Teeth are a part of our body that is as fragile as it is indispensable and requires a lot of care and attention, otherwise they will degrade fairly quickly and cause more than one problem. And we certainly remember all those times when we had to go to the dentist to fill, an operation that many of us hate. But the good news is that all this will soon be old history!
The pivot point in the history of medicine
A discovery for a drug called Tideglusib that could replace fills used to repair cavities. Originally developed and tested with the goal of treating Alzheimer's disease, this drug also visibly has properties that promote the natural mechanism of tooth regrowth, causing caries to repair themselves. .
Tideglusib acts as a stem cell stimulator in the dental pulp, helping the damaged area to regenerate the dentin that makes up the majority of the tooth. This material is the mineralized substance under the dental enamel and is often eaten by decay.
Teeth can usually regenerate dentin without any intervention, but only under certain circumstances. The pulp must be exposed to decay or trauma to trigger the process of remaking the dentine. Knowing that even in this case, the tooth can recover a thin layer by natural means, which is not enough for him to recover from the damage caused by caries, the latter being generally quite deep. Tideglusib modifies this mode of operation because it renders ineffective the enzyme "GSK-3" which prevents dentin from reforming.
At the heart of the experience
During the experiment, the research team introduced small sponges made of biodegradable collagen and dipped in Tideglusib, inside the cavities. The sponges then triggered dentin regrowth and in just 6 weeks the damage was repaired. The structure made of collagen then dissipated, leaving behind an intact tooth.
Mr. Paul Sharpe, director of the Dental Institute in London, says about this experience that the simplicity of the approach they have had him and his team made it a natural dental treatment even against major caries cases , giving both more protection to the dental pulp and a regenerative capacity to dentin. He added that using a drug that has already been tested for clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease presents a real opportunity to make this treatment available as quickly as possible.
And in an interview, he says: "A tooth is not just a mass of minerals, it has its own physiology. What we are currently doing is replacing living tissue with inert cement. Dental fillings work well, but if the tooth is able to self-repair, it would certainly be better. Since we have restored to the tooth all its vitality. "
More than a few steps before the final decision
The process has so far only been tested on mouse teeth, and there is still a considerable amount of research to be done before confirming that these same effects can be replicated to humans. Researchers have so far tested Tideglusib on mice, and they plan to repeat the same experiment on rats and if the results prove positive, tests on humans should be the next step!
The process is in itself similar to the principle of conventional dental filling, except that instead of using artificial material to fill, the natural growth of the dentine is encouraged, which will result in teeth being formed. much better health in the long run.
The good news is that both Tideglusib and collagen sponges have been proven in clinical trials, which will help speed up the process of adopting this new device!
Let's hope that this miracle treatment is soon at hand so that many dental problems are just a bad memory!