Using Lasers To Regrow Teeth

Dental disease and tooth damage may be stepping aside with the new technology and techniques used by lasers to regrow teeth. It would be fantastic to regenerate the tooth instead of just using cosmetic procedures to make it look better.   

Current Methods

Currently, dentists use inert materials for tooth repair and these materials can fail over time. Tissue regeneration is much more ideal, but not as simple. Unfortunately, tooth regeneration is more of a challenge because the tooth is more complex than most people realize; consisting of three main parts: the core (pulp), dentin (center), and enamel (outer surface).

Likelihood of Regrowth

Laser light therapy is not new in the advances of regenerative medicine. Therefore, it is not so unlikely that technology can enhance the body's own stem cells to produce dentin, and save your teeth. Testing has progressed, with the aid of multiple animals in the laboratory, using small doses of low-power laser (LPL) light to regenerate dentin. The procedure could be less expensive, and provide a non-invasive therapy for the treatment of tooth damage and dental disease if the procedure is perfected.

Procedure Used in Research

Testing began by drilling holes in the two of the rodent's molars. One was not treated with the laser but the other one was zapped and temporary caps were placed on them. After a 12 week study, the research teams compared the results and noted the LPL treatments produced a reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dentin was successfully produced by ROS, from activation of transforming what is referred to as growth factor beta (TGF-Beta); a signaling protein to promote dental stem cell growth. The results were first published in the Science Translational Medicine on May 28, 2014.

Human Applications

Laser therapy is already used by clinicians for other purposes. Therefore, the clinical trial barrier is fairly low.  

As of June 2014, surgical techniques and approaches needed more development before the LPL can be used on human subjects.Praveen Arany, the lead researcher for the project, stated he had never performed dentistry on a rodent or at such a small scale. He found the composition similar to human dentin. However, a different morphological organization existed in the rodent.

The procedure currently under research has not shown the reparative dentin bridge elements necessary for human regrowth. However, researchers expect the process will be simpler in human specimens since rat and mice teeth are so much smaller. It is believed it would be more accurate to activate only specific growth areas. It was stated after the trial completed in May 2014, this process will need more time to become a reality for humans.

For further assistance, contact a local dentist, such as one from A Q Denture Services.