Nobio receives FDA clearances for Infinix Flowable and Bulk Fill Composites

Nobio’s Infinix™ advanced dental restoratives-Flowable Composite and Bulk Fill Flow Composite-received U.S. FDA clearance to market. Dental composite restoratives are used to treat tooth decay by filling the cavities with material designed to match the patient’s natural tooth shade and strength. These are the first FDA-cleared products incorporating Nobio’s patented QASi particle technology for maintaining restoration integrity and protecting against degradation by bacteria over time. Two other Infinix products with QASi technology are pending FDA clearance, the Universal Composite and the Universal Bond, which has an antibacterial cavity cleansing effect.

More than 200 million tooth restorations are performed each year in the U.S. only, most of them to replace existing restorations that fail due to bacteria that penetrate the tooth-restoration interface (e.g., the micro-gap between the restoration and tooth, a common site of recurrent decay). The estimated annual cost of replacement dentistry is more than $5 billion in the U.S. alone. Recurrent decay may eventually lead to tooth loss. QASi particles (quaternary ammonium silica-dioxide) are a member of Nobio’s family of antimicrobial particles.

These particles are said to combine a high concentration of antimicrobial molecules that are covalently bonded to a solid core, reportedly forming an insoluble, potent, long-lasting antimicrobial structure. The antimicrobial effect occurs only when bacteria contact the material containing these particles, offering significant advantages versus traditional approaches relying on the release of antimicrobial molecules, which eventually deplete and may affect also normal flora. Nobio particles are said to have a long-term effect because they're retained in the filling material following polymerization and are insoluble. Long-term antimicrobial protection and a stable molecular structure are especially important in dental restorations which are intended to remain in the oral environment for decades.

Related reading: How antimicrobial technology is set to empower composites

“We’ve been waiting a long time for innovation in the field of composite restorations to preserve the integrity and improve the longevity of restorations. This is particularly important in posterior teeth," says John Flucke, DDS, chief dental editor and technology editor for Dental Products Report. “Preventing recurrent decay is one of the greatest priorities of everyday dentistry. A nonreleasing antimicrobial that may act long-term is a promising approach and we look forward to working with these exciting new flowable and bulk fill composites from Nobio and learning how they may benefit our patients.”

Clinical studies demonstrating that the presence of QASi in these products improves clinical outcomes haven't been conducted. However, clinical studies on a predecessor version of QASi, the QPEI particle (quaternized polyethylene-imine), showed strong antibacterial effect in vivo when incorporated into different dental materials. Two other clinical studies have been initiated in the U.S. and Israel to demonstrate the potential benefit and duration of the antimicrobial effect of the Nobio QASi technology used in the Infinix product line.

Nobio is offering an accredited continuing education (CE) course featuring the Infinix technology to be held on Sept. 6 at the upcoming American Dental Association annual meeting in San Francisco. Attendees may register for the course at www.world-dental-congress.org. Nobio is also evaluating strategic relationships with several major dental industry companies for the Infinix composite line and technology licensing in preparation for a launch later in 2019.

For more information, visit www.infinix.com.