Dal researcher wins award

A Brazilian dentist's research through Dalhousie University won recognition Tuesday evening when she accepted a Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation in Ottawa.

Dr. Cristiane Maucoski's project on light curing devices for resin-based composite fillings is aimed at helping to make stronger fillings that last longer and improve overall patient health.

Maucoski, in a phone interview from Ottawa before the ceremony held at the National Arts Centre, said her research focused on the best way to use light curing devices to harden fillings made from a composite material that matches the colour of the tooth. The light produced by the units is focused on the fillings, causing them to harden in seconds.

“The idea came from necessity, because the treatment of oral disease accounts for the third-highest health expenditure among non-communicable disease,” she said. “And much of that expense is due to filling restoration work and the replacement of these restorations by the dentist.”

Manufacturers are producing different white fillings and different light curing units and the research focused on testing the interaction to find the best fit.

Traditionally, white composite fillings are not as noticeable as the mercury-amalgam fillings because they can closely match the tooth colour. They also don't require as much drilling. However, they tend to need to be replaced more often. Producing better light curing results could reduced the number of times they need to be replaced.

“When a dentist makes a filling, (they) can only see the top of that filling,” Moucoski said. “(They) can't see the bottom of it. And we need that the filling be well-cured because if it is not well-cured, it can lead to pain, tooth decay, it can break down faster, unwanted chemicals can leak into the body, so it's a health issue, too.”

Her research analyzed different types of light units and different times of exposures and involved tests in simulated conditions, using teeth that had already been extracted.

Testing included the new Valo X curing light from her industry partner Ultradent Products Inc. The Valo X is a powerful polywave curing light, with a larger tip compared to previous Valos, according to a news release. The new Valo X curing light achieved better results than other models.

“So far, we can say that the longer exposure is better than the faster exposure,” Moucaski said.

Mitacs is a national non-profit organization that connects researchers with the private sector in collaborations that work to solve “organizational challenges,” both in Canada and abroad, according to its website: www.mitacs.ca. Maucoski's award was in the International field.

She is a practicing dentist, orthodontist and PHD candidate at the State University of Ponta Grossa, Brazil. Her supervisor there is Dr. Cesar Arrais.

During her PHD studies, Arrais put her in touch with Dr. Richard Price, a professor in the Department of Dental Clinical Sciences at Dalhousie, Maucoski said.

“From September 2021 to July 2022, I was a visiting PHD student at Dalhousie,” she said. “And Dr. Price helped me in getting the Mitacs project and he had the different light cure units that we could test.”

Her team published five papers so far from her time in Halifax.

She said she was “kind of nervous, but very happy to be here” in advance of the award presentation.

“The award means a lot for me because it's incredible to know that we can make significant contributions to the health of people through the research and innovation. And through the international collaboration. Of course, the award's not only mine but of everyone involved. And it encourages me to continue to conduct research and increasing my knowledge and my skills.”

Maucoski plans to continue her research and complete her thesis on it.

Mitacs is funded by the governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon, along with Research Manitoba and Innovation PEI.