Whole
Tooth Regeneration |
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Over the years, I have heard from people interested in tooth regrowth
to replace teeth lost to injuries or decay. A couple have even
sent me to mystical web sites explaining how it could be possible,
spiritually, with the right connection to the eternal power.
Now, I am not a spiritual skeptic - far from it, in fact. But in this western civilization I think a person would be hard pressed to locate too awfully many of us out there with the right etherial connection to pull it off. If that were the case, I doubt the need to regrow one's teeth would be necessary, unless as for the purpose of a devotee's witness of such connection. However, you can imagine my surprise when I ran across a company doing just that - re-growing teeth - or at least doing some serious research on it. In fact, not just one company but several companies are conducting stem cell research for this purpose. In a recent article on root canal alternatives, I mentioned a company named Dentigenix which developed a proprietary process for sealing off nerves exposed by decay and allowing a natural remineralization process to occur, whereby saving the tooth without root canal. Dentigenix is one of the companies doing this research and was recently purchased by Ivoclar Vivadent, a multinational company known for its manufacture of traditional restorative products for the world dental industry, including the amalgams which fill the teeth of many of us. I suppose that when they heard about the research Dentigenix was doing, they saw the writing on the wall and quickly acquired them. On the bandwagon of research with Dentigenix is The Forsyth Institute, Harvard University and Massachusettes General Hospital. From a Dentigenix press release... "The technology is based on novel tissue engineering techniques developed and successfully used at Forsyth to bioengineer porcine tooth crowns. The research team, led by Pamela Yelick, PhD, a member of the Forsyth staff and an instructor in oral and developmental biology at HSDM, has predicted that the techniques could be ready for clinical testing in seven to ten years. "This (agreement) is an important step in the development of a technology that could, potentially, transform dentistry and the industries related to it, " said Christopher Somogyi, chairman and chief executive officer of Dentigenix, an early stage company dedicated to bringing the advances of tissue engineering and regeneration to dentistry and craniofacial restoration. "A biological tooth is inherently preferable to an artificial replacement because it would be natural and alive and would provide the feel and performance of the original tooth." "Joseph P. Vacanti, MD, director of the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication at MGH is a co-inventor of the technology. He has said that by combining the new science of stem cell biology with the engineering concepts and techniques of tissue engineering, the work conducted in the Yelick lab demonstrates that complex structures such as living teeth can be created. "In the words of R. Bruce Donoff, DMD, MD, Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, which provided seed funding for the research: "The creation of a biologic tooth is the long-term goal of the Harvard Center for Craniofacial Tissue Engineering. This exciting work brings that goal closer to reality and promises to advance tissue engineering in oral health. The Harvard School of Dental Medicine is proud to be part of Dentigenix's program." Patents pending. Dentigenix predicts 7-10 years, although a group of Japanese researchers expect to be shipping the 'tooth germ' in the next three years. In addition, The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) recently awarded other U.S. researchers $4.6 million for the 'tooth farming' studies. Whole tooth regeneration will clearly revolutionize dentistry as we know it. Forget about false teeth, implants, etc. Heck, it the tooth is too far decayed, forgo the root canal, yank the tooth and grow a new one! More: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Can you imagine the money going into this research? Could you imagine if it were re-channelled into education and prevention? -Tom Cornwell OraMedia |