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| NEWS IN DENTISTRY |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 2 | Page : 153 |
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News in Dentistry
Akshay J Melath
Managing Editor, Journal of the International Clinical Dental Research Organization
| Date of Web Publication | 28-Oct-2014 |
Correspondence Address:
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2231-0754.143534
How to cite this article:
Melath AJ. News in Dentistry
. J Int Clin Dent Res Organ 2014;6:153 |
 Tooth Protein May Lead to Bone Regeneration | |  |
The information appears in the journal Biomaterials.
Bioengineers at Queen Mary University of London found a protein that may aid patients suffering from osteoporosis or bone fractures. The protein statherin, which is usually found in the formation of enamel, can actually lead to bone growth.
The research team generated bioactive membranes from segments of different proteins to demonstrate which protein played the role in stimulating bone growth. The bone-stimulating aspect of the protein was tested in a rat model. The researchers employed analytical techniques to visualize and measure the calcified tissue.
The membrane of proteins using these molecules in this case can be bioactive and handled with ease to implement to the injured areas of bone.
Through this research, synthetic bone grafts were created that can lead to the natural regenerative process.
| Stem Cells May be Used to Grow Teeth | | |
The ability to turn stem cells into new teeth will be showcased at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition. Stem cells would likely be a more effective way to replace missing teeth because of the costs of implants, in addition to the difficulty in making sure the implants last for a long period of time.
It's possible that the teeth grown from stem cells could be implemented in mice within five years, according to Paul Sharpe, Dickinson Professor of Craniofacial Biology at King's College London Dental Institute.
It's also plausible for teeth to be grown from embyronic cells but using adult cells and growth-stimulating chemical factors is more likely to make it to the market at an affordable price.
Growing new teeth requires two cells, epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. One cell must send a message to the other cell to start the process of creating teeth. Sharpe's research has indicated that epithelial cells have the ability to respond to gum tissues during routine dental surgery. The goal of the researchers now is to find a source of mesenchymal cells that will do the same.
Stem cells in adult bone marrow produce other types of tissues-but only for 24 hours. It would be ideal to find a way to awaken the properties of cells to grow tissue and find their ability to grow teeth for longer periods of time.
Researchers conducted studies of shark and snake teeth, which are always replaced after a tooth breaks or falls out. The stem cell-rich dental lamina is examined thoroughly to understand this process. If epithelial and mesenchymal cells can be successfully combined, then new teeth should be capable of being created.
| 232 Denticles Removed From A Teenager in Mumbai | | |
Ashik Gavai, a 17-year-old student from Buldhana, underwent the six-hour operation, which involved four doctors at Mumbai's J.J. Hospital on July 21.
The teen had 232 denticles -- abnormal teeth-like growth -- lodged in his mouth due to a complex composite odontoma, a benign dental tumor.
The abnormal teeth were embedded in the bone inside the lower right jaw and were not visible from outside.
"It is very common for a person to have a (small) number of abnormal teeth, but this many is very rare," said Dr. Sunanda Dhiware, head of the Department of Dentistry at J.J. Hospital. She adds that she knows of cases where 40 to 50 teeth were removed.
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