Promotion of natural tooth repair by small molecule GSK3 antagonists

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 9:7:39654. doi: 10.1038/srep39654.

Abstract

The restoration of dentine lost in deep caries lesions in teeth is a routine and common treatment that involves the use of inorganic cements based on calcium or silicon-based mineral aggregates. Such cements remain in the tooth and fail to degrade and thus normal mineral volume is never completely restored. Here we describe a novel, biological approach to dentine restoration that stimulates the natural formation of reparative dentine via the mobilisation of resident stem cells in the tooth pulp. Biodegradable, clinically-approved collagen sponges are used to deliver low doses of small molecule glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) antagonists that promote the natural processes of reparative dentine formation to completely restore dentine. Since the carrier sponge is degraded over time, dentine replaces the degraded sponge leading to a complete, effective natural repair. This simple, rapid natural tooth repair process could thus potentially provide a new approach to clinical tooth restoration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Collagen / administration & dosage
  • Dental Caries / drug therapy
  • Dental Caries / etiology
  • Dental Pulp / drug effects*
  • Dental Pulp / metabolism
  • Dentin / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Tooth Injuries / complications
  • Tooth Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Tooth Injuries / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects

Substances

  • Collagen
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3