By Danielle 
A new resin technology developed with U.S. Department of Energy support promises to cut down on costly, repeat dental procedures.
Dental restorations such as fillings and crowns often fail within five to seven years because of secondary tooth decay. But a Brazilian dentist-turned-researcher, now based in Oklahoma, has developed a groundbreaking adhesive resin that could help teeth — and fillings — last longer, the Department of Energy announced.
Fernando Luis Esteban Florez, a tenured associate professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, worked with colleagues and scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee to create the world’s first long-acting antibacterial adhesive resin for dental restorations.
“My idea was to develop dental adhesives that would provide long-term protection from oral bacteria,” Esteban Florez said. “In the U.S. alone, a long-acting antibacterial dental adhesive could help prevent more than 60 million dental procedures per year and save patients over $5 billion annually.”
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Harnessing nanotechnology to fight bacteria
With support from the DOE’s Office of Science, Esteban Florez and co-inventor Sharukh Khajotia, associate dean for research and innovation at the university, gained access to advanced research tools at ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and High Flux Isotope Reactor.
Together with ORNL scientists, the team modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles to generate reactive oxygen species — highly active chemicals that kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Unlike antibiotics, microbes cannot build resistance to these chemicals.
By dispersing the engineered nanoparticles within a commonly used dental adhesive resin, researchers created a material with strong, long-lasting antimicrobial properties. Importantly, the nanoparticles did not clump together, a common obstacle in nanotechnology applications.
“We are currently talking with a leading dental products company about commercializing this patented technology,” Esteban Florez said. “This extremely versatile antibacterial polymer can work in countless applications, including dental restorations, teeth whitening products, medical devices, and even antimicrobial coatings for hospitals and airports.”
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Implications for dentistry
The work also highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration — between clinicians and national laboratory researchers — can accelerate dental innovation. Esteban Florez credits DOE’s “user program,” which provides free or low-cost access to world-class research facilities, with saving him nearly a decade of development time.
If brought to market, this resin may represent one of the most significant advances in restorative dentistry in years, with the potential to reshape treatment protocols and improve long-term oral health outcomes.