Fighting bioaccumulation: creating safer dentistry for all

Some of the most ubiquitous technologies in the world today mimic nature to achieve their success. By copying the formation, structure, or function of living organisms, biomimetics synthesises similar products and systems using artificial means. One biomimetic compound used in dentistry is not only inspired by nature; it also helps to protect it.

Velcro is one of the oldest and most widely used biomimetic technologies. Its inventor, George de Mestral, was inspired to create it after studying the prickly plant burrs that clung to his dog’s fur.

Other examples include the blades of wind turbines, which mirror the aerodynamic efficiency of humpback whale fins, and a recently approved surgical glue based on the secretions of the Californian sandcastle worm. Many biomimetic products are inspired by plants, including water-, oil- and fat-repelling sprays, coatings and sealants that copy the nanoscale surface of the lotus leaf.Innovative ways to use products with safer and more sustainable chemicals – often those that mimic nature – have environmental benefits and health benefits for staff and patients.Innovative cleaning products for dentistry feature the same compound that the human body uses to kill invading pathogens – hypochlorous acid (HOCl). With a variety of uses throughout the dental practice, one sustainable infection control company is already putting this highly effective natural substance to work at disinfecting and protecting waterlines, surfaces and patients’ delicate oral tissues.These offer safer solutions for dental staff and patients. They also benefit the environment – in part, by preventing bioaccumulation.