Take a look a Jude Fabiano’s newest blog post!
While tooth sensitivity might be a problem for people like this woman, relief could very well be on the way.
Tooth sensitivity through loss of enamel is one of the most common dental problems, causing sharp pain and anxiety, as well as increased risk of such dental problems as cavities and pulp inflammation. The loss of tooth enamel exposes a layer of softer, porous material known as dentine, which is full of thousands of tiny channels, or tubules, that go deep into the pulp of the tooth where the nerves lie. When tubules are exposed, heat and cold pass more easily to the underlying nerves. Current treatments, including special toothpastes, work by blocking the tubules at the exposed dentine surface. However, these seals don’t last, since they get worn away through chewing and brushing.
Recently, researchers from National Taiwan University, led by Professor Chun-Pin Lin, made and tested a reliable, fast-acting and biocompatible material made up of calcium and phosphorous, the main elements found in teeth. Applied to teeth as a paste, this biomaterial seals the exposed dentinal tubules to produce a biomimetic crystalline dentin barrier. When it was tested on dogs’ teeth, the researchers found that the new material plugged the exposed dentinal tubules more deeply than any previous treatments. The team made the material from a silica-based template containing nano-sized calcium carbonate particles, mixed with phosphoric acid (H3PO4), enabling calcium and phosphate ions to work deep into the dental tubules and crystallize into various forms of calcium phosphate. When tested on dogs’ teeth, it revealed “significant crystal growth”, as well as a complete lack of pulp irritation after 70 days.
In a 2008 survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that over 26% of American adults between the ages of 18 and 64 experienced toothaches or sensitive teeth in the six months before. Overall, women were more affected than men, while the 18-34 group was more affected than the 55-64 group. One of the causes of sensitive teeth is wear and tear from brushing too hard with a hard-bristled brush, which can wear down the enamel and expose the dentine. In an effort to reduce tooth sensitivity, you should brush with a soft-bristled brush, and take care around the gums so as not to damage or remove gum tissue.
Jude Fabiano DDS Personal Interests http://ift.tt/1GRqQwp
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