Issue Date: March 18, 2007
The future of oral health
Research focuses on new technology, preventive care and the link between mouth health and other diseases.
By Vyvyan Lynn and Frappa Stout
A healthy mouth is about more than a sparkling white smile. Not taking proper care of your teeth can lead to gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, even pancreatic cancer. Because your mouth is a barometer for your overall health, dental visits are critical. In the near future, they likely will involve more than just fillings and X-rays.
Your mouth is a barometer for your overall well-being.
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Here, the services that oral researchers hope to bring to a dentist's office near you:
Tooth regeneration
Scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada have found a way to regrow human dental tissue. The treatment, which has been tested on humans, uses low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in the form of a computer chip that fits directly into the mouth to stimulate the formation of new dental matter. Research partner Jie Chen, who holds a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering, says that possible candidates for this treatment include patients whose teeth roots have been shortened by orthodontic force (pressure that's put on teeth from braces, retainers), people with chipped or knocked-out teeth and those with underdeveloped jaws. Chen expects the device to be available in dentists' offices in about two years.
Cavity vaccination
Researchers at the Forsyth Institute in Boston are working to develop a vaccine that will prevent cavities. "Tooth decay is an infectious disease. If you have one cavity, you're more likely to get another," says Daniel Smith, who holds a doctorate in immunochemistry and is a member of the team behind the long-term research, part of which was published in the scientific journal Infection and Immunity last month. "Our vaccine is aimed at creating an immune response in the mouth at a young age to prevent the bacteria from attaching to the tooth or accumulating on the tooth surface." The vaccine already has been shown to be effective in rats, and an earlier iteration was clinically tested for safety on young adults. The next step? To gain FDA approval so that the vaccine can be tested on the target population: young children. Smith says that the vaccine should be available in some form within a decade.
Disease detection
Scientists at UCLA are working to transform saliva into a clinically useful diagnostic fluid. David T. Wong, director of UCLA's Dental Research Institute, says that because saliva contains biomarkers for certain diseases, in the not-so-distant future, your doctor will be able to place a drop of it onto a microchip and detect the early presence of oral, breast and other cancers, as well as metabolic and neurological disorders. Wong and other research teams hope this technology will be available in dentists' or doctors' offices by 2011.
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Celiac disease: It may be the answer
Multiple medical mysteries? Can't find satisfactory answers? Ask your physician about celiac disease. "It's common, yet underdiagnosed," says Peter H. R. Green, M.D., co-author of Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic, "mainly because doctors don't consider the disease."
People with this genetic, autoimmune disease can't stomach gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye (and often in lipstick and other products). The body attacks gluten, hurting the small intestine and leading to poor absorption of nutrients. This causes gastrointestinal and neurological trouble, as well as osteoporosis, anemia, infertility and a rash that is often mistaken for psoriasis.
Treatment is simple, but not easy: Remove gluten from the diet. If that's not done, death rates multiply -- mainly due to cancer. The good news? Rates return to normal within five years of gluten-free living.
Parkinson's: Team treatment
After Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease is the most common progressive neurological disease in America. And as we know from actor Michael J. Fox, seniors aren't the only ones with the tremor condition; people under 50 account for 15% of cases.
Although there is no cure, the last decade has spawned significant treatment advances. A team approach works best. Michael S. Okun, M.D., medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, recommends finding an expert who can map out a long-term care plan that mixes multiple classes of medicines with physical, occupational, speech and other therapies. Your team also might include a psychologist, social worker and neurosurgeon.
Asthma: Get free screening for kids
Are you bothered by breathing problems? Then take advantage of free asthma screenings at 300 locations across the country during April, May and June. This year's screening is for everyone but focuses on children who are younger than 5. If it seems like your son's cold always ends up in his chest, or if your daughter gets winded during exercise, then visit the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website at acaai.org and click on "Patient Education" to find a free screening near you.
-- Susan T. Lennon
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