Dr. Hwang is trying to develop a dental implant system that lowers the risk of implant failure by preventing infections, according to an Aug. 29 news release from Penn Dental Medicine.
The crown of the implant is made with a chemical compound that naturally fights bacteria. The base of the crown will have LED lights that provide phototherapy to the surrounding gums each day.
The funding will initially be used to test the implant’s bacteria-fighting properties.
The funds will be disbursed over five years by the National Institutes of Health, the release said.