The prospect of exchanging a tooth for that coveted reward from the tooth fairy often has kids wiggling teeth with vigor, but what happens when a primary or permanent tooth is lost prematurely due to trauma? According to a study published in the March/April 2008 issue of General Dentistry, the AGD’s clinical, peer-reviewed journal, parents and caretakers more often than not do not know what to do with a traumatically affected tooth and do not take proper steps to respond to the injury, which can affect their child’s oral health permanently.
Two kinds of traumatic tooth loss can occur during childhood: The child can lose a primary (baby) tooth prematurely, or they can lose a permanent tooth. “With primary or “baby” teeth [the mistake parents or caretakers make] is that they often don’t believe that the loss of a primary tooth is especially important since a permanent tooth is supposed to come in and replace it anyway,” says AGD spokesperson, Tom A. Howley, Jr., DDS, MAGD. It is important to keep baby teeth because they maintain the spacing for permanent teeth. Keeping baby teeth in place will also increase the likelihood that permanent teeth come in straight.
According to the study’s lead author, Lucianne Cople Maia, DDS, MSD, PhD, another mistake parents and caretakers make is that they believe it can always be replanted. In some cases, the tooth can be splinted back in; however, treatment still should be sought for a prematurely lost primary tooth. The area where a tooth has been lost “should be checked for bone fractures or other damage,” among other concerns, explains Dr. Howley.
When it comes to the loss of a permanent tooth, parents and caretakers often delay in seeking treatment and/or fail to store the tooth properly en route to the hospital. AGD spokesperson Mark Donald, DMD, FAGD, explains that “the chance for success is directly related to the amount of trauma and the length of time the tooth is outside of the oral cavity. The tooth should be placed in a moist solution like milk while en route to the dentist.” Dr. Maia adds that “the ideal time between tooth loss and replantation is a period no longer than 30 minutes.”
Young children tend to lose permanent teeth prematurely the most, according to the study, due to the fact their tooth roots and gums are still developing. Parents need to be aware “that as a child becomes active, the chances of trauma to teeth will increase,” says Dr. Donald. “If and when trauma to the oral cavity occurs, the parent should get their child to the dentist as quickly as possible. “As the child begins playing sports, make sure the child wears a protective mouth guard as a safeguard to traumatic blows to the teeth,” he advises.
Parents can prepare for potential dental trauma by creating an emergency care kit that includes the dentist’s phone numbers (home and office), saline solution, a handkerchief, gauze, a small container with a lid, and ibuprofen. It is not advised to include aspirin, since it can cause excessive bleeding in an emergency.
Proper response to a traumatically affected tooth:
Remain calm and assess the injury.
Control the bleeding.
Determine if the injury involves more that just tooth loss and needs medical attention.
Call and arrange for professional care by the child’s dentist.
If the loss tooth is a permanent tooth, first make sure it is clean by rinsing it off with milk and replant it immediately. Hold it in place en route to receiving professional care. If it is impossible to replant the tooth, ask the dentist what medium to store the tooth in. The possibilities range from water, milk or the child’s saliva. Let the dentist give directions on which solution to use.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Temporary dentures improve patients' health
As people begin to realize how their appearance may influence their social life, many are turning to alternative methods to perfect their smile. Temporary dentures are not only economically feasible to wear while waiting for a permanent denture, but they can also aid in a person’s overall health and restore a fading smile, according to a study from the January/February 2008 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer reviewed journal.
“A smile serves as an individual’s most powerful tool,” says AGD spokesperson Laura Murcko, DMD. “A great smile can make great, lasting impression, boost a person’s self-esteem and confidence as well as improve their overall health.”
However, each year in the United States, over 20 million teeth are extracted, leaving scores of people with imperfect and sometimes devastating smiles. A recent online survey of more than 1,100 AGD members revealed that more than 86 percent of dentists reported that their patients deemed social embarrassment as a problem associated with tooth loss.
“Unsightly gaps in the mouth do not have to be part of a person’s permanent appearance,” says Dr. Murcko. While many dentures that help to restore a damaged smile, interim removable partial dentures, also known as temporary dentures provide an immediate and short-term pleasing result.
“They also allow the patient to eat regular food and serve as a space maintainer in younger patients who’ve lost teeth as a result of trauma,” according to the lead study author, Canan Bural, DDS.
When people suffer from tooth decay or periodontal disease, losing just one tooth can be a sign that more teeth will be lost. This means that placing a permanent denture in the mouth is difficult. “When continued tooth loss is expected in a patient, dentists are limited in terms of the type of dentures they can offer to the patient,” explains Dr. Bural. In instances such as these, temporary dentures can greatly benefit the patient.
Survey Says…
Common problems associated with natural tooth loss:
Reduction in ability to chew—91.91%
Social embarrassment—86.35%
Avoid eating certain foods—73.83%
Feel nervous or self-conscious—68.7%
Emotional pain—66.26%
“A smile serves as an individual’s most powerful tool,” says AGD spokesperson Laura Murcko, DMD. “A great smile can make great, lasting impression, boost a person’s self-esteem and confidence as well as improve their overall health.”
However, each year in the United States, over 20 million teeth are extracted, leaving scores of people with imperfect and sometimes devastating smiles. A recent online survey of more than 1,100 AGD members revealed that more than 86 percent of dentists reported that their patients deemed social embarrassment as a problem associated with tooth loss.
“Unsightly gaps in the mouth do not have to be part of a person’s permanent appearance,” says Dr. Murcko. While many dentures that help to restore a damaged smile, interim removable partial dentures, also known as temporary dentures provide an immediate and short-term pleasing result.
“They also allow the patient to eat regular food and serve as a space maintainer in younger patients who’ve lost teeth as a result of trauma,” according to the lead study author, Canan Bural, DDS.
When people suffer from tooth decay or periodontal disease, losing just one tooth can be a sign that more teeth will be lost. This means that placing a permanent denture in the mouth is difficult. “When continued tooth loss is expected in a patient, dentists are limited in terms of the type of dentures they can offer to the patient,” explains Dr. Bural. In instances such as these, temporary dentures can greatly benefit the patient.
Survey Says…
Common problems associated with natural tooth loss:
Reduction in ability to chew—91.91%
Social embarrassment—86.35%
Avoid eating certain foods—73.83%
Feel nervous or self-conscious—68.7%
Emotional pain—66.26%
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Osteoporosis: physician, dentist collaboration
Treating osteoporosis calls for physician, dentist collaboration: ADA Journal
Oral health maintenance important for patients with osteoporosis
Physicians and dentists should collaborate to improve early detection and treatment of patients who have or may develop osteoporosis, say researchers in the cover story of the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The authors of the article, “Osteoporosis and Its Implications for Dental Patients,” reviewed the medical and dental literature to examine osteoporosis’ effect on public health in the United States. They also assessed the implications of providing dental care to people who have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
According to the authors, the literature indicated that osteoporosis and related fractures are more common than coronary disease, stroke and breast cancer. Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can affect a patient’s quality of life, as well as result in functional impairment and increased health care cost and mortality.
Their literature search also revealed that medical management of osteoporosis includes diet control, weight-bearing exercise, discontinuation of tobacco and alcohol intake, and use of medications—including selective estrogen receptor modulators, calcitonin, anabolic agents and bisphosphonates—that have been associated with the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
The authors determined that oral health maintenance is important in patients with osteoporosis, and that changes to bisphosphonate therapy or other medical treatment should be made only after consultation with the patient’s physician.
“Dentists need to understand osteoporosis, its treatments and its complications to provide adequate care,” write the authors.
All health care professionals involved in the care of all dental patients, particularly patients who are taking oral bisphosphonates, should discuss patient care decisions with the patient’s physician, conclude the authors.
Oral health maintenance important for patients with osteoporosis
Physicians and dentists should collaborate to improve early detection and treatment of patients who have or may develop osteoporosis, say researchers in the cover story of the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The authors of the article, “Osteoporosis and Its Implications for Dental Patients,” reviewed the medical and dental literature to examine osteoporosis’ effect on public health in the United States. They also assessed the implications of providing dental care to people who have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
According to the authors, the literature indicated that osteoporosis and related fractures are more common than coronary disease, stroke and breast cancer. Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can affect a patient’s quality of life, as well as result in functional impairment and increased health care cost and mortality.
Their literature search also revealed that medical management of osteoporosis includes diet control, weight-bearing exercise, discontinuation of tobacco and alcohol intake, and use of medications—including selective estrogen receptor modulators, calcitonin, anabolic agents and bisphosphonates—that have been associated with the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw.
The authors determined that oral health maintenance is important in patients with osteoporosis, and that changes to bisphosphonate therapy or other medical treatment should be made only after consultation with the patient’s physician.
“Dentists need to understand osteoporosis, its treatments and its complications to provide adequate care,” write the authors.
All health care professionals involved in the care of all dental patients, particularly patients who are taking oral bisphosphonates, should discuss patient care decisions with the patient’s physician, conclude the authors.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tooth loss strongly linked to risk of cancer
Tooth loss strongly linked to risk of esophageal, head and neck, and lung cancer
Studying thousands of patients, Japanese researchers have found a strong link between tooth loss and increased risk of three cancers – esophageal, head and neck, and lung. They suggest that preservation of teeth may decrease risk of developing these diseases.
In the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, scientists from Aichi Cancer Center in Nagoya and Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine speculate that bacterial infection and inflammation resulting from poor oral care that leads to tooth loss could also be driving development of these cancers. Periodontal disease is known to increase risk for stroke and heart disease.
“Tooth loss is a common consequence of chronic bacterial infection and may, therefore, serve as a surrogate for chronic infection and inflammation, which in turn may be important to the pathogenesis of cancer,” said the study’s lead author, Akio Hiraki, Ph.D., a researcher at the Aichi Cancer Center.
Researchers measured rates of 14 different cancers and rates of tooth loss in 5,240 cancer patients in Japan, and compared those rates among 10,480 matched cancer-free participants. The researchers specifically found that people with tooth loss were 136 percent more likely to develop esophageal cancer, had a 68 percent increased risk of developing head and neck cancer and a 54 percent greater chance of developing lung cancer. The researchers also found that the rate of cancer increased proportionally to the number of teeth a patient had lost.
These increased risks were seen after researchers took into account a patient’s history of smoking and alcohol use.
Smaller studies have linked tooth loss to different cancers, but this is the largest study to date, and the first conducted within an Asian population, the researchers say. This is also the first study to show a link to lung cancer, they add.
The researchers noted that age and gender affected the associations between tooth loss and cancer risk. For head and neck and esophageal cancers, there were clear associations between tooth loss and cancer risk in women and patients younger than 70 years old, but a less clear link in men and older patients.
The researchers say that while widespread inflammation could explain the link between tooth loss and cancer risk, they also note that tooth loss in the cancer patients may simply reflect unhealthy behaviors that contribute to cancer risk. Furthermore, people who have lost teeth may not be able to eat a healthy diet, and diet is also a factor in cancer development.
Whatever the mechanism, the researchers stress that oral care is critical to good health.
“The oral cavity is a gateway between the external environment and the gastrointestinal tract and acts in both food ingestion and digestion,” the researchers wrote. “Oral hygiene potentially affects gastrointestinal flora and nutritional status and may thus have implications for the development of chronic disease.”
Studying thousands of patients, Japanese researchers have found a strong link between tooth loss and increased risk of three cancers – esophageal, head and neck, and lung. They suggest that preservation of teeth may decrease risk of developing these diseases.
In the May issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, scientists from Aichi Cancer Center in Nagoya and Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine speculate that bacterial infection and inflammation resulting from poor oral care that leads to tooth loss could also be driving development of these cancers. Periodontal disease is known to increase risk for stroke and heart disease.
“Tooth loss is a common consequence of chronic bacterial infection and may, therefore, serve as a surrogate for chronic infection and inflammation, which in turn may be important to the pathogenesis of cancer,” said the study’s lead author, Akio Hiraki, Ph.D., a researcher at the Aichi Cancer Center.
Researchers measured rates of 14 different cancers and rates of tooth loss in 5,240 cancer patients in Japan, and compared those rates among 10,480 matched cancer-free participants. The researchers specifically found that people with tooth loss were 136 percent more likely to develop esophageal cancer, had a 68 percent increased risk of developing head and neck cancer and a 54 percent greater chance of developing lung cancer. The researchers also found that the rate of cancer increased proportionally to the number of teeth a patient had lost.
These increased risks were seen after researchers took into account a patient’s history of smoking and alcohol use.
Smaller studies have linked tooth loss to different cancers, but this is the largest study to date, and the first conducted within an Asian population, the researchers say. This is also the first study to show a link to lung cancer, they add.
The researchers noted that age and gender affected the associations between tooth loss and cancer risk. For head and neck and esophageal cancers, there were clear associations between tooth loss and cancer risk in women and patients younger than 70 years old, but a less clear link in men and older patients.
The researchers say that while widespread inflammation could explain the link between tooth loss and cancer risk, they also note that tooth loss in the cancer patients may simply reflect unhealthy behaviors that contribute to cancer risk. Furthermore, people who have lost teeth may not be able to eat a healthy diet, and diet is also a factor in cancer development.
Whatever the mechanism, the researchers stress that oral care is critical to good health.
“The oral cavity is a gateway between the external environment and the gastrointestinal tract and acts in both food ingestion and digestion,” the researchers wrote. “Oral hygiene potentially affects gastrointestinal flora and nutritional status and may thus have implications for the development of chronic disease.”
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Good Oral Health During Pregnancy
American Dental Association Stresses Good Oral Health During Pregnancy; Studies Suggest Gum Disease Might Be Associated With Pregnancy Outcomes
With Mother's Day around the corner, the American Dental Association (ADA) wants to remind mothers-to-be that maintaining good oral health is an important part of overall health, especially during pregnancy.
Research suggests there may be an association between maternal gum disease and pre-term birth and low birth weight babies. In addition, a recent study says that pregnant women with gum disease may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
"Good oral health habits are an important part of a healthy lifestyle," says Sally Cram, D.D.S., ADA consumer advisor and periodontist in Washington, D.C. "If you are planning a pregnancy, schedule a dental checkup for a cleaning. If you are pregnant, continue your regular dental visits. Be sure to inform your dentist if you are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant."
In addition to regular dental visits, the ADA recommends eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining daily oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental cleaner. The ADA recommends that consumers look for oral healthcare products that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is designed to help consumers make informed decisions about the safety and effectiveness of dental products.
"Pregnancy often causes food cravings, and constant snacking on sugary food and beverages can lead to a buildup of dental plaque," explains Ada Cooper, D.D.S., ADA consumer advisor and a general dentist in New York. "In addition, the rising hormone levels that accompany pregnancy can irritate gums already battling plaque buildup. Some dentists might recommend more frequent cleanings during the second or early third trimester to control gingivitis."
Good oral health habits are not only valuable during pregnancy, but after pregnancy as well because cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from mother to child through contact such as sharing utensils or kissing.
For more information about pregnancy and oral health, please visit: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/pregnancy_faq.asp and http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/oralsystemic.asp#pregnancy .
With Mother's Day around the corner, the American Dental Association (ADA) wants to remind mothers-to-be that maintaining good oral health is an important part of overall health, especially during pregnancy.
Research suggests there may be an association between maternal gum disease and pre-term birth and low birth weight babies. In addition, a recent study says that pregnant women with gum disease may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
"Good oral health habits are an important part of a healthy lifestyle," says Sally Cram, D.D.S., ADA consumer advisor and periodontist in Washington, D.C. "If you are planning a pregnancy, schedule a dental checkup for a cleaning. If you are pregnant, continue your regular dental visits. Be sure to inform your dentist if you are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant."
In addition to regular dental visits, the ADA recommends eating a well-balanced diet, maintaining daily oral hygiene by brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental cleaner. The ADA recommends that consumers look for oral healthcare products that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is designed to help consumers make informed decisions about the safety and effectiveness of dental products.
"Pregnancy often causes food cravings, and constant snacking on sugary food and beverages can lead to a buildup of dental plaque," explains Ada Cooper, D.D.S., ADA consumer advisor and a general dentist in New York. "In addition, the rising hormone levels that accompany pregnancy can irritate gums already battling plaque buildup. Some dentists might recommend more frequent cleanings during the second or early third trimester to control gingivitis."
Good oral health habits are not only valuable during pregnancy, but after pregnancy as well because cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from mother to child through contact such as sharing utensils or kissing.
For more information about pregnancy and oral health, please visit: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/pregnancy_faq.asp and http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/oralsystemic.asp#pregnancy .
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
NYU Dental Professor Discovers Biological Clock
NYU Dental Professor Discovers Biological Clock Linking Tooth Growth to Other Metabolic Processes
Why do rats live faster and die younger than humans? A newly discovered biological clock provides tantalizing clues.
This clock, or biological rhythm, controls many metabolic functions and is based on the circadian rhythm, which is a roughly 24-hour cycle that is important in determining sleeping and feeding patterns, cell regeneration, and other biological processes in mammals.
The newly discovered rhythm, like the circadian rhythm, originates in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that functions as the main control center for the autonomic nervous system. But unlike the circadian rhythm, this clock varies from one organism to another, operating on shorter time intervals for small mammals, and longer ones for larger animals. For example, rats have a one-day interval, chimpanzees six, and humans eight.
NYU dental professor Dr. Timothy Bromage discovered the rhythm while observing incremental growth lines in tooth enamel, which appear much like the annual rings on a tree. He also observed a related pattern of incremental growth in skeletal bone tissue - the first time such an incremental rhythm has ever been observed in bone.
Reporting his findings today in the “Late-breaking News” session during the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research, Bromage said, “The same biological rhythm that controls incremental tooth and bone growth also affects bone and body size and many metabolic processes, including heart and respiration rates. In fact, the rhythm affects an organism’s overall pace of life, and its life span. So, a rat that grows teeth and bone in one-eighth the time of a human also lives faster and dies younger.”
Humans have by far the most variation in these long-term incremental growth rhythms, with some humans clocking as few as five days, and others as many as ten. Correspondingly, humans have the most variability in body size among mammals.
Future research will assess whether there is a link between slower growth rhythms and growth disorders. Since the autonomic nervous system controls human behavior, future research will also assess whether growth rhythms can be linked to variations in human behavior.
Dr. Bromage is an Adjunct Professor of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology and of Biomaterials and Biomimetics at the NYU College of Dentistry.
Why do rats live faster and die younger than humans? A newly discovered biological clock provides tantalizing clues.
This clock, or biological rhythm, controls many metabolic functions and is based on the circadian rhythm, which is a roughly 24-hour cycle that is important in determining sleeping and feeding patterns, cell regeneration, and other biological processes in mammals.
The newly discovered rhythm, like the circadian rhythm, originates in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that functions as the main control center for the autonomic nervous system. But unlike the circadian rhythm, this clock varies from one organism to another, operating on shorter time intervals for small mammals, and longer ones for larger animals. For example, rats have a one-day interval, chimpanzees six, and humans eight.
NYU dental professor Dr. Timothy Bromage discovered the rhythm while observing incremental growth lines in tooth enamel, which appear much like the annual rings on a tree. He also observed a related pattern of incremental growth in skeletal bone tissue - the first time such an incremental rhythm has ever been observed in bone.
Reporting his findings today in the “Late-breaking News” session during the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research, Bromage said, “The same biological rhythm that controls incremental tooth and bone growth also affects bone and body size and many metabolic processes, including heart and respiration rates. In fact, the rhythm affects an organism’s overall pace of life, and its life span. So, a rat that grows teeth and bone in one-eighth the time of a human also lives faster and dies younger.”
Humans have by far the most variation in these long-term incremental growth rhythms, with some humans clocking as few as five days, and others as many as ten. Correspondingly, humans have the most variability in body size among mammals.
Future research will assess whether there is a link between slower growth rhythms and growth disorders. Since the autonomic nervous system controls human behavior, future research will also assess whether growth rhythms can be linked to variations in human behavior.
Dr. Bromage is an Adjunct Professor of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology and of Biomaterials and Biomimetics at the NYU College of Dentistry.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Cavities In Children Reduced More Than 60 Percent
Ortek Therapeutics, Inc., and Stony Brook University announced today that new data published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Dentistry demonstrate the effects of a new chewable mint in preventing cavities in children. This investigational product, called BasicMints™, contains CaviStat®, an innovative, fluoride-free, cavity-fighting complex. CaviStat is designed to mimic the profound cavity fighting benefits of saliva, by neutralizing harmful plaque acids and simultaneously promoting the remineralization of the tooth structure. The results show the children who were administered BasicMints had 62 percent fewer cavities in their molars after one year compared to children in the placebo group.
CaviStat was developed and clinically tested by researchers in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. The technology was patented and exclusively licensed to Ortek by the Research Foundation of State University of New York (SUNY) through its campus arm, the Office of Technology Licensing & Industry Relations (OTLIR), the entity responsible for licensing SUNY technology. Ortek is one of Stony Brook University’s successful local start-up companies that OTLIR helped to found. The company is planning to submit an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year. BasicMints are not currently approved for use in the U.S. All of the components of CaviStat are naturally present in the human body.
“Cavities affect the quality of life for millions of children every year by causing them pain, to miss school days and cost billions of dollars to repair annually,” said Israel Kleinberg, D.D.S., Ph.D., lead researcher and inventor of the CaviStat technology and Distinguished Professor and Founding Chairman of the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at SBU School of Dental Medicine. “This study shows for the first time that this new fluoride-free, cavity-fighting tool has the potential to significantly improve the oral health of children.”
The study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Dentistry showed that after six months, children (N=96) who took BasicMints with CaviStat twice a day had 68.3 percent fewer cavities than the placebo group. After 12 months those children had 61.7 percent fewer cavities as compared to the placebo group (N=99) (P<0.001) in all of the molars studied (first permanent molars, some erupting premolars, second molars and deciduous molars). In the first permanent molars, some early erupting premolars and second molars, the children who were in the BasicMints study group had 75.6 percent less cavities after six months (P<0.001) and 50.7 percent less cavities after 12 months (P<0.001), as compared to the placebo group. Additionally, children in the BasicMints group had 76.2 percent less cavities in the deciduous molars after six months and 74.8 percent less cavities after 12 months, as compared to the placebo controls.
“We are truly excited about the results demonstrated by BasicMints™ in this new study and are looking forward to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to bring this new cavity-prevention technology to market,” said Mitchell Goldberg, President, Ortek Therapeutics, Inc., the makers of BasicMints™.
About the Study
The study published in the March issue of Journal of Clinical Dentistry was a one-year, double-blind, placebo controlled study that demonstrates that sugarless mints containing the fluoride-free CaviStat® technology were able to inhibit both the onset and progression of cavities in 10 and 11 year-old children in Venezuela. Study participants took four mints daily, two in the morning after brushing their teeth and before eating breakfast and two in the evening after brushing their teeth, before going to bed. There were 200 children enrolled and 195 who finished the one-year study with complete data. Ninety-six children were in the study group and received the BasicMints with CaviStat and 99 children were in the placebo group and received the sugarless mint without CaviStat. The study was funded by Ortek Therapeutics, Inc.
About BasicMints and CaviStat
BasicMints is a new experimental drug in pre-clinical testing designed to prevent the formation of tooth decay. This soft, chewable, sugarless, mint flavored tablet contains CaviStat, Ortek's innovative, fluoride-free, cavity fighting complex. BasicMints are designed to be dissolved and chewed into the biting and approximating surfaces of the back teeth. These vulnerable surfaces account for approximately 90 percent of cavities in children.
CaviStat is a new innovative, fluoride-free, cavity fighting complex that is designed to mimic and integrate the powerful alkali producing, acid neutralizing and remineralizing benefits of saliva. CaviStat was designed to counter the formation of dental cavities by simultaneously inhibiting the two fundamental processes known for more than a hundred years to be responsible for cavity development, namely, acid generation by bacterial fermentation of appropriate carbohydrate substrates and solubilization of tooth mineral by the acid generated. CaviStat contains the amino acid arginine, which when metabolized by certain plaque bacteria, results in elevation of dental plaque pH by alkali generation. It also contains bicarbonate, an important buffer in saliva; and calcium carbonate, a poorly soluble calcium salt.
CaviStat was developed and clinically tested by researchers in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. The technology was patented and exclusively licensed to Ortek by the Research Foundation of State University of New York (SUNY) through its campus arm, the Office of Technology Licensing & Industry Relations (OTLIR), the entity responsible for licensing SUNY technology. Ortek is one of Stony Brook University’s successful local start-up companies that OTLIR helped to found. The company is planning to submit an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year. BasicMints are not currently approved for use in the U.S. All of the components of CaviStat are naturally present in the human body.
“Cavities affect the quality of life for millions of children every year by causing them pain, to miss school days and cost billions of dollars to repair annually,” said Israel Kleinberg, D.D.S., Ph.D., lead researcher and inventor of the CaviStat technology and Distinguished Professor and Founding Chairman of the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at SBU School of Dental Medicine. “This study shows for the first time that this new fluoride-free, cavity-fighting tool has the potential to significantly improve the oral health of children.”
The study published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Dentistry showed that after six months, children (N=96) who took BasicMints with CaviStat twice a day had 68.3 percent fewer cavities than the placebo group. After 12 months those children had 61.7 percent fewer cavities as compared to the placebo group (N=99) (P<0.001) in all of the molars studied (first permanent molars, some erupting premolars, second molars and deciduous molars). In the first permanent molars, some early erupting premolars and second molars, the children who were in the BasicMints study group had 75.6 percent less cavities after six months (P<0.001) and 50.7 percent less cavities after 12 months (P<0.001), as compared to the placebo group. Additionally, children in the BasicMints group had 76.2 percent less cavities in the deciduous molars after six months and 74.8 percent less cavities after 12 months, as compared to the placebo controls.
“We are truly excited about the results demonstrated by BasicMints™ in this new study and are looking forward to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to bring this new cavity-prevention technology to market,” said Mitchell Goldberg, President, Ortek Therapeutics, Inc., the makers of BasicMints™.
About the Study
The study published in the March issue of Journal of Clinical Dentistry was a one-year, double-blind, placebo controlled study that demonstrates that sugarless mints containing the fluoride-free CaviStat® technology were able to inhibit both the onset and progression of cavities in 10 and 11 year-old children in Venezuela. Study participants took four mints daily, two in the morning after brushing their teeth and before eating breakfast and two in the evening after brushing their teeth, before going to bed. There were 200 children enrolled and 195 who finished the one-year study with complete data. Ninety-six children were in the study group and received the BasicMints with CaviStat and 99 children were in the placebo group and received the sugarless mint without CaviStat. The study was funded by Ortek Therapeutics, Inc.
About BasicMints and CaviStat
BasicMints is a new experimental drug in pre-clinical testing designed to prevent the formation of tooth decay. This soft, chewable, sugarless, mint flavored tablet contains CaviStat, Ortek's innovative, fluoride-free, cavity fighting complex. BasicMints are designed to be dissolved and chewed into the biting and approximating surfaces of the back teeth. These vulnerable surfaces account for approximately 90 percent of cavities in children.
CaviStat is a new innovative, fluoride-free, cavity fighting complex that is designed to mimic and integrate the powerful alkali producing, acid neutralizing and remineralizing benefits of saliva. CaviStat was designed to counter the formation of dental cavities by simultaneously inhibiting the two fundamental processes known for more than a hundred years to be responsible for cavity development, namely, acid generation by bacterial fermentation of appropriate carbohydrate substrates and solubilization of tooth mineral by the acid generated. CaviStat contains the amino acid arginine, which when metabolized by certain plaque bacteria, results in elevation of dental plaque pH by alkali generation. It also contains bicarbonate, an important buffer in saliva; and calcium carbonate, a poorly soluble calcium salt.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)