Decline of the dentist's drill? Drug helps rotten teeth regenerate, trial shows

[Sagan]

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 Alzheimer?s 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 Alzheimer?s drug, allowing the tooth?s own cells to rebuild cavities extending from the surface to the root.

Prof Paul Sharpe, who led the work at King?s College London, said: ?Almost everyone on the planet has tooth decay at some time ? it?s a massive volume of people being treated. We?ve deliberately tried to make something really simple, really quick and really cheap.?

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/...te-trial-shows

[lethargic nomad]

Well, that would be great. I have so many fillings even though I've always brushed regularly. The dentist I was seeing as a child went overboard with the drilling. I was going every 6 months, I really don't understand why they didn't put sealant on my molars.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_sealant