Chemist Sumita Mitra’s invention of dental filling made her win Award
Sumita Mitra, who is an Indian-American, got European Inventor Award 2021 for invention in the dental filling.
She got the award in the ‘Non-EPO countries’ category. Her invention of nanotechnology integration into dental materials to produce stronger, durable and aesthetically pleasing dental fillings bagged her European Patent Office or EPO’s European Inventor Award 2021.
EPO President António Campino hailed her achievement and said, “Sumita Mitra took an entirely new path in her field and demonstrated how technological innovation, protected by patents, can transform a sector, and in this case bring benefits to millions of dental patients.”
“Her invention remains commercially successful nearly 20 years after its launch – another reason why she is an inspiration to the next generation of scientists,” Campinos added.
To come out with an innovative dental filling, Mitra and her team developed a technique to create “linked clusters of nanoparticles or ‘nanoclusters”.
“These clusters combine single nanoparticles of varying diameters, resulting in strong, durable and shiny material. By adding tiny amounts of pigment, and altering the chemical composition of the nanoparticles, the team was also able to create a range of different shades that can be matched to individual teeth, and layered to create a more natural finish,” a statement from the EPO said.
The 2021 edition of the European Inventor Award function was held virtually. It was open to the international public audience.
