DT News - UK - New device to treat caries with electric remineralisation

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 18 June 2014

save

LONDON – British researchers have developed a device that takes the pain out of tooth decay treatment by electrically reversing the process to help teeth remineralise. The technique, known as Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER), could be brought to market within three years.

With 2.3 billion sufferers annually, dental caries is one of the most common preventable diseases globally. Dentists normally treat established caries in a tooth by drilling to remove the decay and filling the tooth with a material, such as amalgam or composite resin.

Researchers at Reminova, a spin-out company of King’s College London, aim to rebuild the tooth and heal it by accelerating the natural process by which calcium and phosphate minerals re-enter the tooth to repair a defect. They have developed a device that boosts the tooth’s natural repair process.

embedImagecenter("Imagecenter_1_1259",1259, "large");

The two-step method developed by Reminova first prepares the damaged part of the outer enamel layer of the tooth, then uses a tiny electric current to push minerals into the tooth to repair the damaged site. The defect is remineralised in a painless process that requires no drills, injections or filling materials. Electric currents are already used by dentists to check the pulp or nerve of a tooth. The new device uses a current that is far smaller than that currently used on patients and cannot be felt by the patient.

Prof. Nigel Pitts from King’s College London Dental Institute said, “The way we treat teeth today is not ideal: when we repair a tooth by putting in a filling that tooth enters a cycle of drilling and re-filling as, ultimately, each repair fails. Not only is our device kinder to the patient and better for his or her teeth, but it’s expected to be at least as cost-effective as current dental treatments. Along with fighting tooth decay, our device can also be used to whiten teeth.”

Reminova, which is currently seeking private investment to further develop its remineralisation device, is the first spin-out from the Dental Innovation and Translation Centre at King’s College London, which was launched in January 2013. The centre was formed to translate research and novel technologies into products, into changes in clinical practice and into policy that will improve health and health care internationally.

To post a reply please login or register

Philips extends connected health portfolio with another new device

LONDON, UK: After the recent launch of its latest Sonicare toothbrush, Philips has just unveiled another addition to its cloud-enabled health ecosystem of ...

Dentists must prepare to treat growing numbers of elderly patients with “complex medical histories”

The evolving socio-demographics of patients means dentists must be better equipped to identify oral signs of systemic diseases and treat elderly patients ...

New device detects bacteria during root canal treatment

LONDON, UK: A new method of detecting bacteria during root canal therapy could eradicate the need for follow-up appointments and prevent treatment failure, ...

Combating dental caries with behaviour change techniques

LONDON, UK: A recent study has identified a cost-effective, low-intensity intervention technique that could prevent dental caries in thousands of children ...

AEEDC: Neoss unveils new device for measuring implant stability

DUBAI, UAE: UK-based global dental implant company Neoss is officially launching its business in the Middle Eastern region at AEEDC Dubai 2016. In addition,...

BDIA helps dentists return to practice with new product website

LONDON, UK: As part of the dental industry’s ongoing support for the resumption of widespread dental treatment, the British Dental Industry Association ...

New adhesive prevents dental caries around orthodontic brackets

LONDON, UK: Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have produced a new dental adhesive for bonding orthodontic brackets that protects the tooth ...

Research links processed starch to dental caries

NEWCASTLE, UK: Given the abundance of dietary recommendations that can be accessed these days, understanding what we should and should not eat can be a ...

Software of Excellence starts Good to Great Challenge

BIRMINGHAM, UK: With its solutions, Software of Excellence (SOE) has been helping thousands of dentists around the UK to manage and improve their practices....

Common diabetes drug could treat periodontal disease and help with healthy ageing, study claims

A new method of controlling inflammation and sugar levels for oral and systemic disease prevention using a common diabetes drug has been discovered by a ...

Education

On-demand
webinar