Filling without drilling: Translating basic biomineralisation research for patient benefit (LEED15NOV12)

Mandatory: Dental Hygienist (£2.50pp discount), or Dental Nurse (£2.50pp discount), or Dental Technician (£2.50pp discount), or Dental Therapist (£2.50pp discount), or Dentist

Research carried out at LDI on the biological events underlying enamel biomineralisation and associated molecular pathogenesis of skeletal diseases have permitted new therapeutics to be designed and biomimetic treatment strategies to be developed. Using our knowledge of the molecular events underpinning mineralised tissue formation, we have designed self assembling peptides capable of forming biomimetic scaffolds in vivo that nucleate mineral crystals de novo and thus provide a potential means of repairing bone and dental defects. 

In vivo studies show that such peptide scaffolds are able to repair critical defects in rabbit calvaria and promote enamel remineralisation when applied to white spot caries lesions. Traditionally caries is treated by drilling out diseased tissue and placing various restorative materials. Infiltrating early carious lesions with self assembling peptides that nucleate mineral, allow the enamel porosities that define the lesion to be occluded with natural mineral. Lesions can be repaired without the need to excavate diseased tissue making filling without drilling a reality. 

At the end of the lecture delegates will have an appreciation of how basic laboratory research is translated through to patient benefit and gain a thorough mechanistic understanding of the latest biomimetic therapeutics (e.g. Curodont™) designed to repair early carious lesions.