In addition to causing excruciating pain, losing a tooth can cause several problems and chronic discomforts. Dentures are one option for replacing a damaged or lost tooth, but they have many drawbacks on their own. Stem cell dental implants are a revolutionary dental replacement technique that may be far superior to receiving traditional implants or dentures. (1)
Traditional Dentures May Be Replaced with Stem Cell Dental Implants
Some people’s gums and jawbones are simply not suited to receive dentures and other conventional implants, and it takes some time to get used to having teeth you weren’t born with. There are illnesses that prevent certain people from getting dentures, and some people experience severe anxiety when it comes to dental operations. Traditional dentures have numerous disadvantages as well, such as (2):
Time for healing
lengthy process
Complex failure situations
Long-term studies on implant lifespan are lacking.
Researchers have created stem cell dental implants, a novel method of replacing missing teeth. A study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research suggests that stem cell stimulation may now make it feasible to regenerate your own teeth.The study was led by Dr. Jeremy Mao, a dental medicine professor at Columbia University Medical Research Center.
Dental Stem Cells: What Are They?
All of the organs and bodily systems that make you, well, a functioning human being, are created in part by stem cells. They are present in the majority of your tissues and have the power to alter every single cell in your body. They aid in both the creation and renewal of your body. (3)
Numerous stem cells have been discovered in our teeth by researchers. They can fully repair themselves and are present in both adult and infant teeth. Even better, the body’s immune system gets along well with dental stem cells. They are therefore a good choice for treating a variety of ailments because your body is less prone to reject them. In the field of dentistry, they could be able to help repair some tooth-related issues before surgery is necessary. For instance, they might aid in cavity healing prior to the need for a root canal. Instead of providing people with conventional dentures, researchers are also looking into how to use them to grow new teeth. (4)
What is the actual mechanism of action of these stem cell dental implants?
A 3D scaffolding loaded with growth factors is first placed in the location of the lost tooth, which encourages the migration of your body’s own stem cells to the area. In turn, this will stimulate the regeneration of an anatomically perfect tooth. The fact that this procedure only takes about two months is even more astounding. (5)
This is special since it uses the body’s natural resources. Harvesting stem cells and growing anything outside of the body (in a petri dish, for example) are not necessary. Dr. Mao explained his reasons for conducting this research in the paper.
Finding a cost-effective strategy that may be applied to treatments for patients who cannot afford dental implants or who are not good candidates for them is a crucial factor in tooth regeneration. Tooth regeneration based on cell-homing might offer a unique route to clinical application.
What will the general people think about this?
You can also recuperate faster with this method than with conventional implants. Education is crucial, but this approach might struggle to win public acceptability despite all the charming benefits stated above.
Even though many individuals believe that using stem cells in medical operations is unethical, it’s crucial to remember that the stem cells are taken from our own bodies.There is no manipulation involved in this new process; it is entirely natural.
The procedure of applying for a patent on this novel medical technology has already been finished by the University of Columbia. Dr. Mao will continue the research, which is still in its early phases, in order to refine this novel method and eventually make it accessible to the general public.
Lastly, the dean of the College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Ira B. Lamster, expresses optimism by saying that,
“This study offers an illustration of what may be accomplished when modern biology is used to address typical clinical issues. Dental medicine’s future is examined by Dr. Mao’s research.
