- There may be new hope for adults who lose their teeth
-the possibility of growing replacement teeth out of stem cells, British
scientists say.
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- Reports from Britain yesterday say that scientists at
the Dental Institute of King's College in London have successfully used
the procedure in experiments with mice.
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- "There's no reason why it shouldn't work in humans,
the principles are the same," told Professor Paul Sharpe.
- "Anyone who has lost teeth will tell you that, given
the chance, they would rather have their own teeth than false ones,"
he said.
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- The scientists have been awarded the equivalent of $1.2-million
Canadian in research funding to set up a company, Odontis, that would develop
the use of the procedure on humans.
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- Prof. Sharpe said the technology may be just a few short
years away from becoming a reality.
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- Stem cells - the so-called master cells of the body -
eventually turn into many different kinds of other cells, including specialized
cells that make up the muscles and organs.
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- In the procedures, small balls of stem cells programmed
to turn into teeth would be implanted into gaps in a person's mouth. It
is estimated they would take up to two months to grow into a full tooth,
reports theglobeandmail.com
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- According to channelnewsasia.com fake teeth, denture
glue and sucking on bald gums may soon become a thing of the past, say
a group of British scientists working on a procedure that makes teeth grow
from stem cells implanted in the gum.
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- The scientists at King's College, London announced Monday
they had made a breakthrough in mice, coaxing stem cells to grow into teeth
within only a few weeks. If proven successful, the procedure could be a
boon for Britain, where people over 50 lose on average 12 of their 32 teeth.
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- Sharpe says the procedure could have advantages over
false teeth that require a metal post to be driven into the jaw.
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- "That surgery can be extensive and you need to have
good solid bone in the jaw and that's a major problem for some people,"
said Sharpe.
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- "The new method could be used on far more patients
because the ball of cells that grows into a tooth also produces bone that
anchors to the jaw."
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- In what is expected to be a simple procedure, the new
method will require only a local anaesthetic.
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- The cost of growing a real tooth should also be no more
than that of a synthetic implant, between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (2,226-2,969
euros, 2,657-3,544 dollars).
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- But gap-toothed Britons will have to wait to fill their
smile.
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- The optimistic scientists say they hope to make the technology
available to the general public within five years.
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- http://newsfromrussia.com/science/2004/05/04/53752.html
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- Comment
- Alton Raines
5-5-4
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- Ah, the marvels of science. Yet again, something only
the rich will enjoy. Only $105,000 (give or take a thousand bucks or so)
for a new set of choppers. Ridiculous!
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