NaNbO/ZnO piezocatalyst for non-destructive tooth cleaning and antibacterial activity.

Tooth discoloration and plaque formation are serious issues for dental healthcare professionals across the world. Although traditional hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning methods are efficient, they can cause enamel demineralization, periodontal irritation, and toxicity. Also, these treatments are time-taking. Here, we present a noninvasive, safe, and simple tooth cleaning approach by using the piezoelectric phenomenon. After 6 h of vibrations, contaminated teeth can be significantly cleaned by the NaNbO/ZnO binary nanocomposite. Moreover, the NaNbO/ZnO binary nanocomposite-based piezocatalysis tooth cleaning procedure causes far less harm to enamel and biological cells in comparison to hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning methods. To evaluate its functionality, organic dyes were degraded by piezoelectric effect of NaNbO/ZnO binary nanocomposite under ultrasonic irradiation. The piezoelectric potential of NaNbO/ZnO was found to be 3.75 V. The binary nanocomposite's antibacterial activity was proven to be efficient against with the inhibitory zone of 21 mm and complete removal of bacteria.