Dental fillings could become a thing of the past (calcium-ion powder to regrow dentin?)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | April 5, 2008 | Laura Clout

[Stoat]

Dental fillings could become a thing of the past

By Laura Clout
 

Last Updated: 12:23am BST 05/04/2008

 

 

Dentists will one day be able to dispense with fillings and help decaying teeth repair themselves, scientists believe.

Researchers say they have developed a way of regrowing dentine, the yellow mineral substance in the middle of teeth that is most affected by decay. They hope that within a decade, dentists will be able to use the technique and eliminate the need for fillings.

Prof Sally Marshall, of the University of California, said the technique involves painting a calcium solution onto the damaged dentine.

This kick-starts the natural ability of the dentine to regrow, she explained in the Journal of Structural Biology. However, although initial trials have been successful, further work is needed before all the dentine in a tooth can be made to regrow.

Prof Marshall said: "What we're hoping to have happen is to catch decaying teeth early and remineralise them."

Prof Damien Walmsley, a scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, said that the research was "interesting" and "could offer a real benefit to patients suffering with dental decay in time".

[Stoat]

They hope that within a decade, dentists will be able to use the technique and eliminate the need for fillings.

Don't stop brushing and flossing quite yet  :-)

More on this:

Dentistry.co.uk News Tooth regeneration will make fillings a thing of the past

Tooth regeneration will make fillings a thing of the past
4th April 2008

 

Scientists are developing the technology to enable teeth to regrow the crystals that make up dentin and enamel, thereby phasing out fillings and drillings completely.

The technology will evenbtually phase out fillings and drillings completely.

The goal – estimated to be at least 10 years away – is to spot tooth decay early enough that they then get the teeth to grow healthy tooth-matter over the bad spots.

The scientists are beginning to find just the right solutions of chemicals to rebuild decayed teeth, rather than merely patching their holes.

'What we're hoping to have happen is to catch [decaying teeth] early and remineralise them,' said Sally Marshall, a professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

By putting a layer of the solution on individual test teeth, Marshall has already been able to remineralise some parts of the teeth.

This ability to use some of the body's own building materials for oral repair would be a boon – but scientists are discovering that dentin, in particular, is a remarkably complex structure.

Marshall's work, which has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Structural Biology, focuses on regrowing the dentin in damaged teeth with the help of a calcium-containing solution of ions.

Scientists fill gap in dental market - Scotsman.com News

Scientists fill gap in dental market

By Marc Horne

 

 

FILLINGS could soon be a thing of the past as scientists develop a way to make decayed teeth regenerate and 'heal'.

The technique involves implanting calcium crystals into cavities. Once perfected, it will eliminate the need for fillings. Instead, enamel and dentin – the materials that make teeth so strong – will be regrown from the crystals, which are contained in a calcium solution.

The key will be to spot the decay early enough for dentists to get teeth to grow healthy tooth matter.

Professor Sally Marshall, who is leading the research at the University of California, said: "What we're hoping to have happen is to catch decaying teeth early and remineralise them."

The ability to use the body's own building materials would be a boon to dentists, who have been fixing cavities with metal fillings since the 1840s.

Acids such as those produced by bacteria or sugary foods demineralise the enamel coating of the teeth, allowing bacteria to break through to the dentin inside. This turns the dentin mushy and useless, causing a cavity.

Marshall's work focuses on regrowing the dentin

 

using a calcium solution. She has already been able to use it to remineralise some parts of test teeth and is confident it will soon be possible to repair entire teeth.

The research was unveiled at the spring meeting of the Materials Research Society.

Stephen Bayne, professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, noted that while many groups are working on regrowing teeth, Marshall has "incredible stature" in dentistry for her groundbreaking work.

Still, even with the recent progress, the very complexity that Marshall and other researchers have discovered in the humble tooth is likely to keep her technique out of your local dentist's surgery for a few more years.

"We're still some way from being able to grow back dentin and enamel," Bayne said.

And, sadly, regrowing your grandpa's toothless grin from scratch remains a distant dream which may take decades to achieve.

Last Updated: 05 April 2008 7:36 PM

[secret garden]

I knew it was only published in the UK, not practiced.

[Stoat]

 

[wastedyears]

I need to see a dentist.

[Viking2002]

Or, you can do like me: develop Type II Diabetes, and live with it undiagnosed long enough that you eventually lose all your teeth, and get a mouthful of acrylic chompers. LOL

[martin_fierro]

Too bad this technology will never be used in the UK

[Stoat]

wastedyears said:

I need to see a dentist.

It seems that we've found you a new patient. 

Kickback?

"snicker"

[Gorzaloon]

I knew it was only published in the UK, not practiced.

They publish these things all the time to make their subjects feel better about their NHS. Just this week there was a story in the Times about an old lady who had to poull her own teeth because she could not get an appointment, and was told to "Take painkillers".

If one searches the Literature they will discover that this mechanism they describe, such as using calcium ion enrichments to attract serum phosphates and form hydroxyapatite is old, old news, having been worked upon by hundreds of researchers. Some publications come from Brazil, Australia, etc.

It's just another example of breathtaking advances that will be here "Soon" to keep the Subjects happy..and of which, next year, we will never hear another word.

But do not worry-After our election in November we can watch the same Bread and Circus here.

[Stoat]

LMAO @ pic   :-)

Too bad this technology will never be used in the UK

I suppose they will need to show a cost effectiveness as opposed to using traditional fillings in order to get approval for use under the NHS.

[Cacique]

btt

[mtbopfuyn]

I never knew why they hadn’t figured this out before but good news none the less.

[PISANO]

How about HAIR regeneration?

[FixitGuy]

"How about HAIR regeneration?"

Nah! Dentine in the hair just gums it up.

[Stoat]

I never knew why they hadn’t figured this out before but good news none the less.

Indeed.  From The Scotsman article:

Stephen Bayne, professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, noted that while many groups are working on regrowing teeth, Marshall has "incredible stature" in dentistry for her groundbreaking work.

Apparently, new methods or approaches have been discovered and so this justifies the paper that's being published in The Journal of Structural Biology.  So very many new developments are the result not of a single, instantaneous discovery but are in fact the result of many peoples' work over decades. 

[Mediocrates]

They hope that within a decade, dentists will be able to use the technique and eliminate the need for fillings.

I've noticed some variation of this story appears periodically, and it's happened for at least the past 25 years.

Yep, still waiting.

[Stoat]

How about HAIR regeneration?

I thought that little problem had been solved back in the Sixties?

 

"snicker"

[theDentist]

Here’s the secret: We can already do that. We’ve been able for near a decade now, and we do it for closest friends and family... But what fun is applying something painlessly in 3 minutes time when we can instead strap you down and pick at your more sensitive nerve endings with pointy implements, hear the screams, and see the terror in your eyes? Plus charge you a bounty for the experience? Huh???

[secret garden]

You are one scary guy. ;)