Light coaxes stem cells to repair teeth: Noninvasive laser therapy could radically shift dental trea

[eShirl]

Light coaxes stem cells to repair teeth: Noninvasive laser therapy could radically shift dental treatment

A Harvard-led team is the first to demonstrate the ability to use low-power light to trigger stem cells inside the body to regenerate tissue, an advance they reported in Science Translational Medicine. The research, led by Wyss Institute Core Faculty member David Mooney, Ph.D., lays the foundation for a host of clinical applications in restorative dentistry and regenerative medicine more broadly, such as wound healing, bone regeneration, and more.

The team used a low-power laser to trigger human dental stem cells to form dentin, the hard tissue that is similar to bone and makes up the bulk of teeth. What's more, they outlined the precise molecular mechanism involved, and demonstrated its prowess using multiple laboratory and animal models.

A number of biologically active molecules, such as regulatory proteins called growth factors, can trigger stem cells to differentiate into different cell types. Current regeneration efforts require scientists to isolate stem cells from the body, manipulate them in a laboratory, and return them to the body -- efforts that face a host of regulatory and technical hurdles to their clinical translation. But Mooney's approach is different and, he hopes, easier to get into the hands of practicing clinicians.

"Our treatment modality does not introduce anything new to the body, and lasers are routinely used in medicine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low," said Mooney, who is also the Robert P. Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). "It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528150559.htm

[msongs]

1. dentists have billions invested in current tech. they gonna toss it away? nt

[Ed Suspicious]

5. I think they love to adopt new tech, especially if your the only guy on the block rebuilding teeth

while all the other guys are yanking and drilling. I think this will catch on pretty quickly if it proves efficacious.

[tridim]

9. If it proves efficacious... and profitable.

If it's dirt cheap, there is zero chance it will become standard procedure in expensive dentist offices.

Most likely people will figure out how to do it themselves (just like we have been doing with nutrition) and bypass the old school dentist completely.

Adapt or die.

[freshwest]

2. This could be a great thing for so many, and cheaper, perhaps, too. n/t

[enlightenment]

4. I would love to see this happen.

Modern dentistry is not that far removed from what was done 50 years ago. The compounds and techniques might be different but the basic idea hasn't really changed - chisel out the "cavity" and fill it with something else. Like asphalt, only in your mouth.

[JoeyT]

3. Sadly, if the cost isn't significantly lower than existing dental techniques,

it's still going to be out of reach for the majority of the population.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Tom Cruise would be first in line....

What could go wrong?

[Javaman]

11. And here I thought you were going to point about his "uni-tooth". nt

[mountain grammy]

7. Oh hurry! Right now I'm in a race with my teeth to see which one of us goes first.

[Not a Fan]

8. Vitamin K

Also interesting on this topic (marginally ....) is that taking Vitamin K has been known to repair cracked teeth. Not as dramatic - but still interesting.

[tridim]

10. Vitamin K2, for accuracy.

Calcium, D and K2 for even more accuracy.