teeth | MY SPECIAL DOCTOR

An army of micro-robots can wipe out dental plaque

16 February 20246 January 2024 by Renato Torlaschi

A swarm of micro-robots, directed by magnets, can dislodge and remove the biofilm that forms the characteristic plaque that forms around teeth and promotes and sustains common oral diseases, from caries to periodontal disease.

The innovation stems from a partnership between dentists, biologists and engineers at the University of Pennsylvania and has been described in Science Robotics . With two types of robotic systems, one designed to work on surfaces and the other to operate within confined spaces, scientists have shown that robots with catalytic activity have the ability to destroy oral biofilm, that complex aggregation of microorganisms that is deposited on dental hard substance, restorations and prosthetic restorations, gingiva, mucous membranes, tongue and periodontal pockets. These robotic biofilm removal systems promise to be useful in a wide range of potential applications: while they will be able to keep water tubes and catheters clean, they will also go a long way toward reducing the risk of caries, endodontic infections, and implant contamination.

Coordinating the study were Hyun Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. “Underlying our result ,” said Koo. there was a truly synergistic and multidisciplinary interaction. We are harnessing the expertise of microbiologists, clinical scientists, and engineers to design the best possible microbial eradication system, which is also an important aspect for other biomedical fields facing drug-resistant biofilms, just as the world is approaching a post-antibiotic era.”.

And Steager added, “treating biofilms that form on teeth requires a great deal of manual labor, with our innovation we hope to improve treatment options and reduce the difficulty of care.”

According to the U.S. researchers, current treatments for biofilms are ineffective because they are unable to simultaneously degrade the protective matrix, kill the embedded bacteria and physically remove the biodegraded products. Instead, according to Koo, “these robots can do the three things at the same time and very effectively, leaving no biofilm behind.”

Hwang G, Paula JA, Hunter EE et al. Catalytic antimicrobial robots for biofilm eradication. Science Robotics 24 Apr 2019: Vol. 4, Issue 29, eaaw2388.

Goodbye fillings? Gel that regrows nail polish discovered

14 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Enamel, the protective layer on the outside of the teeth, is the hardest biological tissue in the human body; however, too much sugar and poor dental hygiene can cause plaque to accumulate in the mouth, and the accompanying bacteria release acids that can destroy it. When tooth enamel is damaged, it does not grow back: this results in the formation of those cavities-caries-that need to be filled by a dentist.

But now, researchers from China’s Zhejiang and Xiamen Universities have discovered a way to regrow human tooth enamel, a technique they hope will one day be used by dentists to repair teeth. They essentially made use of two minerals, calcium and phosphorus, which are two key components of natural enamel, and incorporated it into a special gel.

As a first test, the Chinese team layered the gel on a surface quite similar to dental enamel, consisting of crystalline hydroxyapatite, and the result was as hoped: calcium phosphate particles in the gel in the form of small bunches (clusters) fused with the material.

The next step involved the use of laboratory-available human teeth to which the researchers intentionally damaged the enamel with acid and then covered them with the gel. The teeth were then placed in containers that mimicked the physicochemical conditions found inside the human mouth for 48 hours. The results of this second experiment were also surprisingly positive: in this short period, the substance had formed an albeit very thin layer of coating similar to natural enamel, with similar strength and resistance characteristics. Even in microscopic analysis, the researchers could see that the coating had a crystal structure similar to the enamel that covers our teeth. Although the layer was very thin, the authors explained that it can be thickened simply by applying the gel several times.

Clearly, the road to application is still a long one, involving testing in animal models and eventually in humans, but its potential is great and perhaps could revolutionize the way we treat tooth decay, potentially eliminating the need for fillings.

Source:

Shao C, Jin B, et al. Repair of tooth enamel by a biomimetic mineralization frontier ensuring epitaxial growth. Science Advances Aug 30, 2019: Vol. 5, no. 8, eaaw9569.

Tooth/mouth injury

14 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Biting of the lips and tongue

What do?

In the case of biting our lips or the tongue, apply direct pressure to the bleeding area with gauze sterile or with a clean cloth.
If the affected part swells, apply ice or suck on an ice cube.

Fall of a tooth

A fallen tooth can be safely replanted in its place. In the moment in which the tooth falls, it is advisable to keep it for examination at the dentist. Place a sterile gauze pad so that the bleeding is controlled.

What do?

Recover the tooth, do not wash it and do not Remove no tissue fragments attached to it.
Placing the tooth in an appropriate solution For tooth preservation. You absolutely must not put the tooth in alcohol, water or mouthwash.
In case it is a partially extracted not remove it and try to reposition it in the alveolus.
Going to the dentist. If you find yourself in a isolated area it is possible to replant the fallen tooth through a series of instructions:
Handling the tooth from the crown
Rinse the tooth with cold water
Reposition the tooth in the socket.
Push the tooth so that its upper margin is at the same level as the adjacent ones.

Broken tooth

What do?

Gently wash the tooth so as to remove blood from the affected area.
Cover the tooth with sterile gauze.
Apply an ice pack to the face to reduce swelling.
If you think you have a fracture in the jaw, immobilize it with a bandage.

Toothache

What do?

Wash the mouth with warm water to clean it.
Remove food residue with a thread interdental.
If tooth decay is suspected, insert a cotton ball soaked in clove oil in the cavity. For the pain take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
At the sore tooth, apply an ice pack

Dental sensitivity: here’s how to treat it

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Sensitive teeth refers to hypersensitivity of teeth, also known as dental hypersensitivity, which is essentially a sharp pain in one or more teeth.

This disorder is due to the fact that nerve endings located under the enamel and at the base of the gums have become uncovered and are more exposed to being stressed by external agents, such as food and drink.

Xerostomia: disorder of the teeth

1 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Xerostomia is dryness of the oral cavity caused by reduced or absent saliva flow.

This condition can cause discomfort, interfere with speech and swallowing, make it difficult to use dentures, cause halitosis, and impair oral hygiene by causing a reduction in oral pH and an increase in bacterial growth. Long-term xerostomia can lead to destructive caries and oral candidiasis. Xerostomia is a frequent disorder among older adults, affecting about 20% of the elderly population.

Dental caries: what are they?

4 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Dental caries, ( from Latin caries, “corrosion, putrefaction”) is one of the most prevalent and common degenerative diseases in dentistry. This is a degenerative process that damages the hard tissues of the tooth (enamel and dentin) and is caused by bacteria in the oral cavity that take refuge in plaque and tartar within the dental arch. The teeth most affected by caries are usually the molars, premolars, and upper incisors.

Periodontal Disease. What is it all about?

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease that affects the supporting structures around the tooth such as gingiva and bone. What are the triggers and symptoms?

Periodontitis (once called Pyorrhea) is a chronic infectious disease that affects the supporting structures around the tooth such as gingiva and bone.

The main cause of disease development is bacterial plaque that settles around the tooth and at the gingival margin. Plaque and our body’s inflammatory response cause the bone around the tooth to shrink until the tooth element is lost. Although plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease other risk factors can also increase the aggressiveness of periodontitis such as smoking (which in a dose/dependent ratio that can increase the risk of developing periodontitis by 20 times) or systemic diseases such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Wisdom tooth: symptoms and treatment

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Wisdom teeth, scientifically called “moral thirds” or “eighths,” usually grow in at the age when one theoretically acquires maturity-hence the name-that is, between the ages of 18 and 25. They are the last teeth to grow in, but they do not always make their appearance.

They often cause pain and do not have an essential function for chewing.

But for what reason do they exist? To get an answer, one has to go back many years, to prehistoric times, an era when they were necessary for chewing raw and very tough meats. With the invention of fire and thus capture, the evolution of human teeth began, making wisdom teeth almost useless. Let’s now see what the symptoms are, how to relieve the pain, and when the wisdom tooth should be removed.

Malocclusion: a dental problem that can become serious

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Deviations from ideal occlusion are known as
malocclusion
. The type of deviation is variable, but any type of misalignment can cause problems. It is necessary to align the upper teeth to avoid lip and cheek bites, while it is important to align the lower teeth to protect the tongue from bites.

There are three main classes of malocclusion:

class 1

is the most common of the three, where the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth.

class 2

this condition, known as retrognathia, causes the upper teeth and jaw to overlap significantly with the lower teeth and jaw.

class 3

is also known as prognathism and occurs when the lower jaw protrudes forward. This causes the lower teeth to overlap with the upper teeth and jaw.

Dental abscess: treatment and remedies

4 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Have you noticed that you have a dental abscess? In this article you will find out what it is specifically, what causes this problem and what remedies you can use to make the pain go away.

Simply put, we can say that a dental abscess is an accumulation of bacteria, white blood cells, or other cellular debris that has settled on the tissues that are close to the tooth, thus gum, jaw bone, or on the pulp of the tooth. First, we can classify three types of abscess: periodontal abscess, peripical abscess, and gingival abscess.

Bruxism: teeth grinding

4 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Bruxism is a behavior that consists of rubbing associated with clenching of the teeth of the upper two arches on the lower in an involuntary and especially violent manner. This Activity can sometimes be noisy and annoying, not so much for the person performing it (because it generally takes place in sleep), but for the person sleeping next to a person who burnsxa and is disturbed throughout the night continuously.