Feb 12, 2010

Growing New Teeth With Stem Cells

In 2004 scientists at King's College London set up a company called Odontis. They have been working on developing human teeth from stem cells. This biological replacement tooth has been trademarked as BioTooth.
The idea is to take adult stem cells, treat them in a cell culture so they would be programmed to develop into teeth and then transplanted into the patients jaw where the gap is. Then a replacement tooth grows just as happens when humans grow their original adult teeth. It is thought it would then take two to three months for the tooth to fully develop. The cost should not be more than existing treatments making it an attractive alternative to other technologies such as implants and dentures.
By 2007 Dr. Paul Sharpe and his team had learned to control the type of tooth formed and control the basic shapes, i.e. molar & incisor. Tooth development involves a network of thousands of genes. It's not necessary to understand what all the genes are doing to get the ball rolling, Sharpe says. Rather, by watching when a few key genes are turned on and off, the researchers have learned which are most important in the control of size and shape. Some genes only work in the upper jaw, others only where molars grow. In one experiment, Sharpe's team took early tooth buds from growing embryos and switched on a gene known to be active in growing molars. They implanted the buds in the front of the jaws of mice, where incisors would normally grow. The rodents emerged with molars in front and back.
The teeth are grown in mice kidney capsules because they provide a convenient site for prolonged growth due to the bountiful blood supply to the developing tooth. Dr. Sharpe's aim was never to grow teeth in kidneys. This is just his experimental test system. In the future its likely that the teeth will be grown in some sort of artificial bio-reactor which itself is still in development.
The tooth bud is then implanted in the jaw and the gum stitched or sealed with a clinical "glue". They have not started human clinical trials yet, however they expect the procedure to be less invasive than a tooth extraction and the requirements for post-procedure care would be similar. After implantation it takes the tooth about 3 weeks to set in the jaw of a mouse. As long as the tooth is not under heavy load, it sets well.
The technology to grow replacement teeth could mean the end of dentures. Living teeth would be much better than dentures because they can respond to a persons bite. They move and in doing so they maintain the health of the surrounding gums and teeth. Dr. Sharpe has patented the technique and hopes to begin human trials in a few years once they perfect their techniques.
Predicting a release date to market is difficult as its still in development but according to their website they are expecting it to be available in "several years".
http://www.upgradeyourbody.com/blogs/regenerative/growing-new-teeth-with-stem-cells-odontis.html
http://www.upgradeyourbody.com is a community based health and fitness site where members can share photos and videos, post blogs and join groups to meet similar people.

Jan 22, 2010

Here's How You Can Find Low Cost Dental Dentures

Dentures In Tijuana are Cheaper

Dentures, Mini Implants for Dentures, Crowns, Braces and all dental work is much cheaper in Mexico.

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Jan 14, 2010

Free Dental Care Tips on Dentures

Dentures are artificial sets of teeth used to replace all the lost teeth in the upper and lower jaw. Loss of teeth can happen due to many reasons such as decay, injury, naturally, etc. Dentures will not only replace your teeth, but also take care of facial muscles from sagging. However, if you are not comfortable with your dentures, it will cause immense pain to you and you will feel restless.
During the time of adjustment, you will notice that dentures may slip when you speak or eat and you may also get painful sores. After few days, the pain will ease away and you will feel comfortable wearing your dentures without any problem for many years. Over the course of time, the bony area of the gums will start reducing in size and when this happens you may again develop more once again.
By taking good care, you can easily avoid such painful moments. Here are some steps you may take so that you may never face such problems again:
1. Clean your dentures regularly. It is even more important to clean your dentures during the time of adjustment. You must take all the care to reduce the level of bacteria in the mouth because if it increases then the time taken for healing will also increase. For cleaning your dentures, you may use regular toothpaste or even go for a specially formulated denture cleaner.
2. It is also important to brush your gums as it helps in getting rid of bacteria and plaque. You should brush gently because if you don't then your gums may bleed.
3. During the time of adjustment, it is advised to go for food materials that are soft because the gums are still in the healing phase due to placement of the new dentures. Once the gums become healthy again, you can start eating normal food that you like to eat. However, it is advisable to avoid hard food.
4. Pain-killers can help in reducing the pain considerably. Before you take one, it is advisable to seek advice from a dentist. There are many dentists who do free dental checkup and give medicines that can help in quickening the healing process.
5. Do not ever do the measurements of your dentures on your own. Visit a dentist to take accurate measurements and in future if you want to readjust your dentures, make sure your visit your dental doctor again.
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Jan 8, 2010

Dental Implants dentist in tijuana

Implants dentist in Tijuana

If you've lost a tooth due to injury or periodontal disease, it can be a source of irritation and embarrassment. It may become difficult to properly chew and uncomfortable to simply smile. In the past when a tooth has been lost or extracted the few options available were dentures, a bridge or just putting up with the lose of a tooth.
Now there is another option for consideration, a dental implant. Dental implants are typically performed by a cosmetic dentist and have become a fairly routine procedure. The following may help to explain how the procedure is performed and the benefits of choosing implants.
There Are Many Reasons For Tooth Loss
Tooth decay is the main reason adults lose teeth. In fact, most adults by the age of 50 have lost at least one of their permanent teeth. Unfortunately, good dental hygiene becomes a low priority for many adults and with lax care bacterium can accumulate in plaque. Plaque builds up and then produces acids that promote tooth decay. If unchecked, this decay process will get to a point where the tooth needs to be extracted because of exposed nerves or it simply falls out.
Another main reason adults lose teeth is due to accidents and trauma. If a tooth is lost due to traumatic events it is unlikely the tooth will be able to be put back in place and function to maximum capacity. In this event a cosmetic dentist will need to be consulted to restore the tooth.

A Dental Implant Is Composed Of Three Parts

Dental implants usually are composed of three parts, the crown, the abutment and the implant. A screw, usually made from titanium is inserted into the jawbone while the abutment fastens directly on to the screw that protrudes through the gum. The crown is actually an artificial tooth and is placed around the abutment to look and feel like a natural tooth. Each portion of the dental implant is custom fitted and must be performed by an experienced cosmetic dentist.

Why Dental Implants?

A properly designed and installed dental implant, with routine normal maintenance will last a lifetime. Unlike conventional bridges and dentures, which may need to be replaced periodically, a dental implant does not. They look and feel like your natural teeth. Your friends and family won't even be able to tell that you have a dental implant.
Another advantage to dental implants over convention bridgework is the fact dental implants do not require the use of surrounding teeth. The typical bridge is supported by neighboring teeth and may require cutting or grinding to secure a perfect fit.
A custom made dental implant will not slip out of the mouth like dentures that don't fit well. In addition you won't have the clicking sound that can accompany ill-fitting dentures.
Dental Implant Process

Mini Dental Implants in Tijuana

If you live in the Big Apple, the process for dental implants involves a cosmetic dentist in New York City. If you live elsewhere, you can typically find a dentist specializing in cosmetic dentistry in any large city. Before the dentist installs the titanium screw in the jawbone, he will size your jaw to insure an accurate fit. While the gum and jawbone are healing, a temporary cover is placed on the screw. Once healed, the dentist will install a temporary crown. Soon the gum line reshapes and the temporary crown can be replaced with the permanent crown. Your cosmetic dentist will carefully monitor this process every step along the way.
Although dental implants may be a costly procedure the fact that they last a lifetime and look and feel just like your natural teeth make the cost worthwhile.
About the Author: Christine O'Kelly is a writer for Smile In The City, a cosmetic dentist in New York City. Smile In The City specializes in aesthetic, implant and laser dentistry and is often heralded as a premier dentist in New York City.
Chris A. Harmen - EzineArticles Expert Author