Posted on 08/01/2010 10:05:39 PM PDT by neverdem
Could this new gel be the biggest dental breakthrough since the introduction of fluoride?
THE GIST
A new gel could soon eliminate painful fillings and root canals.
The technology doesn't prevent cavities; it heals teeth by regenerating them.
Although this is good news for teeth, the research could also be applied to heal bones and other tissues in the body.
Dentists could soon hang up their drills. A new peptide, embedded in a soft gel or a thin, flexible film and placed next to a cavity, encourages cells inside teeth to regenerate in about a month, according to a new study in the journal ACS Nano. This technology is the first of its kind.
The new gel or thin film could eliminate the need to fill painful cavities or drill deep into the root canal of an infected tooth.
"It's not like toothpaste," which prevent cavities, said Nadia Benkirane-Jessel, a scientist at the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale and a co-author of a recent paper. "Here we are really trying to control cavities (after they develop)."
Drilling teeth and filling them is safe and effective. Dentists fill millions of cavities each year across the United States. However, though dentists numb the tooth, many patients still rue the sound of that drill.
The new research could make a trip to the dentist's office more pleasant, said Berkirane-Jessel. Instead of a drill, a quick dab of gel or a thin film against an infected tooth could heal teeth from within.
Cavities are bacteria and pus-filled holes on or in teeth which can lead to discomfort, pain and even tooth loss. When people eat acidic foods, consume sugary snacks or simply don't maintain proper oral hygiene, bacteria begin to eat away at the protective enamel and other minerals inside teeth.
The causes of cavities are varied. But for most cavities, the treatment is the same: drilling into a tooth, removing the decay and filling in the hole to prevent further damage.
The gel or thin film contains a peptide known as MSH, or melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Previous experiments, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that MSH encourages bone regeneration.
Bone and teeth are fairly similar, so the French scientists reasoned that if the MSH were applied to teeth, it should help healing as well.
To test their theory, the French scientists applied either a film or gel, both of which contained MSH, to cavity-filled mice teeth. After about one month, the cavities had disappeared, said Benkirane-Jessel.
Benkirane-Jessel cautions that the MSH-containing films or gels only treat cavities; they don't prevent them. People will still need to brush, floss and use mouthwash to help prevent cavities from forming in the first place.
Treating cavities without drilling "would have its advantages," said Hom-Lay Wang, a dentist at the University of Michigan. Cavities and drilling can destroy the nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth, making it more brittle and likely to fracture. Regenerating a tooth could help avoid crowns after a cavity has been filled.
That said, regenerating a tooth from within would only be useful in a relatively small number of cases. Most cavities would still need to be drilled and filled.
In the meantime, patients can't slacken their oral hygiene either. Numerous clinical trials over several years will have to be completed before the MSH-containing gels or films are available to treat cavities in humans.
Did the dried gum stay in as a filling would, or did it cause the tooth to grow back and just fall out or were you kidding?”
Actually stayed in place for a little while, kept the cold air out of the cavity when I breathed in, so cut down on the pain A LITTLE, until I got it yanked...still hurt...when I said it worked like you would think, I was kind of kidding...it wasn’t great, but it helped a while...
Sounds like what my ortho put in my back when he did fusion to avoid having to do a bone graft from my hip. Worked enormously well for me - he’s the nearest thing to Jesus as far as I’m concerned. I heard they had to stop using it though. Don’t know why.
You need a better endodontist. I've had several and have had no problems.
Doesn’t the novacaine help?
Well, the novocaine helps a bit, but it still feels as if they are pulling out pieces of brain. (That could explain my current state of goofiness.)
I have had root canals by 2 different dentists, and it has always been horrible! I have not been to an endodontist. Maybe they have better drugs. ;-)
Or, perhaps I am just a wimp.
I had one root canal done by a regular dentist (DMD) that later had to be redone by an endodontist. The first guy missed one of the roots.
Some DMDs just don’t want to pass up the business. Technically they have the knowledge and skill to do the job, but they don’t have the specialized equipment and training to do it right.
If your dentist doesn’t refer you to a specialist for things like root canals, dental surgery and gum problems (periodontist) then they are most likely in this category.
Also...if a dentist blows a procedure...find another dentist. There are a lot of bad dentists out there. My dad was a dental surgeon and he had a very low opinion of most dentists.
That certainly is a disturbing, yet enlightening trend.
Young people diving headfirst into the occult in order to “belong” or to have some sort of “power”.
On the bright side, since they’re seeking something bigger than themselves, they’d be more open to the truth of the Gospel than some others.
Ouchie!
This is why I avoid doctors as much as possible. ;-)
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