New Technology Helps People Regenerate Damaged Enamels - Essay Sample

Introduction

Teeth are probably the only part of the human body that never really heal once injured since they cannot rebuild themselves naturally. With the rise of modern technological practices in the health sector, it has become possible to achieve fits that could not be attained before when dealing with patients. In the dentistry profession, for instance, new technology has allowed people to regenerate their damaged enamels. The enamel is the milky part of the tooth that covers the tooth from damage and provides insulation from shock (Lars, 1997). The enamel is usually the hardest part of the tooth. However, despite its tough characteristics, it is also susceptible to damage by outside elements. Given that this specific part of the tooth is naturally non-regeneratable upon the damage, human beings have developed ingenious means to artificially regenerate it. These are done using several different technologies as we discussed in the exercise.

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One of the most common ways of regenerating the enamel is through minimally invasive dentistry, whereby the tooth is remineralized without the use of fluoride. Biomimetic regenerative therapies are some of the technologies used in this process. Therapies include the use of dentine phosphoproteins (DPP) to remineralize the matrix component. The therapy works by creating supplies of mineral binding components such as aspartate-serene-serene (8DSS) to the affected area and thus promoting bio mineralization. The peptides bind to calcium and phosphorus ions, limiting its dissolution while at the same time allowing for biologically directed mineral deposition (Yukna, 2000).

Another method of restoring the enamel available today is the use of Ameloblasts, which are naturally occurring cells only present in the tooth during development and that allows for the creation of the enamel through the mineral deposition. These cells stop being produced as soon as the tooth is mature, and thus no more enamel mineral deposition takes place thereafter (He, 2010). Restoration of the enamel artificially using this method is made possible by understanding the matrix that occurs naturally during tooth development. The technique involves the synthesis of hydroxyapatite minerals from a mature enamel in the lab under controlled conditions. The success of this method in artificial tooth restoration is made possible by the understanding of timing patterns of gene products that make up the enamel and careful control of the conditions to make sure that it is cell-free (Klein, 2017). Through this strategy, scientists can replicate the growth of apatite crystals that make up the enamel.

The modern technology and its continued evolution through time make it possible to reconstruct non-living parts of the human body such as the enamel. However, there exist certain limitations as to the extent to which these methods can be used. For instance, pristine and accurate timing is required when attempting to regenerate the enamel using these methods in the lab. Miscalculation and errors result in unsuccessful regeneration attempts to regenerate the tooth enamel (Limeback, 1987). Furthermore, these laboratories are only limited to specific geographic locations, making it hard for interested consumers in other regions to acquire these services even if they are interested (Horieh, 2014). There I also the issue of interference of the immune system that may arise as a result of the procedure, posing huge risks to the patient (Goldberg, 2008).

Another major limitation of enamel regeneration is the cost of attempting these procedures. Tooth enamel regeneration procedures have been known to be an expensive affair albeit with the increase in customer base. Despite the improvements in technology, the regeneration process remains expensive due to the extensive level of research and intense scientific engagement that costs lots of money to develop (Huang, 2008). The laboratory and research costs are also high, leading to a reluctance by the government and involved stakeholders to channel more resources into their development. Intrabony defects could also be experienced during the healing process (Sculean, 2001). These, however, can be dealt with by using strategies such as maintaining a high hygienic standard (Sculean, 1999).

However, despite the listed setbacks, tooth enamel regeneration is gaining acceptance and popularity among the masses in today's rapidly evolving generations. This points to a future where the procedures are widely available commercially as opposed to the current times when the procedures are rarely available to interested customers. The technique involves the synthesis of hydroxyapatite minerals from a mature enamel in the lab under controlled conditions. The success of this method in artificial tooth restoration is made possible by the understanding of timing patterns of gene products that make up the enamel and careful control of the conditions to make sure that it is cell-free. Through this strategy, scientists can replicate the growth of apatite crystals that make up the enamel. This makes it a promising venture for dentists of the future as a viable commercial enterprise.

Works Cited

Goldberg, Michel, et al. "Inflammatory and immunological aspects of dental pulp repair." Pharmacological Research 58.2 (2008): 137-147.

Hammarstrom, Lars. "Enamel matrix, cementum development and regeneration." Journal of clinical periodontology 24.9 (1997): 658-668.

He, Pingping, et al. "Ameloblast differentiation in the human developing tooth: effects of extracellular matrices." Matrix Biology 29.5 (2010): 411-419.

Huang, Zhan, et al. "Bioactive nanofibers instruct cells to proliferate and differentiate during enamel regeneration." Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 23.12 (2008): 1995-2006.

Klein, Ophir D., et al. "Meeting report: a hard look at the state of enamel research." International journal of oral science 9.11 (2017): e3.

Limeback, Hardy. "Enamel protein and collagen production by cells subcultured from porcine tooth bud explants." Biochemistry and Cell Biology 65.8 (1987): 698-709.

Moosavi, Horieh. "Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials for Tooth Regenration." International Journal of Pediatrics 2.2.3 (2014): 35-35.

Sculean, Anton, et al. "Healing of human intrabony defects following treatment with enamel matrix proteins or guided tissue regeneration." Journal of Periodontal Research 34.6 (1999): 310-322.

Sculean, Anton, et al. "Treatment of intrabony defects with enamel matrix proteins and guided tissue regeneration: a prospective controlled clinical study." Journal of Clinical Periodontology 28.5 (2001): 397-403.

Yukna, Raymond A., and James T. Mellonig. "Histologic evaluation of periodontal healing in humans following regenerative therapy with enamel matrix derivative. A 10case series." Journal of Periodontology 71.5 (2000): 752-759.