A procedure using stem cells may provide a more thorough regeneration of periodontal tissue around dental implants, according to a new report published in the Journal of Oral Implantology.
Dental implants closely resemble natural teeth, but an implant's ability to react to patient growth, pressure from chewing, and future orthodontic work is diminished if it is not surrounded by sufficient periodontal tissue.
In this study, the authors engineered this periodontal tissue in a fresh socket of a goat animal model. Each of five goats was fitted with two titanium implants immediately after tooth removal. A poly DL-Lactide-co-Glycolide scaffold was fitted around each implant, but the control received only the scaffolding.
The experimental implant received scaffolding seeded with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDSCs). All implant sites showed some level of tissue development at 10 days after the operation.
At one month after, the control side showed no signs of tissue development, whereas the experimental side had developed cementum, bone, and periodontal ligament, the three tissues required for regeneration of periodontal tissue.
Past studies have demonstrated positive results with BMDSCs in periodontal defects around natural teeth. Others have shown promising results without BMDSCs, using progenitor cells from the remaining ligament in certain limited situations. But unlike past studies, this report demonstrates that using BMDSCs can ensure a more thorough, adaptable regeneration of periodontal tissue with titanium implants.
To read the entire article, "Experimental Formation of Periodontal Structure Around Titanium Implants Utilizing Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study," visit stem cells.
For more about the Journal of Oral Implantology, go to Journal of Implantology.
To read more about stem cells, go to stem cells.
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