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Gritted Teeth
27 July 2016

Gritted Teeth

A nagging toothache and the prospect of the dentists drill is enough to make anyone uneasy. However having a tooth pulled is only the first step. Extracted teeth can be replaced with artificial implants embedded into the jawbone. Any damage to this bone must first be repaired using bone grafts, although their restorative effects are diminished by their tendency to be absorbed by surrounding tissue. Investigating alternative graft materials, researchers turned to teeth. Human teeth were crushed and demineralised to expose factors that encourage bone growth. Skull holes in rats with a bone defect were grafted with teeth particles varying in size, from 0.2 (top) to 1 millimetre (bottom). Particles were either untreated (left) or demineralised partially (middle) or completely (right). Using a technique called micro-CT revealed the extent of bone regrowth. The winning combination and best bet for future dental grafts? The 1 mm partially demineralised particles.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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