Meet the Scientist
Meet the Scientist Dr. Michael Schurr
Department of Immunology & Microbiology
Microbiologist using light to zap away tooth decay
Dr. Mike Schurr is a microbiologist on the CU Anschutz medical campus working with a team of chemists and dentists to figure out how to use light-activated technology to eliminate tooth decay. He and his team study how a special ingredient added to dental fillings and coatings can be used to fight cavities.
Cavities and tooth decay are caused by bacteria in our mouth
When we eat sugary and starchy foods, the bacteria in our mouth feed on the small bits of food left on our teeth. While digesting the bits of food left behind on our teeth, bacteria produce acids. These acids slowly wear down the tooth enamel, leading to cavities and tooth decay if not cleaned away.
Tooth decay caused by cavities, or dental caries, is a widespread problem, especially for kids and adults without regular access to dental care. The most common treatment for a cavity is removal of the affected area inside the tooth followed by replacement with a traditional amalgam dental filling made of a mixture of metals. Unfortunately, traditional fillings often fail over time, leading to reinfection, pain and expensive retreatments.
Another common treatment option that would help prevent cavities from forming in the first place is something called a sealant. A sealant coats the teeth and works by discouraging bacteria from sticking to the surface of the teeth.
Light and science team up to create a self-cleaning tooth
Mike and his research team are developing a new kind of dental material that contains a special ingredient, called AHA (Acrylated Hydroxy-Azobenzene). AHA can be activated by light to break up harmful bacterial films or plaque on the surface of teeth to prevent the bacteria that cause cavities from sticking to teeth. Adding this light-activated material to dental fillings or tooth sealants could lead to longer-lasting, more effective dental treatments, especially for people who are more vulnerable to tooth decay. In addition, AHA specifically stops the growth of a bacterium called Streptococcus mutans that causes the most damage to teeth.
Think of your teeth like a kitchen countertop. Over time, sticky messes—like bacteria and dental plaque—build up on the surface. Normally, you’d scrub them off with a sponge. But imagine if your countertop had a special coating that, when you shine a light on it, automatically breaks up and removes the mess and prevents it from coming back. That’s exactly what this new dental filling material does—it uses light to activate a special ingredient called AHA that moves to disrupt the bacteria and help clean and protect your teeth from harmful bacteria building up and causing tooth decay.
Why is the research that Mike and his team do in their lab so important?
Mike and the Azodent research team are working on an innovative dental treatment that could lead to longer-lasting, more effective dental treatments, that reduce the need for repeated dental work and significantly lower dental healthcare costs over time. Azodent, Inc. is a startup medical device company spun out of the University of 麻豆传媒高清 Anschutz Medical Campus based upon research from the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Medicine.
Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent and costly chronic diseases, with significant public health implications due to limited access to dental care and high rates of the need for retreatment. Traditional fillings often fail to prevent recurrent tooth decay because they don’t address the root cause: persistent biofilms or plaque build-up and cavity-causing bacteria like Streptococcus mutans.
If successful, this technology could significantly extend the lifespan of dental restorations, reduce the need for retreatments, and offer a proactive, light-activated strategy for managing dental caries, also called cavities.
Future directions for this research…
Dr. Schurr and his team will continue to explore how to optimize this light-activated antimicrobial defense system as a safe and effective method to fight tooth decay. One research question they are working on is, what is the lowest amount of AHA needed to effectively eliminate bacterial growth? It’s always a good idea to determine the smallest amount of a substance needed to accomplish the task.
Another question is, what is the impact of this treatment on the broader bacterial community in the mouth (oral microbiome)? Mike and his team want to make sure that this treatment doesn’t cause harm by accidentally disrupting the bacteria in the oral microbiome that may actually be protective. Some of the bacteria that inhabit our bodies—including our mouth—are beneficial and help maintain oral health.
This light-activated antimicrobial defense system could also be applied onto other medical devices, such as catheters or scopes to remove biofilms from those surfaces with light!
The bottom line is that by understanding how this light-activated technology influences the oral microbiome, Mike and his team hope to find new ways to fight tooth decay and improve dental health for years to come.
If you want to learn more about the scientist, please head to their official CU webpage.