Dental News: An end to root canal?

French scientists are working on gel treatment that could revolutionize the way dental cavities are treated. The gel is applied to the damaged pulp inside the tooth and encourages the tissue to regenerate. Scientists hope that within five years the gel could also be used to regrow the cavity damaged tooth enamel.

Dental decay occurs when bacteria builds up on the enamel of teeth - activated by sugar in food, this bacteria acts as an acid and eats away at the tooth surface and into the pulp centers of teeth. Dental decay causes cavities which require dental filing. Left untreated severe decay can lead to more serious tooth problems requiring root canal treatment and the removal of teeth.

Currently dentists treat decay by removing the decayed area and preventing further bacterial build-up by 'filling' the hole with a resin material. Tooth pulp that is damaged by decay is removed. The gel would encourage the pulp centers of teeth to regrow and could even stimulate the regrowth of the enamel tooth cells allowing the tooth to regrow after cavities.

Scientists hope the gel will become available within 5 years and will signal an end to root canal treatment. 

Source: American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano

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