#dentine

The Scientific Research Notes of S. Sunkavally. Years: 1986 - 1990.

Cracking Teeth

Take a look at smiling photos of yourself and you won’t spot these but they’re there. Microcracks (MCs). These tiny cracks in the hard outer coating of your teeth (enamel) develop with age. How do they affect tooth structure and integrity? Researchers investigate using X-ray micro-computed tomography of four extracted human teeth. Image processing using specific algorithms allowed the team to create 3D images of the density of the enamel (top row) and softer inner tissue (dentine, middle row), as well as MCs (bottom row) from different angles (left to right). This revealed an intricate star-shaped network of MCs that weren’t limited to the enamel but passed through into the dentine along two almost perpendicular planes. These healthy teeth nonetheless retained their structural integrity. MCs may therefore be involved in protecting tooth integrity from the strong forces applied to teeth daily. More research is needed to uncover how.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Image from work by Irma Dumbryte and colleagues

Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Scientific Reports, December 2022

Tideglusib

[molecular programmed morphic photon field]

Tideglusib molecule is an tooth repair mechanism that promotes dentine reinforcement

activation of dentine regeneration & permanent enamel strengthening

solidifying dentine structures

Tertiary dentine also known as reactive, reparative, irritation, replacement, adventitious and defense dentine. It’s laid down in response to an irritation or damage to the overlaying dentine or enamel and it provides protection to underlying pulp by decresing dentin permeability. It is characterized by variable and atypical structure. The quality of newly formed tissue depends on intensity of damage and pulp vitality. 

It forms between pulp and dentine in localized way and it’s determined by the site of stimulus. It varies from the primary or secondary dentine because of the differences of the structure. 

If the stimulus is a carious lesion, there is extensive destruction of dentine and damage to the pulp, due to the differentiation of bacterial metabolites and toxins. Thus, tertiary dentine is deposited rapidly by new odontoblas-like cells, with a sparse and irregular tubular pattern and some cellular inclusions; in this case it is referred to as "osteodentine"-the reparative dentine.

If the stimulus is mild and the pulp is vital with pre-existing odontoblasts the tetriary dentine is called the reactionary. It has a similar structure to primary dentine, with a more regular tubular pattern and hardly any cellular inclusions.

With aging or severe damage, tetriary dentine can totally obliterate the pulp cavity. 

Is it possible for tertiary dentine to fill the cavity?

Unfortunately it’s impossible. Enamel tissue is formed only during odontogenesis. Thus, cavities in enamel can’t be filled up with tertiary dentine.

If tertiary dentine protects the pulp, why is it stil necessary to fill cavities?

Researchers have identified a drug that can regenerate teeth from the inside out, possibly reducing the need for artificial fillings.

The drug was previously used in Alzheimer’s clinical trials, and it now appears to improve the tooth’s natural ability to heal itself. It works by activating stem cells inside the tooth's pulp centre, prompting the damaged area to regenerate the hard dentin material that makes up the majority of a tooth.

"The simplicity of our approach makes it ideal as a clinical dental product for the natural treatment of large cavities, by providing both pulp protection and restoring dentine," said lead author Paul Sharpe from King’s College London.

"In addition, using a drug that has already been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease provides a real opportunity to get this dental treatment quickly into clinics."