The stem cells that may be extracted from our teeth can be used to fill in chips, cracks, and cavities, scientists say, and the findings could one day possibly make dental cement obsolete.
The new methodology has been tested only in mice so far, but the research itself, published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports, describes a way to motivate stem cells to repair tooth defects at a scale they normally can’t, with a drug that already has some safety testing behind it. It also highlights the potential of a type of stem cell therapy in which the cells are stimulated in place, rather than taken out, manipulated, and put back in.
“We’re mobilizing stem cells in the body and it works,” said Paul Sharpe, a researcher at King’s College London and an author of the new paper. “If it works for teeth, chances are it could work for other organs.”
Experts not involved with the work noted that while it is in early stages, the simplicity of the approach should ease its path into the next phases of research that show whether it might produce the same results in people.
Scott Wolf, CEO and Director of Research of Grace Century comments: “We always knew that dental stem cells were the key for many of our bodies ailments, but now this recent research shows that stem cells now may be valuable right where they are! Fillings could be a thing of the past”.
Read the rest of the article here
