Dental fillings may soon become a thing of the past thanks to a recent discovery about a drug named Tideglusib intended for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Despite its primary purpose, scientists have found that the drug promotes tooth regeneration in mice, effectively eliminating cavities, reports Science Alert. Tideglusib stimulates the stem cells of the dental pulp to regenerate dentin.
>>>In addition to not smelling good, sockless shoes have ‘given their soul’ to the development of fungi
Dentin can regenerate without external influence, but only under certain circumstances, and only a very thin layer can regenerate, which is not sufficient to repair cavities caused by decay, which are generally located very deep. Tideglusib works by inhibiting the action of the GSK-3 enzyme that halts the formation of new dentin.
During the research, the team of scientists inserted small biodegradable sponges made of collagen soaked in Tideglusib into the dental cavity. The sponges stimulated dentin growth and repaired the damage within 6 weeks. The sponge degraded, leaving behind an intact tooth.
>>>Orthorexia – an obsession with healthy eating that harms health
So far, the procedure has only been tested on mice, but the scientists involved in the experiment stated that this type of treatment should soon become common in human treatments. The simplicity of this approach makes it ideal for clinical treatment as it protects the pulp and regenerates dentin.
