LSUHSC Dental Researcher Funded To Develop Better Dental Materials
Xiaoming, Xu, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Biomaterials Research at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Dentistry, has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1.77 million over four years by the National Institutes of Health to develop new antibacterial, fluoride-releasing, and bioactive dental materials including dental composites, bonding agents, and sealants. Currently most dental fillings and cosmetic restorations, including bonding and veneers, are done with resin-based dental composites - tooth-colored, plastic, and glass materials. Dr. Xu is working to develop the next generation of dental materials designed to reduce the secondary cavities that often develop around dental resin-based composite fillings as they shrink, causing them to fail. The new materials are expected to reduce secondary cavities and to prolong the life of restorations.
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