Advances in Dental Filling Technology
For years, the only way to access and treat a cavity was for a dentist to use local anesthesia and then drill away at the tooth. This method causes pain and further damages the tooth. Researchers are discovering new methods through dental filling technology. While much of the following won't be seen outside of research facilities for several years, it is exciting to consider all the possibilities.
Resin infiltration
DMDToday.com reported a new cavity treatment called resin infiltration that eliminates the need for drilling and filling that is being studied by researchers at the University of Alabama (UAB) at Birmingham School of Dentistry. The process is very specific and is currently only being used in clinical trials. The product is applied in the small space between a patient’s teeth to treat small dental caries. A gel, which prepares the tooth for the resin product, is first pushed between the two tooth surfaces. A perforated plastic sheet is placed between the affected teeth, and the tooth is then filled by pushing the resin through the sheet. The resin must be in liquid form for absorption into the caries between the teeth. The resin is cured with a dental curing light, and the process is complete.
The School of Dentistry Division director of biomaterials, Nathaniel Lawson, D.M.D. stated about this new procedure, “Since this is a no-shot and no-drill treatment, it is popular with patients. And since no tooth is removed, it is a very conservative procedure.”
Teeth regeneration
Instead of filling cavities, teeth regeneration is emerging as a new dental filing technology, according to a report from ScientificAmerican. Drugs are being used to stimulate the self-repair mechanisms in teeth. Paul Sharpe, a bioengineer at King’s College London, and his colleagues have discovered a way to regrow teeth in mice and rats. They are gaining ground that will soon lead them to human clinical trials. Additional studies are taking place to rule out potential side effects.
Sharpe worked with the idea that he could boost teeth’s natural healing ability through the mobilization of stem cells in the dental pulp. Previous research had identified a signaling pathway that was an essential component for tissue repair and stem cell development. Sharpe wondered if this would have the same self-repair effect in the teeth.
The mouse and rat molars that were treated with drugs known to stimulate signaling were in fact restored. The team is continuing tests with additional candidate drugs to determine if one works even better and to figure out the optimal dose. The drug that is finally chosen will be delivered as a gel injected into the cavity and then cured with an ultraviolet light.
The future
With studies like resin infiltration and tooth regeneration, the future of dental filing technologies looks to be a promising one. Imagine a future where local anesthetics and drilling into the tooth are things of the past. In both studies, a gel and a light appear to be the most invasive aspects of these procedures. The future offers a lot to smile about!
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