Posted on 07/07/2016 11:26:21 AM PDT by Signalman
Root canals are always fun, right? In reality, word that you need a root canal is some of the worst news most people get at the dentist. Whenever your dentist tells you that's the next procedure you're going have to go through, two things are clear beyond the pain you're about to endure: One, that your throbbing will finally soon go away, and the second is that the tooth that's getting the root canal is dead.
However, researchers have come up with a new kind of biomaterial that not only encourages the natural regeneration of teeth, but also might eliminate root canal procedures for good.
So how do we get root canals in the first place?
It all starts with a cavity that needs to be filled with either porcelain, a tooth-colored filling material, gold or other metal alloys. But as soon as that filling fails, the pain returns. That usually means the nerve and vascularization of the tooth are infected and need to be removed. Their place is taken by a special compound that is then cemented into the tooth. All that is done via a root canal procedure. The tooth is saved, but it's no longer served by nerve or blood vessels. And over time, the tooth might be lost because of that.
Researchers from the University of Harvard and Nottingham have come up with a biomaterial for fillings that is regenerative, according to Popular Science. The material stimulates the growth of stem cells in the pulp, which could prevent further tooth decay. Because fillings wouldn't fail as often, root canal procedures could be virtually unnecessary.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I will say this root canal therapy procedure has come a long long way since the 70s
my dentist told me we’ll be able to grow new teeth within 10 years from stem cells.
Bkmrk.
But if the underlying bone is damaged...infection, bone ooss, etc... then they'll still need to be some fancy footwork to grow/graft new bone and then do the 'grow new teeth' procedure.
I tend to think root canals fail because teeth remain infected.
I only have one good root canal tooth left in my mouth.
I had another root canal tooth root crack in 2011. That tooth will probably have to be extracted within a year.
I think maybe an alcohol rinse for cleansing, then an antibiotic rinse, before filling a root canal might be helpful.
I’ve often wondered why humans can’t regenerate their, ‘parts’ as do some critters such as when a Starfish loses a limb, or a Gecko their tail, or Deer with their antlers each year, etc.
I’ve used wads soaked with gin/mouthwash/baking soda solution to help keep teeth in my mouth.
I also think that fillings get failure-prone after about a decade.
In the last twenty years I have lost teeth and needed root canals through thermal causes - hot chocolate chip cookies, nachos.
Maybe fillings should be replaced after ten years.
My mouth is full of root canals & crowns. I’ve started
rinsing my mouth with food grade hydrogen peroxide and
baking soda; also brushing with Uncle Harry’s Tooth Powder.
It seems to help. My gold crowns have held up real well;
also the porcelain ones have done okay. (I’ve tried the
3% drugstore hydrogen peroxide; but that causes big old
mouth sores for me. I have to fool with the food grade which
is somewhat of a pain.) You have to be VERY careful with
the food grade concentrate getting it to the 3% level.
Too bad if all the endodontists are out of work.
My dental hygienist has me flossing correctly at night, using a water pick with antiseptic mouthwash and brushing with an electric toothbrush No more cavities. It does take at lease 10 minutes before bed, but it is worth it to keep crowns, teeth and prevent or diminish gum disease.
Where was this dental hygienist when I was a teenager? 65 y.o. now.
Back in the early 1970s I got some root canals & crowns. My dentist back then said if I was lucky they would hold up for 25 years. It’s been over 43 years now, I still have the same teeth as then. When I go for cleanings from my current dentist, there are no cavities or problems, making my wife envious because she has had a few. The kicker is that I eat lots of snacks, sugary sodas (lots of Coca Cola), sweets, and don’t care for my teeth as well as she does. She avoids sugar and sweets. Go figure. The one thing I do that she doesn’t, is that I often chew sugarless gum. It seems to massage the gums while producing saliva and I think that makes the teeth healthier.
Interesting.
In tooth, this sounds like pulp fiction.
Finally soon? Do they not hire editors anymore?
"the tooth are infected and need to be removed. Their place is taken by a special compound that is then cemented into the tooth."
Since the tooth has been removed, how would that work? Again, where's the editor"
Not to rag on you, but how do they get away with such sloppy writing?
I read about 4-5 years ago that the Japanese are great strides in this area too.
Please excuse my rant. I re-read the last part and see they core out the tooth, not remove it.
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