Dental fillings may soon become a
thing of the past, as scientists have found a way to renew living stem cells in
tooth pulp using an Alzheimer's drug which could help naturally repair decaying
teeth.
Following trauma or an infection,
the inner, soft pulp of a tooth can become exposed and infected.
In order to protect the tooth
from infection, a thin band of dentine is naturally produced which seals the
tooth pulp, but it is insufficient to effectively repair large cavities.
Currently dentists use man-made cements or fillings, such as calcium and
silicon-based products, to treat these larger cavities and fill holes in teeth.
This cement remains in the tooth and fails to disintegrate, meaning that the
normal mineral level of the tooth is never completely restored.
Scientists from the Dental
Institute at King's College London have proven a way to stimulate the stem
cells contained in the pulp of the tooth and generate new dentine -the
mineralised material that protects the tooth -in large cavities, potentially reducing
the need for fillings or cements.
The novel, biological approach
could see teeth use their natural ability to repair large cavities rather than
using cements or fillings, which are prone to infections and often need
replacing a number of times.
As this new method encourages
natural tooth repair, it could eliminate all of these issues, providing a more
natural solution for patients.
Source:TIMES OF INDIA-10th January,2017
