Leading US research institute given funding to develop AI-based materials to replace amalgam

The Massachusetts-based centre is an established pioneer within the field of dental and craniofacial research. The project that the funding will support is aimed at developing restorative material that can—astonishingly—repair itself. This advanced and eminently practicable quality will derive from the use of nano-fillers that respond to biological signals, allowing them to efficiently adapt to patients’ specific oral conditions.

Speaking in a press release by the institute, Dr Jirun Sun, the lead investigator on the project, explained the magnitude of the research: “Imagine you have a crack developing in the filling. The material will detect that change and repair the crack. Or if your mouth has a lot of acid that lowers the pH, which is known to break down traditional composites and tooth structure, the material will counteract the acid.”

The team of researchers, coming from various disciplines, will combine experimental work with a physics-based testing model and data-driven simulations to design and evaluate these complex, dynamic materials. In collaboration with digital engineering company Optimuos, the institute will develop an AI-powered solution for this project.

“Without this approach, the number of parameters that we must test would have taken decades to complete,” said Dr Sun. “Incorporating [AI] and virtual lab simulations into the physical material development process, based on well-defined laws of physics and chemistry, will accelerate our goal of transforming personalised dental care.”

The work not only marks an important technological advancement but is also noteworthy for seeking to contribute towards the industry’s move away from the use of amalgam. As reported on by Dental Tribune International earlier this year, the European Parliament voted in January to ban amalgam outright from 1 January 2025, owing to potential environmental and physical health concerns regarding its mercury content.

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