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posted by martyb on Thursday January 12 2017, @06:31PM   Printer-friendly
from the something-to-chew-on dept.

King's College London researchers have found a method of stimulating the stem cells inside of teeth in order to generate new dentine mineral, potentially reducing the need to use man-made materials to treat cavities:

A new method of stimulating the renewal of living stem cells in tooth pulp using an Alzheimer's drug has been discovered by a team of researchers at King's College London. Following trauma or an infection, the inner, soft pulp of a tooth can become exposed and infected. In order to protect the tooth from infection, a thin band of dentine is naturally produced and this seals the tooth pulp, but it is insufficient to effectively repair large cavities. Currently dentists use man-made cements or fillings, such as calcium and silicon-based products, to treat these larger cavities and fill holes in teeth. This cement remains in the tooth and fails to disintegrate, meaning that the normal mineral level of the tooth is never completely restored.

However, in a paper published today in Scientific Reports, scientists from the Dental Institute at King's College London have proven a way to stimulate the stem cells contained in the pulp of the tooth and generate new dentine – the mineralised material that protects the tooth - in large cavities, potentially reducing the need for fillings or cements.

Promotion of natural tooth repair by small molecule GSK3 antagonists (open, DOI: 10.1038/srep39654) (DX)


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @07:34PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @07:34PM (#453030)

    These damn kids better get off my lawn I tell you hwut!

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @07:40PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @07:40PM (#453031)

    You mean those damn hipster kids are disrupting your lawn with their apps! Why won't you drop dead old luddite your house is a dead zone in our mesh network. One of these nights we're just going to break into your place and install mesh nodes in your attic.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @09:19PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @09:19PM (#453073)

      Meanwhile in Soviet Russia...

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 13 2017, @01:32AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 13 2017, @01:32AM (#453143)

        ... networks join you!