Can an Alzheimer’s drug really help to re-grow damaged teeth?

This discovery could change the concept of dental treatment procedures suggests latest research

Researchers at King’s College London have found that a drug designed to treat Alzheimer’s disease is able to stimulate damaged teeth to create new dentine capable of filling large cavities.Current dental treatment procedures require the cavity to be ‘filled’. Now however, according to trial results, the drug works by stimulating stem cells already present in the pulp of the damaged tooth to create new dentine – the hard material that makes up most of the tooth.The researchers applied the drug, together with a substance called ‘glycogen synthetic kinase’ by the use of a biodegradable sponge made from collagen. As the sponge degraded it was replaced by dentine – leading to a complete and natural repair.It could, claimed the scientists, signal major changes in dental treatment procedures in that it could ‘potentially’ reduce the need for fillings.Call us cynical, but we feel that we have heard these claims before and while the trials and the published results suggest exciting progress for dental treatment procedures we are still maintaining a wary eye on future developments.At the moment the standard dental treatment procedures when you lose tooth tissue – either through broken teeth caused by accidental damage or though tooth decay - is to seal the cavity using a proven filling material. At Carisbrook we offer a choice of materials including traditional silver fillings and the latest white fillings, which are becoming more and more popular. White fillings are a special composite individually made to suit each patient so that they perfectly match the colour and shade of the affected teeth. White fillings are not really suitable for very large cavities, but our dental alternative is to use custom-made ceramic fillings called inlays and onlays. These are excellent restorative dentistry treatments that have the added benefit of being exceptionally strong and long lasting.A third dental treatment procedures option for badly damaged teeth is to effect an aesthetically acceptable cosmetic dentistry repair using crowns. Not only will crowns provide an expert (and invisible) repair, they can offer outstanding protection for any weaker tooth or teeth.So for now we will wait to discover the long-term effectiveness of the new natural tooth repair process. If it is as effective and reliable as the scientists claim you can be certain that at Carisbrook we will be one of the first dental clinics to assess its qualities with a view to offering to our patients. Until then, of course, we are confident that our white fillings, inlays/onlays and crowns are excellent Dental Surgery treatment procedures for the repair of damaged teeth.If you would like to discuss the benefits of white fillings, inlays/onlays and crowns to remedy your own dental problems please do not hesitate to contact us. We are currently offering all new patients a FREE CONSULTATION. You can call us on 0161 951 7295 or you can contact us by using the online booking form on our Appointments page.