Prefabricated blood vessels may contribute to the improvement of the root canal treatment

A root canal procedure is a dental procedure during which a specialist removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canals, and places a crown on the portion of the remaining tooth. Patients usually need a root canal treatment when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth. To be noted that the infected dental tissue is replaced with synthetic biomaterials and the tooth blood and nerve supply are eliminates. By creating and utilizing prefabricated blood vessels, patients may experience better outcomes and their teeth may last longer after a root canal.

In the present, his procedure implies a minimum of two visit to your dentist.And it does not guarantee that the saved tooth will last for a lifetime. The tooth may become weak and can eventually fracture and will be be replaced with a crown or an implant.

Researchers in Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland Oregon, have developed a process by which they can create new blood vessels in teeth. This study was published online in the journal Scientific Reports in June 2017. (see the study from Oregon Health & Science University. “Use of prefabricated blood vessels may revolutionize root canals.” ScienceDaily, 12 June 2017)

Blood vessels were created in a lab, by using a 3D printing-inspired process. Scientists placed a fiber mold made of sugar molecules across the root canal of extracted human teeth and injected a gel-like material, similar to proteins found in the body, filled with dental pulp cells. Next the scientists removed the fiber to make a long microchannel in the root canal and inserted endothelial cells isolated from the interior lining of blood vessels. After 7 days, dentin-producing cells proliferated near the tooth walls, and artificial blood vessels formed inside of the tooth.

It was the first study regarding artificial blood vessels, but always the first step is the most important when we are trying to find new ways of solving things. Researchers are optimistic and they strongly believe that this is the discovery that can revolutionize the root canal treatment.
Nowadays dentistry evolves day by day. Classical procedures will be replaced in the future with new procedures, more advanced than the one used today. In case you have question or you need extra information related to this topic, please contact Premier Smiles. Dr. Arhiri will be more than glad to talk to you and to get you familiarized with the latest news in this field.

References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/317901.php
https://news.ohsu.edu/2017/06/12/study-use-of-prefabricated-blood-vessels-may-revolutionize-root-canals
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170612094039.htm
https://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2017/06/use-prefabricated-blood-vessels-may-revolutionize-root-canals?cmpid=horizontalcontent&__hstc=161147298.cde2cb5f07430159d50a3c91e72c280a.1513209600135.1513209600136.1513209600137.1&__hssc=161147298.1.1513209600138&__hsfp=998628806
https://consumer.healthday.com/dental-and-oral-information-9/misc-dental-problem-news-174/could-prefab-blood-vessels-revolutionize-root-canals-723643.html