Tooth decay was healed for the first time

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

British researchers have found that an experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease promotes the natural growth of cavities in the teeth of mice. With its help, you can achieve a real cure for caries, in contrast to the symptomatic relief that filling gives. The research results are published in Scientific Reports.

The photo shows the tideglusib molecule

Tooth decay is the destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth by the acid produced by the bacteria in the oral cavity. The World Health Organization estimates that almost every adult is affected by this disease at some point in their lives. With an increase in a tooth defect, it can reach its soft tissues and cause their inflammation - pulpitis. Pulp stem cells can naturally produce a small layer of dentin (the main substance of the tooth), but they are not able to close the entire carious cavity, since their activity is suppressed by the enzyme glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). The same enzyme plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, cancer, and bipolar disorder. Currently, several low molecular weight inhibitors of GSK-3 have been synthesized, one of them, tideglusib, is undergoing clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease.

Considering the role of this enzyme in the development of caries, the staff of King's College London tested three of its antagonists - BIO, CHIR99021 and tideglusib - in mice with artificial defects of large molars. A biodegradable collagen sponge with a preparation was placed in these defects, which was absorbed as the dentin grew.

It turned out that all preparations promoted the growth of dentin in the carious cavity. At the same time, the pulp retained its viability and had no signs of atrophy, which was not observed in animals from the control group. At the same time, the use of tideglusib led to the complete elimination of the tooth defect. The drugs did not produce systemic effects. Thus, the GSK-3 antagonists effectively trigger the natural restoration of the tooth, eliminating the need for filling, the scientists concluded.

Given that collagen sponge is approved for use in medicine and that the safety of tideglusib has been confirmed in early clinical trials, a new method of caries therapy may come into practice soon, according to lead author Paul Sharpe. The simplicity of this method will allow it to be used in any dental office.

This is not the first time that drugs have found fundamentally new indications for use. Among the existing drugs, a good example is minoxidil, which was developed as an antihypertensive agent, but turned out to be an effective stimulant of hair growth. Recent experiments have shown that the combination of the antidiabetic drug metformin and the hypertension drug syrosingopine has anti-cancer effects. The same property was found in the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac.