorium.
Doramad radioactive toothpaste
"Its radioactive radiation increases the defenses of teeth and gums," read the package. "The cells are loaded with new life energy, the bacteria are hindered in their destroying effect. This explains the excellent prophylaxis and healing process with gingival diseases.” (source)

Doramad is not the only radioactive toothpaste to have been manufactured, but the story behind this World War II toothpaste is particularly interesting, involving resourceful German scientists looking for other applications for their atomic research.

The Safety of Nanomaterials

Nanoparticles behave quite differently from their regular-sized counterparts. Their comparatively large surface area increases their biological activity. Moreover, the particles themselves are much smaller than cells. Nanoparticles can be absorbed through the skin, eyes or nose. They can even cross the blood-brain barrier.

For example, although titanium dioxide is biologically inert, nano-titanium dioxide particles have been shown to damage DNA. Nano-titanium dioxide is estimated to be in over 10,000 consumer products today, including cosmetics, medicines and toothpaste.

Another major nanotech invention, carbon nanotubes have amazing strength. Unfortunately, they can also cause more lung damage than asbestos.

Nanomaterials are also ending up in our food. A thin nano coating can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Nano ingredients can make cake mixes pour more easily. Food scientists say that nanomaterials can enhance flavor, preserve freshness, or even protect the safety of our food supply.

But foods containing nano ingredients aren't labeled as such, and the FDA isn't regulating them.

A number of studies have indicated possible negative health effects from nanomaterials, but the scientific evidence is not yet clear. The FDA, for its part, is concerned about things that have been proven to be dangerous, but is more lax when it comes to things that have not yet proven either safe or dangerous.

Nano-Gold Face Cream

It's not even clear if nano-gold has useful properties, but that hasn't stopped the marketing folks from cashing in on it.

For the bargain price of only $420, you can get half an ounce of Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Cream.
Doramad radioactive toothpaste

This face cream costs only slightly less than actual gold.

Buy it: Barneys New York

Regulating Nano Products

When it comes to consumer products, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the EPA are in charge. And while the EPA is not quite as laissez-faire as the FDA, their stance on nanotechnology isn't clear either.

In 2008, the EPA fined a California company a whopping $200,000 for selling keyboards and mouses with a nanosilver coating. According to the EPA, these products should have been registered under federal pesticide law. Notably, the EPA has not issued any such fines since then. (Read more: Science Daily)

What’s the Deal with Nanosilver?

Silver is a known environmental hazard. (In fact, environmental problems were observed when silver was commonly used to develop photos.) Only mercury can be more toxic to aquatic life. And nanosilver is more biologically active than normal silver.

And now we have unregulated nanosilver in hundreds of consumer products, including toothpaste.

Read more from AOL: The Nanotech Gamble

What are your thoughts?

I’m curious as to what you all think about this. Will nanotech and nanosilver be the next dental amalgam?

http://www.thevisibledentist.com/ The Visible Dentist

You know something is very wrong, yet you just can’t quite put your finger on it. The country, our planet, people and all life forms are apparently targeted for termination.

Your fate, as an expendable, useless eater, is irrelevant and secondary to the agenda of global eradication of species.

Take a real, long, close look at everything going on around you. Death and despair are wrapped in a bright new, colorful blue and orange package, with a label that says it’s sooo good for you.

John Barremore
Houston, TX
Bryon Satterfield

Thank you for a most informative commentary on nanotechnology. As my professional duty to every individual I serve, I could not recommend nanoproducts without evidence-based guidelines for them. Even if early adopting, when only suggestions of benefit exist, guidelines can still be formulated by scientists trained in risk and benefit evaluation of products. As a clinician, expert in applying science, I am bound to honor such guidelines to remain in the realm of science. My first duty to the person who is my patient is to do no harm. I never jump on new technology, but wait 5 years and then cautiously recommend products after independent studies supporting safety and significant benefit outnumber those that don’t.
Joseph Deering DDS

IF nano-titanium has already been found to damage DNA, What about every other nano product???

If we damage DNA, EVEN OUR PROGENY are at RISK.

WHY is making money on new technologies racing ahead of our real KNOWLEDGE about what we’ve found?

Remember, Madame Curie largely discovered radiation. AND became ~its first fatality. At least she mostly risked herself.

My own father worked as a biological researcher on a product intended to be sold extensively as a laxative. It took about 9 MONTHS of daily administration before the side effects — fatal bleeding into the lungs — occurred. What if the drug company tested only 30 days and declared it safe????
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