Saturday, July 19, 2025

What ever-growing incisors can teach us about genetic disease

 

Teeth may seem like static fixtures, but a new collaboration between engineers and clinicians is proving just how dynamic, informative and medically significant our teeth can be.

In a recent study, published in the American Chemical Society’s ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, engineers and dentists come together to uncover how teeth, as biological material, hold key information for understanding rare craniofacial disorders that develop during childhood. Kyle Vining, Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and in Preventative and Restorative Science at Penn Dental Medicine, leads this interdisciplinary team, which includes Yuchen (Tracy) Jiang, a former master’s student in MSE, Kei Katsura, a pediatric dentist and KL2 postdoctoral research scholar at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at Penn, and Elizabeth Bhoj, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Penn Medicine and the Division of Human Genetics at CHOP. 

Through their new methodology and by leveraging unique characteristics of rodent teeth, the team was able to combine materials science, mineralogy and human genetics to map out the properties of enamel and dentin development. Their methods have the potential to provide new insights into identifying and treating both rare craniofacial diseases in children and more common dental cavities.

“People often assume that if you understand bone, you understand teeth,” says Vining. “But that’s not necessarily the case. Teeth have a different composition, require different analytical tools and behave differently during development. What’s exciting is that by using mouse incisors to study enamel formation over time, we do not need to extract baby or adult teeth to understand those characteristics.”

Teeth, Rocks and Cross-Disciplinary Tools

The project is centered on a deceptively simple question: How do teeth mineralize? Surprisingly, scientists don’t have a full picture of how this essential process unfolds. 

“This is an exciting step in determining how teeth develop and harden,” says Katsura. “Tooth mineralization is such an intricate process with many hidden secrets we get to uncover. Although we still don’t fully understand how teeth mineralize, our long-term hope is to apply this knowledge to the clinic, helping people who are more susceptible to dental cavities, specifically those with rare genetic syndromes.”

To answer this question, researchers borrowed a surprising tool from geology: the nanoindenter, a device traditionally used to test the hardness of rocks. Now, instead of probing granite or sandstone, the team uses it to analyze tiny sections of tooth enamel, but it wasn’t a straightforward task.

“Sample preparation was one of the most challenging parts,” says Jaing, the lead author on the paper. “Tooth is such a hard and heterogeneous material. It’s layered, shifting and biological. Embedding it properly for testing took a lot of troubleshooting.”

But once they got it right, the insights flowed. Using nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and even Raman spectroscopy, the team measured everything from tooth enamel’s elasticity and stiffness to mineral contents. Their samples, postnatal day 12 mouse teeth, were carefully chosen to be old enough for the enamel to have formed, but not so old that the bones became too hard to section.

What Can Teeth Tell Us About Disease?

While Jiang and Vining analyzed the physical properties of teeth, Katsura brought in the biological side: mouse models of Mendelian genetic disorders, many of which mimic the human versions of craniofacial syndromes. Bhoj provided further expertise on these rare diseases, helping guide the project toward real-world clinical applications.

“These disorders are hard to treat in part because little attention is paid to the oral cavity, so we don’t always know how dental and oral conditions relate to the systemic issues these children face,” says Katsura. “But we’re showing that materials science can help us find part of the answer.”

One major challenge? Teeth start developing in utero, making early study difficult. But by examining how structure changes during development, and linking it with function, researchers hope to eventually backtrack from a fully developed tooth to better understand what went wrong along the way.

“We’re excited to be able to integrate tools of materials science to learn about the properties of tooth development,” says Vining. “Our work lays the foundation for further studies that could lead to diagnostic tools or even new materials for fillings that prevent decay.”

Taking New Research and Mindsets Forward

This work is already informing the team’s future work on genetic craniofacial diseases in mice. Long term, the researchers envision their tools used in dental clinics to screen for enamel defects, assess treatment outcomes or even predict disease risk. 

And the project isn’t just breaking scientific ground, it’s also reshaping how researchers think about collaboration. Jiang, who trained as a materials scientist, reflects on her experience working outside her comfort zone.

“You don’t need to have everything figured out before working on a project. I’ve learned that growth happens along the way and that learning from collaborators is one of the most valuable parts of scientific research,” she says. “The most exciting discoveries come from different people bringing different strengths. 

This work was partially supported by the Joseph and Josephine Rabinowitz Award for Excellence in Research from Penn Dental Medicine. This work was partly carried out at the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, supported by the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Program under grant NNCI-2025608. Research reported in this publication was supported in part by a NIDCR Supplement from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number KL2TR001879.

Friday, July 11, 2025

Uncovering the relationship between oral function and lifestyle-related diseases

 The term ‘oral health’ refers to the health of the mouth, teeth, gums, and other related structures, and it is closely linked with our well-being and quality of life. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in understanding how oral health is linked to and influences our overall health. For example, it was found that gum disease may be associated with various diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease. Poor oral health can also affect a person’s diet, which further increases a person’s risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Now, in a new study published online in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation on April 17, 2025, a team of researchers led by Professor and Chairman Mitsuyoshi Yoshida and his colleagues from the Department of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Japan, have examined the association between oral health and different lifestyle-related diseases. This study was conducted in cooperation with Fujita Health University International Medical Center, with Director Hitomi Sasaki.

“Our main aim was to investigate the link between oral health and blood test results for glucose metabolism, lipid levels, and kidney function,” says Prof. Yoshida.

In this study, the researchers examined 118 individuals aged 50 or above who had undergone regular health check-ups. More specifically, they collected information from dental examinations in 2021, as well as annual physical examinations in 2021 and 2023. These individuals were subjected to seven different oral function tests to gauge their oral health—these included measurements of tongue coating index (TCI) (an indicator of oral hygiene), oral dryness, the number of remaining functional teeth, maximum tongue pressure, masticatory function, swallowing problem, and oral diadochokinesis (OD), a test that measures the speed and accuracy with which a person can repeat certain syllables.

In addition, the participants were divided into two groups based on whether their blood test results (including fasting blood glucose and cholesterol) were within the reference range or not. The resulting statistical analyses showed many interesting links between the oral function test results and blood test results.

Notably, the group with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c (which reflects the average blood sugar levels across 2−3 months) levels outside the reference range had significantly lower numbers of remaining teeth and OD values compared to the group with values within the reference range. Similarly, the group with cholesterol values outside the standard range had higher levels of TCI and lower OD values. The group with non-standard values of estimated glomerular filtration rate (a test that measures kidney function) also showed significant differences in some of the oral function tests. These findings indicate an important link between oral health and overall health, highlighting the need for implementing oral function tests during health check-ups for better health promotion.

“Overall, our results suggest that a decline in oral function can be a risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases. Thus, maintaining good oral health is the first step in maintaining overall health. We believe this study is an achievement that will pave the way for Japan’s vision of introducing and supporting universal dental health check-ups,” concludes Prof. Yoshida.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Online toolkit to help parents of autistic children improve dental health

 A new, free, online support package aims to empower parents of young autistic children to look after their dental health – and reduce levels of tooth decay and surgery. 

It follows a study led by the University of Leeds, which highlights the oral health challenges faced by autistic children. The research team has collaborated with autistic youngsters, their families, and early-years professionals to co-design the support package, following parents’ calls for autism-specific advice on how to improve oral health habits. The toothPASTE website provides parents with practical, tailored solutions focusing on: toothbrushing, going to the dentist, and eating and drinking. It features videos, downloadable resources, and a forum where parents can share their experiences and advice.  

Challenges faced by parents with autistic children 

One in four autistic children have tooth decay by the age of five – similar to the wider childhood population – but they are less likely to visit the dentist and twice as likely to need dental treatment under general anaesthetic.  

Poor oral health in childhood has lifelong impacts. Establishing optimal oral health habits –   brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugary foods and drinks, and going to the dentist – are critical. However, for families of autistic children, building and keeping these habits can be more difficult. This is due to additional challenges such as communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities, and restricted or repetitive behaviours.  

For example, sensory differences can make toothbrushing painful or repulsive. Dental visits can also be overwhelming, with bright lights, unfamiliar smells, strange tastes, and unexpected sounds or touch. Some autistic people experience social communication differences, making it hard for them to express if they are in dental pain. In addition, repetitive behaviours or strong preferences may lead to limited diets, often high in sugar, which can increase the risk of tooth decay. 

The impact of decay is far-reaching, affecting self-esteem, speech, eating, sleeping, and quality of life. But it can also affect a child’s school attendance, impacting negatively on life outcomes. 

Peter Day, Professor of Children's Oral Health and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at Leeds, said: “Tooth decay is a major health problem, but it is preventable. Establishing optimal habits in early life provides the foundations for long term oral health and reduces the impact of tooth decay on autistic children, their families, the NHS and wider society.” 

He added: “In the long term, we hope to see a reduction in the number of autistic children that need dental care in hospital, and we hope our findings will help early-years professionals and dental teams support parents with their autistic child’s oral health needs.”   

Anne-Marie Kilgallon, of Mirfield, West Yorkshire, has two autistic sons, both of whom had multiple teeth extracted under general anaesthetic when they were still in primary school.    

She said: “To be told your children need teeth removing at the ages of eight and 10 is incredibly hard. 

“Had this kind of support been around back then, I truly believe Tolan and Fredi wouldn't have had to go through that. We are just one example – there are so many families facing the same challenges. 

“If we’d had access to the right education and support around oral health, tailored to their additional needs, I honestly believe we could have avoided such a traumatic experience for both of our boys.”  

Designed with parents, for parents 

Dr Amrit Chauhan, Lecturer in Qualitative Methodology and Autism-related Oral Health Research within the School of Dentistry and a Chartered Psychologist at Leeds, who co-led the research, said: “We want to help parents feel more confident in caring for their young autistic children’s teeth. That’s why families of autistic children have been involved from the start of the study, and we have very much been led by them on what they want.” 

“We know that most parents already have a good idea of what they should be doing, like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste – it’s more about finding practical ways to get there.  

“Every family is at a different point in their journey, and every child’s needs are unique. So, on the website, we break things down into small, manageable steps. We take a gentle, gradual approach, recognising that for some children, making even one small change might take weeks or even months – and that’s okay.” 

The Leeds team collaborated with researchers from the University of Manchester and University of Sheffield on the project, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and West Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board. It is hoped the project will help reduce health inequalities. 

Much-needed support 

Nikki Pickles, family support manager for AWARE (Airedale and Wharfedale Autism Resource), whose son is autistic, led the project’s Patient and Public Involvement group. She said: “We work with hundreds of families every year and challenges with toothbrushing and oral health are extremely widespread. Parents frequently share their daily struggles and concerns with us.  

“It can feel like a very lonely battle. They’re desperate for support, so we think this will be an amazing asset. There is no other resource like this. 

“It is easy to navigate and provides useful strategies, plus advice based on the most up-to date oral health research, all specifically tailored for our cohort of families. We are really excited and super proud to be part of the project.” 

Underpinned by inclusive research 

The toothPASTE website was created following in-depth research featuring interviews with minimally-verbal autistic children. They used Talking Mats - visual communication aids - to describe their sensory difficulties, with one child describing toothpaste as an “explosion in the mouth”.  

The study also involved interviews with families and early-years professionals to explore both the barriers to, and the factors that support, the development of optimal oral health habits. Co-design workshops followed, with parents, early-years professionals and national stakeholders. 

Dr Shannu Bhatia, President, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), said: “BSPD welcomes the toothPASTE website with tools to help parents and carers of autistic children and young people navigate a journey of good oral health. 

“The research that has gone into the toothPASTE website has enabled the development of a set of well-targeted tools to support neurodivergent young people and will really help their parents and carers.  

“We know that supporting neurodivergent children and those with additional sensory requirements can present specific challenges, so guidance to help all children achieve healthy teeth and gums, is something BSPD is keen to support.” 

The website is accessible to all, which means it can be used by those without a formal autism diagnosis, and it will be continuously refined to ensure its effectiveness. The team will continue working with families, dental professionals, the National Autistic Society, Autistica and Government bodies to share their findings and undertake further research to maximise the site’s effectiveness.  

CASE STUDY, WITH PICS 

Anne-Marie Kilgallon’s two autistic sons were just eight and 10 and when they had to have multiple teeth extracted under general anaesthetic.  

Had the toothPASTE support package been around when they were little, she believes it could have prevented their pain and resulting surgery. 

The 46-year-old, who co-founded The Whole Autism Family support group with husband Martin in 2015, said: “I wish we’d had that resource when the boys were tiny: it would have made such a huge difference to our lives.”  

She added: “To be told your children need teeth removing at the ages of eight and 10 is incredibly hard. 

“Had this kind of support been around back then, I truly believe Tolan and Fredi wouldn't have had to go through that. We are just one example – there are so many families facing the same challenges. 

“I know lots of children that have had teeth extracted, and not just one tooth: Tolan had five, Fredi had seven. I know another child that had eight. 

“But that's the end result. Had we been educated on how to deal with their specific issues around oral health and had this resource, I honestly believe that we wouldn't have had to put our children through these traumatic surgeries.” 

Life-changing for families 

Anne-Marie, of Mirfield, West Yorkshire, says the website will be life-changing for the hundreds of families she works with, whose children’s dental health is a major problem.  

She said: “Tooth brushing is probably in the top 10 concerns for parents we support. It’s a battle and one they have to deal with every single day. I’ve had mums in floods of tears, not knowing what to do. 

“As parents, we're all trying to do our very best, but I think I think lots of professionals that work with children like Fredi and Tolan could do with more support or more understanding of some of the battles that we face.” 

Tolan, now 15, is non-speaking and Fredi, now 13, uses echolalia - repeating others’ speech - to communicate, although he doesn’t always fully understand the words he is saying. Both boys have learning disabilities and attend a SEN school in Leeds.  

When they were younger, the family used a picture system to help with learning and to communicate. They helped the children understand aspects of daily life such as taking off their coats, or how to use cutlery. Both boys had extreme oral sensitives, which resulted in a restricted diet, using food as a reward and an extreme dislike of toothbrushing. 

They were eventually referred to a dentist who specialised in SEND (special educational needs and disability), who suggested strategies such as changing toothbrushes; oral sensitivity exercises, non-flavoured toothpaste, distractions and brushing at different times of the day. 

Instant, accessible support 

Anne-Marie said: “These are all covered on the website, which looks amazing. What that does is it gives everyone immediate access to expert advice and peer support, rather than having to wait for a referral or just suffering in silence.  

“I love the videos on there. I found them really useful, and I think lots of the families that I support would find them extremely beneficial too. I think there should really be a pack, when you get a diagnosis for a child, and for that to have a sign pointing to the website would be absolutely amazing.”  

 


Saturday, July 5, 2025

AI system for single-tooth prediction of early childhood caries detection with over 90% accuracy


Spatial-MiC 

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HKU Dentistry developed Spatial-MiC, the world’s first AI system for early childhood caries detection at the single-tooth resolution.

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Credit: The University of Hong Kong

Early childhood caries (ECC)—the world’s most prevalent chronic childhood disease—disproportionately targets specific teeth, a mystery that has remained unresolved until now. A collaborative research team from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS-QIBEBT), Qingdao Stomatological Hospital, and Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionise the prevention of childhood tooth decay. The team has developed the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of predicting early childhood caries risk for individual teeth based on microbial characteristics, achieving an accuracy rate of over 90%. This pioneering study was published in Cell Host & Microbe.

The research was led by Professor Shi Huang, Assistant Professor in Microbiology from the Division of Applied Oral Sciences and Community Dental Care at the HKU Faculty of Dentistry. The team also includes Yufeng Zhang, a PhD student from the same faculty, Professor Jian Xu from CAS-QIBEBT, Dr Fei Teng from Qingdao Stomatological Hospital, and Dr Fang Yang from Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital.

The research team conducted the most comprehensive analysis to date of tooth-specific microbial communities in young children aged 3-5 years, using an innovative approach that combined cutting-edge 16S rRNA sequencing with shotgun metagenomics for microbial compositional and functional analysis. By tracking 2,504 individual tooth plaque samples from 89 preschoolers over nearly a year, they uncovered distinct patterns that foretell dental decay.

At the heart of the discovery is a remarkable anterior-to-posterior microbial gradient in healthy mouths. The study found that front teeth (incisors) naturally harbour different bacterial communities than back teeth (molars), creating a predictable spatial pattern across the mouth. This gradient, maintained by factors like saliva flow and tooth anatomy, becomes disrupted when cavities begin to form. The researchers identified specific bacterial shifts that occur well before visible decay, including the migration of incisor-associated microbes to molar sites and vice versa.

The team's most significant achievement was developing Spatial-MiC, the world’s first AI system that predicts cavity risks in individual teeth based on complex microbial communities. The system analyses these microbial patterns to assess cavity risk. By combining data from a tooth's microbial community with information from its neighbours, Spatial-MiC achieved 98% accuracy in detecting existing cavities and 93% accuracy in predicting cavities two months before they became clinically apparent. This represents a major improvement over current whole-mouth assessment methods, which often miss early warning signs.

The implications for children's dental health are profound. ECC affects over 70% of 5-year-olds in China and remains the most common chronic childhood disease worldwide. Current prevention strategies typically treat all teeth equally, despite clear differences in susceptibility. This research paves the way for precision dentistry approaches that could provide targeted preventive care to high-risk teeth before damage occurs.

“These findings fundamentally change how we understand tooth decay,” Professor Huang explained. “We've moved from seeing cavities as inevitable to being able to predict and prevent them at the microbial level, tooth by tooth.”

The team envisions a future where the system could be expanded to validate the approach in diverse populations. The ultimate goal is to develop clinical tests that bring the technology into dental offices worldwide. As Dr Yang, the first author noted, “This isn't just about better dental care. It's about giving children healthier starts in life by preventing pain, infections, and the developmental impacts of severe tooth decay in a more precise manner.”

Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2025.05.006

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Smoking leaves lasting mark on teeth, research reveals


Researchers from Northumbria University have discovered that smokers have tell-tale signs of their smoking habits ingrained deep within their teeth, which remain even after a person has quit

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Northumbria University

Example of smoking damage in an archaeological tooth. The magnified image shows variations in the tooth's cementum rings from smoking 

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Example of smoking damage in an archaeological tooth. The magnified image shows variations in the tooth's cementum rings caused by smoking

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Credit: Dr Ed Schwalbe, Northumbria University

Evidence of the permanent impact of smoking on people’s teeth has been uncovered by researchers for the first time. 

Researchers from Northumbria University have discovered that smokers have tell-tale signs of their smoking habits ingrained deep within their teeth, which remain even after a person has quit. 

Their findings, which are now published in the scientific journal PLOS One, could help to shine new insights on forensic and historical investigations. 

Teeth consist of three main hard tissues: enamel, dentine and cementum. Cementum, which covers the tooth root, develops characteristic “rings” that grow each year as we age – much like tree rings. 

The research team had initially set out to see if these rings could be used to predict the age of an individual in a forensic setting, such as identifying disaster victims or for situations when an individual’s DNA is not on a DNA database. 

After examining a total of 88 teeth provided by both living dental patients and from archaeological remains, they were surprised to find signs of disruption in the cementum rings of some teeth, but not in others. 

The disruption appeared as variations in the thickness and regularity of the rings within the teeth. 

The researchers realised that these disruptions were associated with those who had identified as current or ex-smokers. 

Their study revealed evidence of smoking damage in the teeth of 70% of ex-smokers and 33% of current smokers, compared to just 3% of non-smokers. 

They also found that the cementum is thicker in ex-smokers. They believe this is a result of the cementum returning to its normal levels when smoking ceases, leaving ‘stronger’ deposits on top of the damaged rings which makes them thicker, whereas current smokers continue to have disruption to their cementum levels. 

“Our research shows that it’s possible to tell if someone was a smoker just by examining their teeth,” said Dr Ed Schwalbe, Associate Professor in Northumbria University’s Department of Applied Sciences

“We found that the regular annual deposition of rings was disrupted for some individuals and realised that these disruptions were associated with current or ex-smokers, but were very rare in non-smokers.” 

Forty-six individuals who were undergoing dental treatment requiring tooth extraction consented to take part in the study, providing 70 teeth between them along with their medical and smoking histories.  

Notably, the researchers found smoking damage in one of the teeth provided by a living donor which they estimated to have occurred between the ages of 22 and 41.  

On checking the information provided, they found that the donor, who was aged 58 at the time of tooth extraction, was a smoker during that period. They had begun smoking when they were 28 years old and stopped at the age of 38. 

Dr Schwalbe and Dr Valentina Perrone worked with Dr Sarah Inskip, UKRI Fellow at the University of Leicester’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History, to sample a further 18 teeth from archaeological remains dating from 1776-1890.

Evidence of the age, biological sex and date of death was available for 13 of the 18 teeth provided.  

Some of the archaeological teeth bore clear evidence of smoking activity, displaying staining and even notches from pipe smoking. 

Remarkably, cementum analysis of the archaeological samples revealed that the rings within the teeth of smokers who died in the 18th and 19th centuries displayed the same signs of disruption as those from living donors who were current or ex-smokers.  

The findings could prove to be especially important for forensic science and historical studies in future, added Dr Schwalbe. 

“This could help us learn more about people’s lifestyles in the past, especially in archaeological studies where patterns of tobacco use can reveal important cultural insights,” he said.

 “The identification of 'smoking damage' in archaeological teeth opens up further avenues to understand how the long-term consumption of tobacco in populations has affected our health through time,” added Dr Inskip, who leads the Tobacco, Health and History Project which looks at the long-term consequences of tobacco use on health between 1600-1900.

“By looking at growth rings in the teeth, we can also estimate a person’s age when the tooth was removed, or when they died,” said Dr Schwalbe. “Together, this information could help identify unknown individuals – such as disaster victims or those buried in mass graves – and offer new tools for forensic and historical investigations.” 

Cementochronology – the study of what is more formally known as acellular extrinsic fibre cementum (AEFC) – has been widely used to estimate age at death and conditions such as pregnancy or disease, but this is believed to be the first time it has been used to predict tobacco use. 

Dr Valentina Perrone, who is now working as a Research Assistant at Leicester University, added: “We compared the cemental deposition of smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers visually and statistically to identify irregularities that were potentially connected to smoking activity. We found that individuals with a history of smoking – whether as a current or former smoker – were significantly more likely to have disruption to their cementum than those who did not.  

“Smoking is known to have a systemic impact on the body and numerous studies have highlighted the correlation between smoking, peridontitis and tooth loss. This study shows, for the first time, the biological record of smoking-related oral health damage within the dental structure.” 

The paper, Reconstructing smoking history through dental cementum analysis – a preliminary investigation on modern and archaeological teeth is now published in PLOS One

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Researchers build a better dental implant


Preclinical study demonstrates a new ‘smart’ implant and minimally invasive surgery to better retain feel and function of natural teeth

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Tufts University

Tufts researchers working on a smart dental implant 

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From left to right: Study co-authors Subhashis Ghosh, Jake Jinkun Chen, and Siddhartha Das in Chen’s lab at Tufts’ Biomedical Research and Public Health Building.

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Credit: Jenna Schad/Tufts University

Each year, millions of people in the U.S. get dental implants as a long-term, natural-looking fix for missing teeth. But traditional implants don’t fully mimic real teeth.

Researchers from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine recently described a new approach to dental implants that that could better replicate how natural teeth feel and function. Their study, published in Scientific Reportsshows early success with both a “smart” implant and a new gentler surgical technique in rodents.  

“Natural teeth connect to the jawbone through soft tissue rich in nerves, which help sense pressure and texture and guide how we chew and speak. Implants lack that sensory feedback,” says Jake Jinkun Chen, DI09, a professor of periodontology and director of the Division of Oral Biology at the School of Dental Medicine and the senior author on the study.

Traditional dental implants use a titanium post that fuses directly to the jawbone to support a ceramic crown, and the surgery often cuts or damages nearby nerves. To tie these inert pieces of metal into the body’s sensory system, the Tufts team developed an implant wrapped in an innovative biodegradable coating. This coating contains stem cells and a special protein that helps them multiply and turn into nerve tissue. As the coating dissolves during the healing process, it releases the stem cells and protein, fueling the growth of new nerve tissue around the implant.

The coating also contains tiny, rubbery particles that act like memory foam. Compressed so that the implant is smaller than the missing tooth when it’s first inserted, these nanofibers gently expand once in place until the implant snugly fits the socket. This allows for a new minimally invasive procedure that preserves existing nerve endings in the tissue around the implant.

“This new implant and minimally invasive technique should help reconnect nerves, allowing the implant to ‘talk’ to the brain much like a real tooth,” explains Chen. “This breakthrough also could transform other types of bone implants, like those used in hip replacements or fracture repair.”

Six weeks after surgery, the implants stayed firmly in place in rats, with no signs of inflammation or rejection. “Imaging revealed a distinct space between the implant and the bone, suggesting that the implant had been integrated through soft tissue rather than the traditional fusion with the bone,” says Chen. This may restore the nerves around it.

The research was conducted by Chen and School of Dental Medicine faculty Qisheng Tu and Zoe Zhu, as well as postdoctoral scholars Siddhartha Das (lead author) and Subhashis Ghosh at Tufts University School of Medicine.

These initial results are promising, but it will take more studies and time—for example, research in larger animal models to look at outcomes, including safety and efficacy—before trials can begin in human volunteers.

The researchers’ next step will be a preclinical study to see if brain activity confirms that the new nerves surrounding the prototype implant indeed relay sensory information.

Citation: Research reported in this article was supported by the National Institutes of Health under award numbers RO1DK131444, R01DE030074, R01DE025681, and R01DE032006. Complete information on authors, funders, methodology, limitations, and conflicts of interest is available in the published paper. 

Disclaimer: The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders.