Researchers from the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki and their collaborators from Berlin and Kyoto have now shown that continuous tooth generation can be induced in mammals. The research results were published in `Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,` (PNAS). The researchers activated the Wnt signaling pathway in mouse tissue; this signaling pathway is one of those used for cell communication and plays an important role in embryonic development. As a result of stimulating this particular signaling pathway, one mouse molar developed dozens of new teeth with normal dentin, tooth enamel and developing roots. The crowns were, however, simple and cone-shaped, unlike the typically more complex multiple cusps of mouse molars.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Research

Nobel Biocare refuted criticism voiced by Swedish scientists, saying its implant product `teeth-in-an-hour` is a scientifically proven concept with high success rates. The Swiss-Swedish implant maker said that one of its `ongoing studies with 19 patients and a total of 118 implants shows that after three years, 96.3 pct of all implants still function`.
The complete report will be available in April, it said.
The group`s statement came in reaction to a study by Sweden`s Karolinska Institute published on Saturday saying that its Teeth-in-an-Hour implant system may carry more risk of complications than conventional methods

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Implant Placement Guides

Swiss-Swedish Nobel Biocare`s Teeth-in-an-Hour implant system may carry more risk of complications than conventional methods, an abstract of a study by Sweden`s Karolinska Institutet showed on Saturday.
The study examined 31 patients treated using the method, which uses computer modeling to reduce implant installation time and showed that complications such as the loss of fixtures and the need for adjustments arose for nearly a third.
Nine percent of the 175 fixtures examined were lost, said Bjorn Klinge, professor of periodontology at Karolinska Institutet and one of the study`s authors. This compared with a loss rate of roughly 2 to 3 percent using conventional and more time-consuming methods, he added. "My assessment is that this is still at the trial stage and therefore can`t be recommended for general use," Klinge told Reuters. "Our data shows rather unequivocally that there is a lot of development left before one can say if this is a good or a bad product," he added.
The study, presented at a dental conference in Venice on Saturday, has not yet been published in a scientific journal or peer-reviewed, but Klinge said an article was being prepared.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Implant Placement Guides

Straumann’s academic partner, the International Team for Implantology (ITI), introduced the first Volume of the ITI Treatment Guide in cooperation with Quintessence publishing. Volume 1, entitled `Implant Therapy in the Esthetic Zone – Single-Tooth Replacements` was introduced to the professional community at the EAO’s 15th Annual Scientific Meeting in Zurich.It takes its readers through the entire process, starting with the assessment of the patient’s individual esthetic risk profile and proceeding to through ideal three-dimensional implant placement and proven prosthetic management options. The various aspects are illustrated using patient case studies. Detailed illustrations serve to clarify any potential ambiguities. An analysis of potential complications in esthetic implant dentistry completes this first volume.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Education

The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT in Germany have developed a dental prosthesis consisting of a drug-filled reservoir, a valve, two sensors and several electronic components. Saliva enters the reservoir via a membrane, dissolves part of the solid drug and flows through a small duct into the mouth cavity, where it is absorbed by the mucous membranes in the patient’s cheeks. The duct is fitted with two sensors that monitor the amount of medicine being released into the body. The patient has to have the agent refilled every few weeks.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Implant Design

Osteohealth`s GEM 21S is a wound healing and bone regeneration technology termed growth-factor enhanced matrix (GEM). It has recently become available for clinical use. This graft material consists of a concentrated solution of pure recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB), the synthetic form of the body’s key natural wound healing stimulator PDGF-BB, and an osteoconductive (bone scaffold) matrix. This is the first available purified, recombinant (synthetic) growth factor product and is the result of over a decade of extensive research. Clinical and animal study results with this graft material demonstrate that it is capable of simultaneously promoting wound healing, regeneration of bone and acceleration of gingival attachment gain in challenging periodontal and periimplant defects.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Biologics

Using stem cells harvested from the extracted wisdom teeth of young adults, researchers have successfully generated tooth root and supporting tooth ligaments to support a crown restoration in experiments using miniature pigs. The restored tooth mirrored the original tooth in function and strength, the research team reports in the December issue of the open access medical journal PLoS ONE. The technique holds promise for use in humans, the investigators say. Dr. Songtao Shi said: "In this study, we use stem cell technology to generate `a bio-root and periodontal tissue` along with dental clinical porcelain crown technique to restore tooth function in swine (mini-pig). Implant patients must have sufficient bone in the jaw to support the implant. For those who don`t, this therapy would be a great alternative," Shi said in a statement.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Research

The Swedish Medical Products Agency investigation of the dental implants NobelDirect and NobelPerfect show that there can be deficiencies in the instructions for use for the products.The MPA decision directs Nobel Biocare to clearly describe possible causes for the breakdown of the jawbone in the instructions for use and training programs. In addition, the company must describe how the risk for breakdown can be avoided. In sales and promotion information and instructions for use, the company shall indicate the user qualifications and skills required so that a dentist can use the implants safely. Nobel Biocare may not actively market the dental implants until the information activities are carried out.

The MPA`s report gives an interesting insight into the basis and timeline of this investigation.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Implant Design

In the course of a routine inspection of Biora AB, Straumann`s oral regenerative product company in Sweden, in October 2006, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigator made a number of observations predominantly concerning maintenance of quality system documentation and procedures associated with the company`s products. Biora has received a ``warning letter`` from the FDA, which indicated that its ``dental bone grafting materials`` are on import detention in the U.S., until the inspectional observations are resolved. No other countries apart from the U.S. are affected. The products concerned are: Straumann BoneCeramic, Emdogain, and PrefGel.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Biologics

Medtronic recently announced that the FDA Dental Products Advisory Panel has unanimously voted to recommend approval, with a condition the use of INFUSE® Bone Graft for certain oral and maxillofacial bone grafting procedures. INFUSE Bone Graft is recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) applied to an absorbable collagen sponge carrier. The purpose of the protein, which occurs naturally in the body, is to stimulate bone formation. It has been previously approved by the FDA for use in certain lumbar spine fusion and tibial fracture repair procedures. Implanted into a bone-deficient site, INFUSE Bone Graft works with the body’s own biology to induce normal physiologic bone formation.

More

0 Comments:

E-Mail This     Topic: Biologics