Study identifies tooth repair treatment

Research from King's College London has found that teeth can be encouraged to repair themselves in a way that could result in lessening the need for fillings.

The study identified a chemical, Tideglusib, which could prompt cells in the dental pulp to heal small holes in mice teeth.

The researchers used a biodegradable sponge which was soaked in the drug and then put inside the tooth cavity.

Scientists have confirmed that teeth have limited regenerative abilities and are only capable of producing a thin band of dentine if the inner dental pulp becomes exposed, but this cannot repair a large cavity.

However, the study, published in Science Reports, showed showed that Tideglusib heightened the activity of stem cells in the dental pulp so they could repair 0.13mm holes in the teeth of mice.

Currently, dentists have to repair tooth decay or caries with a filling made of a metal amalgam or a composite of powdered glass and ceramic. However, these often need replacing multiple times during someone's lifetime.

Professor Paul Sharpe, lead author of the study, from King’s College London said: “The simplicity of our approach makes it ideal as a clinical dental product for the natural treatment of large cavities, by providing both pulp protection and restoring dentine.

“In addition, using a drug that has already been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease provides a real opportunity to get this dental treatment quickly into clinics.”