If you don’t enjoy having cavities filled at the dentist, you may be interested to learn about a drug called Tideglusib, which has the potential to make cavities a thing of the past. It’s something of a bonus that the drug is able to stimulate stem cells in teeth, as it was originally developed to fight the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Tooth decay destroys the dentine in our teeth, the mineralized substance that helps to protect our teeth and is immediately below the layer of enamel. Research suggests that Tideglusib is able to promote natural tooth growth and create new dentine because it’s able to stimulate the stem cells.
Normally it takes decay or other teeth problems in order for dentine to be created on its own, although it’s generally only a thin layer of the substance, and because tooth decay usually leads to deep cavities, the new layer of dentine isn’t enough to repair those teeth and prevent fillings. Normally, it’s an enzyme known as GSK-3 which prevents the creation of new dentine, although Tideglusib is able to override this enzyme.
Research using the teeth of mice has involved applying Tideglusib to tiny biodegradable sponges and then inserting these into the cavities. After about 6 weeks, only the intact tooth was left after new dentine growth was stimulated by the sponge and the damage was fixed.
A very real opportunity to quickly get this new technology into dental clinics exists, points out Paul Sharpe, author and professor at King’s College Dental Institute in London. Sharpe also indicates that the potential for success is high as clinical trials for treating Alzheimer’s have already been successful.
The ability of Tideglusib to restore dentine, protect pulp and naturally treat large fillings makes it the perfect dental product, especially with the straightforward approach that has been taken, Sharpe goes on to say.