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Originally shared by Dental Tribune International: ‘Bioteeth’ a step closer to becoming clinical reality

NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: Researchers at the Dental Institute at King’s College London say they’re a step closer to growing human teeth in the lab using cells from the individual who would ultimately receive the tooth as a natural implant. Led by Professor Paul Sharpe, the research team isolated adult human gingival tissue from dental patients at the institute, grew more of the tissue in the lab, and then combined the tissue with mesenchyme (tooth-forming) cells from mice.

The combination of cells were transplanted into mice renal tissue, where they grew into hybrid human/mouse teeth that contained dentine and enamel — and formed viable roots.

The root formation is seen as a key breakthrough, because bioengineered teeth with natural root structure could eliminate one of the challenges sometimes seen with tooth-implant technology to date: a risk of bone loss in the area of the jaw that anchors an artificial implant. Such bone loss has been attributed to friction that occurs when eating or because of other jaw movement.

The goal is creation of a viable root that would be integrated into the jaw as if it was the recipient’s natural tooth. There’s no need for the crown of the tooth to match the bite, because technology exists to create a man-made alternative that integrates appropriately into the bite and appearance — and functions comparably to a natural crown.

The King’s College London Dental Institute reports that previous efforts to produce bioengineered teeth (bioteeth) have focused primarily on the generation of immature teeth (teeth primordia) that mimic those in the embryo. Such teeth could be transplanted as small cell ”pellets” into the adult jaw to develop into functional teeth. It has been demonstrated that embryonic teeth primordia can develop normally in the adult mouth, so if suitable cells can be identified and combined in such a way to produce an immature tooth, there is a realistic prospect that bioteeth can become a clinical reality.

Subsequent studies have largely focused on the use of embryonic cells; and although it is clear that embryonic tooth primordia cells can readily form immature teeth following dissociation into single cell populations and subsequent recombination, such cell sources are considered impractical to use in a general therapy.

Sharpe, an expert in craniofacial development and stem cell biology, said, “What is required is the identification of adult sources of human epithelial and mesenchymal cells that can be obtained in sufficient numbers to make biotooth formation a viable alternative to dental implants. … Epithelial cells derived from adult human gum tissue are capable of responding to tooth-inducing signals from embryonic tooth mesenchyme in an appropriate way to contribute to tooth crown and root formation and give rise to relevant differentiated cell types, following in vitro culture. These easily accessible epithelial cells are thus considered a realistic source for consideration in human biotooth formation. The next major challenge is to identify a way to culture adult human mesenchymal cells to be tooth-inducing, as at the moment we can only make embryonic mesenchymal cells do this.”

Sharpe’s findings were published in the Journal of Dental Research. The team’s efforts were funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, United Kingdom. The research report became available online in early March at jdr.sagepub.com. Categorized under “Research Reports – Biological,” the article is titled, “Adult Human Gingival Epithelial Cells as a Source for Whole-tooth Bioengineering.”

(Source: Dental Institute at King’s College London)

Our friends at Northeast Delta Dental recently shared this post The Tooth Fairy Loosened Her Purse Strings in 2012 and we wanted to share it with you!

How much are kids getting for lost baby teeth these days? The average gift from the Tooth Fairy was $2.42 last year, up 32 cents from $2.10 in 2011, according to Delta Dental's The Original Tooth Fairy Poll^®.¹ The most common amount left under the pillow was $1 (51 percent).

According to the poll, the Tooth Fairy was even more generous with kids who lost their first tooth, leaving more money for the first tooth in 46 percent of homes. On average, the amount given for the first tooth was $3.49.

“Leaving gifts from the Tooth Fairy is a great way to help make losing teeth less scary and enjoyable for kids,” said Bill Hupp, Delta Dental Plans Association's smiling spokesperson. “Delta Dental encourages parents to use the Tooth Fairy as an opportunity to talk about good oral health even before a child loses the first tooth. Caring for baby teeth is important, as they help children chew and speak properly and hold space for permanent teeth.”

In 2012, the Tooth Fairy visited nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes with children who lost a tooth. Delta Dental suggests the following ways parents can use conversations about the Tooth Fairy as teachable moments:

• Introduce the Tooth Fairy early on. Kids will start losing baby teeth around age six. Before this age, parents can teach kids about the Tooth Fairy and let them know that good oral health habits and healthy teeth make her happy. Use this as an opportunity to brush up on a child's everyday dental routine. Kids not wanting to brush and floss? Remind them the Tooth Fairy is more generous for healthy baby teeth, not teeth with cavities. This will help get kids excited about taking care of their teeth.
• Leave a note reinforcing good habits. A personalized note from the Tooth Fairy could be nearly as exciting for kids as the gift itself. Parents should include tips for important oral health habits that the Tooth Fairy wants kids to practice, such as brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and visiting the dentist twice a year. And, of course, parents should give the Tooth Fairy a special name. After all, Flossie or Twinkle is a bit more exciting than just Tooth Fairy!
• Give oral health gifts. Although the Tooth Fairy left cash for kids in 98 percent of homes she visited, two percent of children received toys, candy, gum, or other gifts. Consider forgoing cash and providing oral health gifts instead, like a new toothbrush or fun-flavored toothpaste. For readers, there are numerous children's books about Tooth Fairy adventures in bookstores or online. The days of jamming a tiny tooth underneath a huge pillow and making the Tooth Fairy blindly grope around under a heavy sleeping head are gone. Special pillows with tiny, tooth-sized pockets attached are now available online, with themes ranging from princesses to ninjas. Some of the pillows can even be customized with your little gap–toothed child's name. Or if a parent (the Tooth Fairy) is feeling generous, kids could receive both cash and a new toothbrush.

“It's hard for young kids to fully comprehend the importance of oral health, but tapping into a child's imagination can make taking care of teeth more exciting,” Hupp said.

For more information, visit www.theoriginaltoothfairypoll.com. To get a sense of the taste and style choices of the Tooth Fairy and for some fun ideas, parents can follow her on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/origtoothfairy.

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to an oral health specialist such as a dentist or your doctor at Associates in Periodontics.

There are many reasons for bad breath:

• · What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• · If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• · Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• · Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• · Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

The team at Associates in Periodontics take special care to provide each of our patients with the highest quality care in a family friendly environment. Take a look at some reviews and feel free to share your stories with us on Facebook!

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