At our South Waterfront family dental practice, Dr. Beck understands how much his patients appreciate having a healthy, great-looking smile. While brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular appointments to see Dr. Beck can help keep your teeth looking their best, years of stress can cause even a healthy smile to wear down. This can cause cracks, chips, and lost teeth.
But what if a damaged tooth could be repaired without a filling? Almost every part of the body can heal itself naturally over time, but dental enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth, doesn’t regrow once damaged. Dentists must use synthetic materials like resin, metals, and ceramics to repair damage caused by cavities and gum disease.
However, scientists may soon transform how Dr. Beck treats cavities at our South Waterfront family dental practice. Researchers are studying how to grow dental cells in a lab to transform how dentists heal teeth. We could be just a few years away from a future where tooth enamel or whole teeth could be replaced naturally.
The Future of Tooth Repair
Scientists have developed a 3D model of human dental cells they are using as the building blocks of a new technique that enables the natural regeneration of teeth, according to a report in the journal Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
The team collected cells from the dental follicle, the tissue that encases teeth, to develop a 3D model, which they can use to grow more dental cells in a laboratory.
“It would be a great advance in the field if dental cells could be used to repair cavities or treat other oral health issues,” states study author Hugo Vankelecom, the lead researcher at the University of Leuven in Belgium.
“The tooth provides an excellent source of cells,” reports Dr. Vankelecom, who says his team can make them grow and produce additional cells.
Theoretically, scientists should have the ability to retrieve cells from teeth patients lose naturally or have surgically removed. These cells could then be frozen and preserved without losing the ability to grow and regenerate, reports the team.
This could create a future where biobanks regularly store wisdom teeth, which routinely get pulled. If a patient loses a tooth in the future, the genetic material to regrow or repair their oral health is available.
“These cells could be applied to personalize dental treatments,” says Dr. Vankelecom.
A Future Full of Healthy Smiles
While the future seems bright for dental care, years’ worth of clinical tests and lab trials still need to be completed before Dr. Beck can start to repair teeth at our South Waterfront family dental practice magically.
“Success in the clinic will depend on the ease of collection and biobanking, the cost, and the eventual quality of repair,” states Dr. Vankelecom.
Until that future arrives, you can still visit our office to receive the latest and most available advanced care. If you’re missing one or more teeth, Dr. Beck can offer you a range of treatment options designed to repair your smile and restore your ability to eat, laugh, and smile like before.
For patients missing teeth, dental implants offer an affordable and lasting solution. Patients experiencing tooth pain due to cavities can have their teeth patched and repaired with ceramic fillings that blend seamlessly into the natural complexion of a smile. Dental bridges and veneers can improve the appearance of teeth damaged by decay or discolored.
No matter what ails your smile, Dr. Beck offers the right treatment solution to meet your needs. Contact our office today to schedule your next appointment with the team at our South Waterfront family dental practice.
At our South Waterfront family dental practice, Dr. Beck understands how much his patients appreciate having a healthy, great-looking smile. While brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular appointments to see Dr. Beck can help keep your teeth looking their best, years of stress can cause even a healthy smile to wear down. This can cause cracks, chips, and lost teeth.
But what if a damaged tooth could be repaired without a filling? Almost every part of the body can heal itself naturally over time, but dental enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth, doesn’t regrow once damaged. Dentists must use synthetic materials like resin, metals, and ceramics to repair damage caused by cavities and gum disease.
However, scientists may soon transform how Dr. Beck treats cavities at our South Waterfront family dental practice. Researchers are studying how to grow dental cells in a lab to transform how dentists heal teeth. We could be just a few years away from a future where tooth enamel or whole teeth could be replaced naturally.
A Future of Tooth Repair
Scientists have developed a 3D model of human dental cells they are using as the building blocks of a new technique that enables the natural regeneration of teeth, according to a report in the journal Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
The team collected cells from the dental follicle, the tissue that encases teeth, to develop a 3D model, which they can use to grow more dental cells in a laboratory.
“It would be a great advance in the field if dental cells could be used to repair cavities or treat other oral health issues,” states study author Hugo Vankelecom, the lead researcher at the University of Leuven in Belgium.
“The tooth provides an excellent source of cells,” reports Dr. Vankelecom, who says his team can make them grow and produce additional cells.
Theoretically, scientists should have the ability to retrieve cells from teeth patients lose naturally or have surgically removed. These cells could then be frozen and preserved without losing the ability to grow and regenerate, reports the team.
This could create a future where biobanks regularly store wisdom teeth, which routinely get pulled. If a patient loses a tooth in the future, the genetic material to regrow or repair their oral health is available.
“These cells could be applied to personalize dental treatments,” says Dr. Vankelecom.
A Future Full of Healthy Smiles
While the future seems bright for dental care, years’ worth of clinical tests and lab trials still need to be completed before Dr. Beck can start to magically repair teeth at our South Waterfront family dental practice.
“Success in the clinic will depend on the ease of collection and biobanking, the cost, and the eventual quality of repair,” states Dr. Vankelecom.
Until that future arrives, you can still visit our office to receive the latest and most available advanced care. If you’re missing one or more teeth, Dr. Beck can offer you a range of treatment options designed to repair your smile and restore your ability to eat, laugh, and smile like before.
For patients missing teeth, dental implants offer an affordable and lasting solution. Patients experiencing tooth pain due to cavities can have their teeth patched and repaired with ceramic fillings that blend seamlessly into the natural complexion of a smile. Dental bridges and veneers can improve the appearance of teeth damaged by decay or discolored.
No matter what ails your smile, Dr. Beck offers the right treatment solution to meet your needs. Contact our office today to schedule your next appointment with the team at our South Waterfront family dental practice.
