Repair Of Tooth Enamel/dentine By Biomimetic Mineralisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,107,069.00
Summary
Dental caries (tooth decay) and erosion involve loss of tooth mineral and are major public health problems. The project will involve the proof-of-concept testing of a prototype dental professional product MI Enamel/Dentine RepairTM to repair early stages of mineral loss non-invasively. This will result in the development of a system which should revolutionize dental practice globally for the non-invasive repair of early tooth decay and erosion lesions with a surface seal of tooth-like mineral.
Characterization Of Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate As A Remineralization System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,514.00
Summary
Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in v ....Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in vitro and in situ. The project also involves the detailed characterization of the molecular interactions of the components of the remineralizing system using NMR spectroscopy and other techniques. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a system with substantialy superior properties for the non-invasive treatment (reversal) of white spot lesions and may ultimately lead to the development of a novel system for the treatment and prevention of tooth decay.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Enamel Remineralisation With CPP-ACP And Fluoride
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,074.00
Summary
Tooth decay remains a major public health problem. The project will involve the testing of the system to remineralize (repair) early stages of decay in the laboratory. The project also involves the detailed characterization of the molecular interactions of the components of a system. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a system with substantialy superior properties for the non-invasive treatment (repair) of early tooth decay.
A Clinical And Experimental Study Of The Biomechanical Factors Associated With Tooth Destruction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,527.00
Summary
This project investigates the influence of biting force on the development of non-carious and carious defects of teeth. Strain gauges will be cemented to the neck region of extracted teeth and teeth in the mouth, forces applied to the biting surfaces of the teeth, and the stress which results will be measured by the strain gauge. A profiling technique and high-power microscopy will be used to determine the amount of tooth structure lost as a result of applying the forces in the presence of acid. ....This project investigates the influence of biting force on the development of non-carious and carious defects of teeth. Strain gauges will be cemented to the neck region of extracted teeth and teeth in the mouth, forces applied to the biting surfaces of the teeth, and the stress which results will be measured by the strain gauge. A profiling technique and high-power microscopy will be used to determine the amount of tooth structure lost as a result of applying the forces in the presence of acid. In addition, a computer model will be generated, to determine whether it can be used to predict the stresses. In a clinical study, patients with and without non-carious defects will be followed for three years in order to assess the morphological changes and measure the volume loss of tooth structure which occurs.Read moreRead less
Is Bisphosphonate Use For The Treatment Of Benign Bone Disease Associated With Impaired Dental Healing?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$238,160.00
Summary
Osteoporosis (OSP) is a common condition where bones are thin and may break (fracture). Currently, approximately 2 million Australians suffer from OSP. This figure will rise over the next 20 years as people age. Recommended drug treatment of OSP involves medication called bisphosphonates. Recent research, including a warning from the National Adverse Drug Reaction Committee, has suggested a possible association between bisphosphonates and bone breakdown in the jaw (osteonecrosis) - a devastating ....Osteoporosis (OSP) is a common condition where bones are thin and may break (fracture). Currently, approximately 2 million Australians suffer from OSP. This figure will rise over the next 20 years as people age. Recommended drug treatment of OSP involves medication called bisphosphonates. Recent research, including a warning from the National Adverse Drug Reaction Committee, has suggested a possible association between bisphosphonates and bone breakdown in the jaw (osteonecrosis) - a devastating condition for which no effective treatment exists. This study seeks to determine if bisphosphonate use for the treatment of OSP or other non-cancerous (benign) bone disease (eg Paget's disease) slows dental healing and increases the risk of jaw osteonecrosis. This has major implications and significant potential benefits for the large numbers of people with OSP taking bisphosphonates. Currently, the chance of dental complications during bisphosphonate therapy and what factors predispose to such complications remains unclear. Given the large numbers of people at risk, these are important issues that require urgent careful investigation. We want to determine if long-term (more than 2 years' duration) bisphosphonate treatment of OSP or other benign bone disease slows dental healing and leads to jaw osteonecrosis. We will use a case-control study design given the expected low likelihood of slowed dental healing. This design involves identifying patients with slowed dental healing (cases), and patients with normal dental healing (controls). Cases and controls will then be compared for bisphosphonate use to see if it is more likely that cases have been taking bisphosphonates. Our results will help guide treatment recommendations for these drugs both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less
Tooth wear is a significant clinical problem for both older people who have kept their natural teeth and for some younger individuals. The main causes of tooth wear are attrition (resulting from tooth to tooth contact), abrasion (from dietary and environmental abrasives) and erosion (caused by acidic food and drinks or from regurgitation of acid). At present our understanding of the relative significance of these types of wear and the exact conditions under which excessive wear occurs is limited ....Tooth wear is a significant clinical problem for both older people who have kept their natural teeth and for some younger individuals. The main causes of tooth wear are attrition (resulting from tooth to tooth contact), abrasion (from dietary and environmental abrasives) and erosion (caused by acidic food and drinks or from regurgitation of acid). At present our understanding of the relative significance of these types of wear and the exact conditions under which excessive wear occurs is limited. Furthermore our understanding of the wear characteristics of many commonly used dental materials is limited. The proposed study will provide important new information about: the interaction between applied bite forces and acids in the oral environment as determinants of the rate of tooth wear; the potential for wear prevention using mouth rinses and gels; the wear characteristics of dental materials commonly used to restore teeth.Read moreRead less
Pulsed Laser Ablation Of Smear Layers In Root Canals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$32,628.00
Summary
The project is in the general field of clinical dentistry, and in the speciality area of endodontics (root canal treatment). It examines the ability of several novel laser systems to remove bacteria and soft tissue debris from the root canals of teeth, building on recent developments in optical fiber technology and in antimicrobial therapy.
“Genetics, epigenetics, and the environment” is often used to describe a complex that results in the production of a phenotype; the latter two usually blamed with missing heritability. We know that the environment affects dental development and dental caries susceptibility, but we have little information about the precise molecular mechanisms linking the environment to observed phenotypes. This study interorgates the role of epigenetics in dental development and dental caries.
Impact Of Health Policy On The Delivery Of Dental Services And Child Oral Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,304,799.00
Summary
This project will study the use of dental services by children and adolescents in Australia and how use relates to oral health outcomes. Variation in the support for the use of private dentists and the organisation and delivery of school dental services will be compared both within and across all states and territories so as to inform policy discussions on how to best improve child oral health.