Astonishingly, a fourth of all Americans over 65 have lost all of their original teeth.
A promising discovery, however, may make you smile: Researchers from the College of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Florida have developed methods to enable stem cell growth to generate real replacement teeth.
The NSU researchers’ approach is to extract stem cells from oral tissue, such as inside a tooth itself, or from bone marrow. Once harvested, the cells are mounted to a polymer scaffold in the shape of the desired tooth.
The polymer is the same material used in absorbable sutures, so the scaffold eventually dissolves. Teeth can be grown separately then inserted into a patient’s mouth or the stem cells can be grown within the mouth reaching a full-sized tooth within a few months.
To date, teeth have been regenerated in monkeys and mice. Clinical trials with humans are under way. It is still uncertain whether teeth created in this manner can be nourished by blood and will have full and natural sensations.
Growing new teeth presents a real challenge, according to Dr. Peter Murray and his colleagues who developed the tooth-growing process. The stem cells must be stimulated to grow the proper balance of hard tissue, dentin (the major part of the tooth beneath the enamel), and the enamel.
Dr. Murray is said to believe that if it can be proven that regrowth of teeth is safe and effective these teeth will be widely accepted in the U. S. Interest from fellow dentists has been evident in the fact that his presentation “Regenerative Endodontic Procedures” sold out at the American Dental Association conference in Las Vegas recently.
The promise held by dental stem cell therapy has led to the rise of tooth banks. Stem cell therapies already are being used to repair bone damage and even organs.
Research progress, however, is still sometimes suspect because of the politics surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Look at some statistics on tooth loss: seven out of ten adults age 35 to 45 have lost at least one tooth and about 20 million people — those over 65 — have lost all their permanent teeth. High sugar diets have increased the prevalence of periodontal disease. You can see that the market for tooth replacement is a big mouthful, so to speak.
Having a full set of teeth is increasingly important as an aging population seeks to continue to live an active lifestyle. The growth of social media also has led to people’s faces being plastered all over Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. So how your teeth look is more important than ever, especially with more high quality cameras built into these mobile devices.
Some people who feel the need to replace a missing tooth or teeth invest in implants. How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone. But all dental implant surgery occurs in stages and can involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth — a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. Because this healing requires time, the process can take many months.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. It is inserted into the jaw to hold artificial teeth in place. It is typically made out of titanium which is compatible with the jaw bone. The direct fusing of bone and an implant is called osseo integration which is a special characteristic of titanium. When a tooth is lost, some bone that helped support the tooth is also lost. Dental implants help stabilize the jaw, preventing future bone loss and maintaining the jaw bone’s shape. Implants are a convenient alternative to dentures because they never have to be taken out and they feel much more natural and comfortable. They are better than traditional bridges and crowns because they aren’t just cemented in place. When mounted to implants, bridges and dentures won’t shift or slip in your mouth, which can make talking and eating easier and worry-free. This also avoids other common problems such as gagging, poor alignment and sore spots.
Implants aren’t cheap. The cost depends on a number of things including what dentist or surgeon you go to, the type of implant and procedure, how many and which teeth you need replaced, how many implants are required to support these teeth, how much insurance coverage you have and your geographical location.
Once you get an examination and talk with your dentist, he or she will be able to provide you with an estimate. A single tooth implant typically costs $1000 to $3,000. If additional procedures such as bone grafts, extractions and extensive imaging and/or modeling are required though, the price can easily inflate to $5,000 to $10,000. Your dentist will be able to give you an idea of what costs you are looking at after a preliminary examination.
All of which shows the importance of stem cells used to grow new teeth.
Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.