Efficacy of Silver-Nanoparticles in PMMA - For Antimicrobial Effect a Systematic Review

Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a widely used polymer for dental applications, and it is mainly used in the fabrication of dental prostheses. In an increasing number of these applications,the risk of acquiring bacterial or fungal infection is higher than 60% among oral-prosthesis users. In the dental field, the formation of bacterial and fungal biofilms on prosthesis?s surface is the etiologic factor for stomatitis, mainly caused by Candida albicans and bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis, as well as many others. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely reported, and their use in dental materials can prevent oralinfections, such as candidiasis and stomatitis, and promote better oral health in dental-prosthesis users. They can even be used in other biomedical applications that require controlling biofilm formation on surfaces. In this systematic review, the reported studies that use PMMA and AgNPs for dental prostheses are listed and checked, with the aim to gain a wider perspective of the application of silver nanoparticles in PMMA for its anti-microbial efficacy.