Tooth Regeneration: Growing New Dentin
Research verifies that this pharmaceutical triggers dentin regeneration and what is even more fascinating is: That a tooth can repair itself.
[Please note that this page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.]
Years ago, scientists suggested a low dose of the molecule glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) antagonist — found in the form of the Alzheimer’s drug Tideglusib — when put on a decayed tooth, may stimulate the coronal pulp to repair itself.
Researchers at the King’s College in London have advanced the research and found evidence that Tideglusib might allow a pathway for self-healing dentin on teeth. The recently published study is located in the Journal of Dental Research.
Unfortunately, needles and drills might still be involved to remove decay from the affected area before treatment.
The Three Tooth Layers
Soft dental pulp: Found on the inside of the tooth. It holds blood vessels, connective tissue, and the tooth’s nerve.
Dentin: Calcified, hard tissue protects the tooth’s soft inner region.
Outer enamel: The mineralized hard outer layer protects the tooth's structure.
When someone gets a cavity, their outer enamel has a hole. With that external protection penetrated, contaminating bacteria settles in, quickly leading to decay, which burrows itself deeper into the tooth, it causes widespread damage to the inner layers.
The dentist cleans up bacteria inside the cavity by repairing a tooth through traditional procedures. Then it is filled in with a cement compound, a substitute for natural dentin.
The researchers were looking to figure out how big a damaged area could be fixed using Tideglusib. In addition, they were looking to examine the composition of fixed dentin compared to naturally occurring bone and dentin.
Repairing Damaged Dentin Study
The scientists first established that Tideglusib could cause the production of adequate replacement dentin to be helpful. The study states that the pharmaceutical can “fully repair an area of damaged dentin up to 10 times bigger.”
Second, the researchers learned that Tideglusib only works on a specific material in the tooth: the coronal pulp, the area of pulp that extends to the tooth’s crown.
The scientists also learned that for Tideglusib to be effective, it can only be put on the affected area, discovering that untreated pulp regions, specifically the root pulp, aren’t affected negatively by the treatment.
Finally, examining fixed dentin using Raman microspectroscopy, the scientists found that the dentin is chemically structured like natural dentin and involves similar ratios of phosphate and carbonate and a mineral-to-matrix as natural dentin.
Dentin Regeneration
A limiting factor when using Tideglusib is the coronal pulp must be visible inside the cavity to be treated properly. However, the research verifies that this pharmaceutical triggers dentin regeneration and what is even more fascinating is: That a tooth can repair itself.
Researchers are putting a lot of resources into the potential of humans being able to regenerate body parts, similar to other animals like salamanders.
Well, that is interesting!