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Related: About this forumDecline of the dentist's drill? Drug helps rotten teeth regenerate, trial shows
Decline of the dentist's drill? Drug helps rotten teeth regenerate, trial shows
Need for fillings could be reduced in future as study reveals natural ability of teeth to repair themselves can be enhanced using Alzheimers drug
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
Monday 9 January 2017 05.00 EST
Dentists have devised a treatment to regenerate rotten teeth that could substantially reduce the need for fillings in the future.
The therapy works by enhancing the natural ability of teeth to repair themselves through the activation of stem cells in the soft pulp at the centre.
Normally, this mechanism is limited to repairing small cracks and holes in dentine, the solid bulk of the tooth beneath the surface enamel. Now scientists have shown that the natural process can be enhanced using an Alzheimers drug, allowing the tooths own cells to rebuild cavities extending from the surface to the root.
Prof Paul Sharpe, who led the work at Kings College London, said: Almost everyone on the planet has tooth decay at some time its a massive volume of people being treated. Weve deliberately tried to make something really simple, really quick and really cheap.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/09/decline-of-the-dentists-drill-drug-helps-rotten-teeth-regenerate-trial-shows
oldtime dfl_er
(6,931 posts)for those of us who got genetically weak teeth. I've spent a fortune on them, and no end in sight.
TomJulie
(98 posts)It will be great.
calimary
(81,304 posts)Indeed so! Sounds like a most interesting breakthrough! I've got a couple of friends with bad teeth. I bet they'd enjoy hearing about this one.
TomJulie
(98 posts)SunSeeker
(51,571 posts)I doubt our dentists would have much incentive in pursuing that endeavor.
Hope it becomes available soon. When you think about it, fillings are a really barbaric way to fix cavities, seeing as how it involves cutting out chunks of tooth.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)Over the years, the filling will flatten out from chewing pressue and act as a wedge to crack the tooth apart. I have two implants replacing molars that were split open by the filling in the top surface.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)really, not a moment too soon