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Technology breakthroughs from biomaterials and nano-dentistry researchers at The University of Western Australia are set to deliver cheaper and more durable denture products for the elderly and people in remote communities, in particular. By Cameron Cooper
For all his academic credentials, Dr Amr Fawzy Moussa knows that one factor is ultimately the key with any dental research—it must translate into positive outcomes for clinical dentistry and better dental results for patients.
“I always believe research needs to be translated into clinical success, rather than just producing a high-impact paper, or having the research published in a quality journal,” says Dr Fawzy, a clinician-scientist who leads The University of Western Australia dental school’s biomaterials and nano-dentistry research group.
Dr Fawzy and his team—comprising PhD students and overseas research collaborators from the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States—are engaged in two key projects.
First, they are examining the development of novel nanomodified and graphene-modified 3D-printed dental resin-based materials. They can make dental parts stronger, more durable, and resistant to wear, while also fighting bacteria naturally and improving bonding to teeth. These materials may also facilitate precise, custom-made dental restorations, leading to better, longer-lasting results and improved patient comfort and oral health.
Second, they are exploring the potential of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in restorative and adhesive dentistry, and how it assists with dental biofilms eradication. In simple terms, when HIFU is used before placing a filling, it helps clean and prepare the tooth surface, creating a stronger bond between the tooth and the filling material. This potentially makes restorations last longer.
Labour of love
Dr Fawzy’s work is the culmination of decades of experience in dental research. After completing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, a master’s degree in Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry and a PhD in Biomaterials, he started his academic career at Ain Shams University Faculty of Dentistry in Cairo.
During a stint at the National University of Singapore, Dr Fawzy took on roles in restorative dentistry and oral sciences. In 2017, lured by the beauty and lifestyle of Perth, he moved to UWA to continue his research and teaching.
I always believe research needs to be translated into clinical success, rather than just producing a high-impact paper, or having the research published in a quality journal.
Dr Amr Fawzy Moussa
To help drive the research, the UWA group gets funding from several external agencies, including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Dental Research Foundation and Colgate.
A 3D-printing revolution
The UWA’s 3D-printed dental resin work is a pet project, with Dr Fawzy and his colleagues exploring ways to make dental materials stronger and more resistant to infection without the use of drugs.
“Dentistry is going digital and 3D printing and CAD/CAM technology will continue to mature,” he says. “That’s why this is an investment in the future.”
Traditional dental resins, especially those made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), have been widely used for dentures and prosthetics because they are cheap and easy for dental practitioners to use. However, they come with drawbacks. PMMA can be brittle, shrink during processing and allow harmful microbes to grow on its surface. This may lead to infections such as denture stomatitis. Existing solutions typically rely on chemical cleaning agents or antifungal drugs, which can damage the material or lead to drug resistance.
To address such issues, the UWA researchers have developed a new 3D-printed resin composite that is enhanced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Graphene is a form of carbon known for being extremely strong, lightweight and biocompatible. When added to dental resin, GNPs can improve mechanical performance and prevent microbial growth through physical and chemical mechanisms, rather than by releasing drugs.
The UWA team has mixed very small amounts of GNPs (from 0.0 to 0.25% by weight) into an acrylate-based resin suitable for 3D printing. They have tested the resulting material for strength, hardness, surface quality, biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity. Advanced imaging techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have confirmed that the GNPs are well distributed in the resin.
Meanwhile, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to measure surface roughness, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has confirmed the chemical composition and successful polymerisation—a process that is crucial for producing synthetic materials—of the resin.
I believe self-healing is the future. We see a lot of patients who have denture-fracture problems. They wait for two to three years to receive subsidised treatment at the UWA school because the private practice is very expensive, especially for elderly people who may be on a pension.
Dr Amr Fawzy Moussa
Dr Fawzy says it is clear that the technology helps control antimicrobial activity without the use of drugs. While he believes the breakthrough is significant, the UWA team has not yet found an industry partner to assist with further research.
Self-healing solution
For now, therefore, the researchers are focusing on work related to composites containing self-healing polyurea formaldehyde (PUF) microcapsules for preventing microcracks formation and enhancing the mechanical durability of 3D-printed dentures.
Dr Fawzy explains that the PUF helps the microcracks fill and polymerise. “You are simply closing these small cracks so you prevent them from growing further and reaching a critical size where they risk catastrophic failure.”
He hopes the technology will be widely used to prevent microcracking as part of the self-healing system. In essence, the technology facilitates a ‘bleeding’ of the resin that stops the microcracks at the start of the fracture process. “This increases the clinical durability in terms of mechanics,” Dr Fawzy says.
In effect, this innovation could pave the way for better denture bases and other dental prosthetics, reducing the need for chemical cleaning agents or antifungal medications and offering patients longer-lasting, safer solutions.
“I believe self-healing is the future,” Dr Fawzy says. “We see a lot of patients who have denture-fracture problems. They wait for two to three years to receive subsidised treatment at the UWA school because the private practice is very expensive, especially for elderly people who may be on a pension.”
He believes that “cobbling together” the 3D-printed resin and self-healing technologies will combine to make a real difference for dental patients.
“If you’re able to produce 3D-printed resin material for denture base wearers that have a self-healing property without affecting the other clinical-related properties, this will be useful for the elderly population, people in agedcare homes, and remote communities. Making new dentures, even if patients have the money, even if they have insurance, takes a long time and it’s a painful process.”
Breaking down biofilms
Dr Fawzy says the HIFU research shows great promise. It is an emerging technology offering non-ionising radiation, no extraneous materials and minimal residuals or aerosols.
HIFU uses sound waves to target specific areas in the mouth without surgery. In restorative and adhesive dentistry, it can improve how dental materials bond to teeth by cleaning and preparing surfaces more effectively. The process may also strengthen fillings and make them last longer.
Importantly, HIFU can break down and remove harmful dental biofilms—layers of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease—without damaging healthy tissues. This makes it a safe, painless and non-invasive option that could help prevent infections, improve oral health and support longer-lasting dental treatments.
Dr Fawzy says industry leaders such as Colgate and Procter & Gamble are keen on the technology. “So, we are working with them and they have more funding capacity at the moment than companies producing 3D-printed materials, which don’t have the scale to invest in a lot of research prototyping.”
AI to the fore
With an eye to the future, Dr Fawzy says AI advances also promise to speed up dental technology breakthroughs and maximise the impact of any successful research projects.
In the meantime, he and his researchers will strive for even better outcomes, particularly in relation to the UWA’s resin-based materials work. The aim is to progress to a stage whereby not only the technology and materials can be supplied, but for it to be easily used on third-party 3D printers. “This is the most important part,” Dr Fawzy says. “Once this happens, you’ll find companies will start to find good business cases and they’ll want to proceed.”
