Posted on 11/11/2015 4:19:09 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Scientists in London develop pain-free filling that allows teeth to repair themselves without drilling or injections
The tooth-rebuilding technique developed at King's College London does away with fillings and instead encourages teeth to repair themselves.
Tooth decay is normally removed by drilling, after which the cavity is filled with a material such as amalgam or composite resin.
The new treatment, called Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER), accelerates the natural movement of calcium and phosphate minerals into the damaged tooth.
A two-step process first prepares the damaged area of enamel, then uses a tiny electric current to push minerals into the repair site. It could be available within three years.
Professor Nigel Pitts, from King's College London's Dental Institute, said: "The way we treat teeth today is not ideal. When we repair a tooth by putting in a filling, that tooth enters a cycle of drilling and refilling as, ultimately, each 'repair' fails.
"Not only is our device kinder to the patient and better for their teeth, but it's expected to be at least as cost-effective as current dental treatments. Along with fighting tooth decay, our device can also be used to whiten teeth."
A spinout company, Reminova, has been set up to commercialise the research. Based in Perth, Scotland, it is in the process of seeking private investment to develop EAER.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Hurry! I like the “pain-free” part the best.
An end to ‘British Teeth’?
I’ve been hearing whispers of this research for a few years now. If this really works, dentistry will be advanced in an almost unbelievable way.
They have dental scientists in London?
A little late for me.... I’ve already got a mouth full of root canals and crowns.... bummer!
I will miss the sound of the drill, the smell of burning protein and the pain of the novacaine shot... not!
The irony is this in in the UK. My hubby, a Brit, as a young boy had a dentist who was a sadist. Cavity? Yank it. That was always the dentist’s answer. He had terrible teeth when we married and was embarrassed by them. He finally got braces and bridge work here and his smile is incredible.
Ping! This may be of interest to you.
England is still a hot bed of scientific research despite their socialized medicine.
One of the most prestigious journals of medicine, THE LANCET originated in London and still has its editorial offices there.
I wonder if this could be used to repair teeth that have already been drilled and filled.
I had a root canal just over a year ago. While I am happy with the results (I had not realized just how much pain that tooth had caused for so many years until the root canal abolished the pain), it would have been nice to not have to essentially kill the tooth.
"Hurry! I like the "pain-free" part the best."
The article is dated Monday 16 June 2014 02.42 EDT at the link.
It’s not fun on the ‘worker’s end’, either. I used to be a dental assistant (one of my several jobs) years ago.
Not to worry, the pain in the bank account for this new procedure will probably balance it all out.
This is a story you can really sink your teeth into.
I think your dentist is doing things in the wrong order.
RE: The article is dated Monday 16 June 2014 02.42 EDT at the link.
This means the science is over a year old. Where’s the widespread use?
Vill this decrease de likelihood of a møøse biting one’s sister?
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