Dawn of techno-teeth

It’s high time technology caught up with dentistry

ELECTRICAL impulses could be a pain-free way to repair teeth showing early signs of decay. The impulses help by remineralising the tooth. Minerals naturally move in and out of teeth, but if too many leach out – as a result of acid produced by bacteria, for instance – this can hasten decay.

Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation uses a tiny electric current to push minerals present in saliva and food into the deepest layers of the tooth.

This helps the tooth heal and strengthens it.

The device, originally developed by researchers at King’s College London, should be available in the next two years.

With normal toothpaste, the fluoride will stay on teeth for about two hours. But the fluoride in BioMinF is suspended in particles that stick to teeth for up to 12 hours.

The toothpaste also slowly releases calcium and phosphate, which work together to replace and strengthen the enamel.

Professor Robert Hill, chairman of dental physical sciences, who led the development team at Queen Mary University, London, says remineralising toothpaste makes teeth more resistant to attack from acidic drinks such as fruit juice.

BioMinF is available online (biomin.co.uk) for £6.50 (R136) and from specialist distributors.

Scientists have developed regenerative fillings that allow teeth to heal themselves. The new synthetic filling material stimulates stem cells – which have the potential to become any type of cell in the body – to encourage the growth of dentine, the hard tissue which forms the bulk of the tooth.

This should allow patients to effectively re-grow damaged or decayed teeth rather than having a filling.

The new filling material, developed by the University of Nottingham and Harvard University, can regenerate the inner pulp as well as the surrounding dentine, potentially doing away with the need for root canal treatment.

A new liquid which identifies the extent of decay could prevent unnecessary fillings.

Tooth decay goes through two stages: an initial stage when there is a weakening and signs of decay but no cavity, and a later cavitated state when a filling is needed to stop decay from progressing into the inner pulp of the tooth. Dentists do not have a test to determine the difference between the two states.

The liquid, created by researchers from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Nebraska, US, is applied to the surface of the teeth before a dental X-ray.

Known as Cavifind, it shows dentists whether a tooth has decay that needs to be filled or whether the decay can be treated without a filling.

The liquid will appear white on the X-ray. If there is a hole in the tooth, a white area will show under the tooth surface.

Cavifind could be available within a year.

Sharks have rows of teeth that regenerate throughout their lifetime. Researchers at the University of Sheffield have identified a special set of cells – the dental lamina – which contain genes that prompt this development.

Humans also have dental lamina cells in the gums. We only form two sets – our baby and adult teeth – before this set of specialised cells is lost. The discovery could help develop new treatments for tooth loss.

Work is also under way on an ultrasound device that will help to repair broken or decayed teeth. – Daily Mail