A root canal is a common dental procedure performed millions of times each year.  It is used to remove the infected pulp of a tooth.  It requires the extraction of root nerves, the cleaning and shaping the canal cavity and the insertion of fillers to prevent bacteria from re-entering the nerve system.

A new technique unveiled by researchers in the United States may significantly improve how root canals are performed.  It is expected to speed it the procedure, lowering costs, and reduce the risk of future infections.

The new procedure uses stem cells to regenerate dental pulp instead of removing it.  It was developed by Dr. Emi Shimizu from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM).

Root canals are usually performed when there is an infection that has spread through the tooth’s roots and into the surrounding nerve tissue.  A dentist will drill into the tooth, extract infected tissue and fill the space with a synthetic material.  Afterwards, a crown is placed on top of the tooth.

Because the pulp is removed during this procedure, the tooth that is left is essentially dead.  There are no nerves left to detect pain and the blood vessels are gone so the tooth has no access to nutrients.  This can lead to an abscess of the bone forming.

Dr. Shimizu decided to use stem cells to overcome the issues associated with a root canal.  She began by obtaining some cells from a patient’s hair or skin.  Stem cells are extracted from these cells and modified so they can form a vascular system of the tooth’s dentin and regenerate the tooth’s pulp.

If all goes well, this new stem cell treatment will be available to patients within the next decade.

Source: Researcher uses stem cells to attack bacteria and regenerate dental pulp

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