The dental research community continues to explore innovative bioengineering techniques. In a new effort, the American Dental Association (ADA) is collaborating with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts to improve the regeneration of bone and tissue lost to periodontal disease.
According to the WHO, about 19 per cent of the global adult population — more than 1 billion people — are affected by severe periodontal disease, which can lead to bone loss. An estimated 7 per cent of people aged 20 and older worldwide have lost all their teeth. Among those 60 and older, the global prevalence rises to 23 per cent.
So far, the research focuses on using 3D-printed bone graft materials infused with medication that helps control inflammation, the ADA said. These customized grafts aim to regenerate bone more effectively by working in tandem with the body’s natural healing process.
“The ultimate goal is to treat or control periodontal disease,” said Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, vice-president of clinical and translational research at ADA Forsyth, who is leading the project. “We can save teeth and restore lost tissue with customized bone grafts that regenerate tissue quickly and effectively.”
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How does it work?
The team’s approach involves incorporating specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) — molecules the body produces to actively resolve inflammation — directly into bone graft materials. These mediators prevent inflammation from disrupting healing and promote bone regeneration at the same time.
The SPMs were discovered by Dr. Charles Serhan, who leads the Brigham and Women’s Hospital team. He and Dr. Van Dyke have collaborated for more than 20 years on harnessing this discovery to treat oral and systemic diseases.
“This is a seminal discovery, because it opens up control of inflammation,” Dr. Van Dyke said.
“We do a lot of bone grafting related to periodontitis,” he added. “It doesn’t work very well, and there is significant room for improvement. With this new approach, we think we can make bone grafts work all the time.”
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