NaNbO3/ZnO piezocatalyst for non-destructive tooth cleaning and antibacterial activity

Tooth discoloration and plaque formation are serious issues for dental healthcare professionals across the world. Although traditional hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning methods are efficient, they can cause enamel demineralization, periodontal irritation, and toxicity. Also, these treatments are time-taking. Here, we present a noninvasive, safe, and simple tooth cleaning approach by using the piezoelectric phenomenon. After 6 h of vibrations, contaminated teeth can be significantly cleaned by the NaNbO3/ZnO binary nanocomposite. Moreover, the NaNbO3/ZnO binary nanocomposite-based piezocatalysis tooth cleaning procedure causes far less harm to enamel and biological cells in comparison to hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning methods. To evaluate its functionality, organic dyeswere degraded by piezoelectric effect of NaNbO3/ZnO binary nano-composite under ultrasonic irradiation. The piezoelectric potential of NaNbO3/ ZnO was found to be 3.75 V. The binary nanocomposite's antibacterial activity was proven to be efficient against Escherichia coli with the inhibitory zone of 21 mm and complete removal of bacteria.

Automated summary

Tooth discoloration and plaque formation are significant concerns for dental healthcare professionals worldwide. This study proposes a noninvasive, safe, and simple tooth cleaning approach utilizing the piezoelectric phenomenon, which has shown effectiveness in significantly cleaning contaminated teeth without causing harm to enamel and biological cells.