Medicine has been improving at a very fast pace in this day and age. Research and development teams are working day and night to provide society with the latest innovations in making our lives healthier.
Healthier lives include healthier teeth. Unexpected procedures and materials are now being used with a majority of these procedures showing positive results. One of these methods is using nanotechnology, or more specifically, nanodiamonds.
One of the debilitating conditions that the oral health care field is concerned with nowadays is OSTEONECROSIS. It is more commonly known as bone death. When it affects the mouth and jaw, it can cause major difficulties in eating and speaking. It can affect the joint and will inevitably lead to restricted or excessive range of motion in the jaw if it is not treated.
Osteonecrosis can be caused by impeded blood circulation which can be secondary to various factors. These include trauma, vascular disease or central and peripheral nerve damage. Osteonecrosis is also a side effect of chemotherapy. This disease can also affect dental implants which can cause them to become loose and fall out.
The yellow arrow points to major bone necrosis in the lower jaw. The red arrow shows initial bone loss.
Treating this condition requires you to invest a huge amount of money and time, not to mention the added stress of an invasive and painful procedure. Normally, the procedure used to treat osteonecrosis in the jaw involves surgically inserting a sponge treated with proteins and other elements that promote bone growth. This is a time-consuming and expensive procedure that is slowly losing ground in the oral health care community. Dentists and orthodontists, like any medical professionals, understand that the needs of the patients are always a priority. The patients need an alternative procedure that is cost-effective and has a low functional affectation. A lot of people are acquiring this condition nowadays, most especially due to the decline in daily lifestyles and the environment. By providing society with options like nanodiamond treatments, people can now fight osteonecrosis efficiently and comfortably.
Nanodiamonds are byproducts of mining and diamond production. They are microscopic fragments that are shaped like soccer balls. Using them does not require any surgical procedure. They can be applied via syringe or an oral rinse. This procedure is much less invasive, less complicated and less painful.
The discovery of nanodiamond treatments was derived from a study that was led by Dr. Dean Ho, a professor of oral biology and medicine, who is also the co-director of the Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology at the UCLA School of Dentistry. This study appears online on the peer-reviewed Journal of Dental Research.
Their research has led to the discovery that nanodiamonds can be used to deliver proteins and have the potential to become more effective than the conventional approaches. The nanodiamonds, which are invisible to the human eye, bind rapidly to both bone morphogenetic protein and fibroblast growth factors, demonstrating that the proteins can be delivered via one transport procedure. The unique surface of the nanodiamonds also allows the proteins to be delivered at a slower pace in order to facilitate a longer treatment period for the patient. This ensures a higher efficacy and the lowest probability of regression of osteonecrosis.
Thanks to this study, millions of people will be able to sleep better knowing that having osteonecrosis does not have to be a permanent problem. Nanodiamond treatments will help you achieve the oral health care that you deserve.
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