Jawbone Depletion Helped by Stem Cells

A research study has found that stem cells can be used for quicker and less invasive bone regeneration than has ever been available in the medical field. Conducted at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research, partnered with Ann Arbor-based Aastrom Biosciences Inc., the clinical trial involved 24 patients who needed jawbone reconstruction after getting teeth removed. Pella, IA dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Allen explains how the study might improve the future of dentistry.

Why Our Jawbones are Important

Jawbone deficiency occurs when you are missing teeth or as a result of other health conditions. If you have an insufficient amount of jawbone, implanting prosthetic roots and teeth is very difficult. You may not make a viable candidate for dental implants at all. The titanium posts used in traditional dental implant procedures need a large amount of healthy bone or they will loosen just like unhealthy natural teeth. Luckily, if you opt for dental implants before jawbone depletion occurs, you can avoid facial collapse altogether and maintain a healthy, full jaw.

Stem Cells in Dentistry

Participants in the study were given one of two treatments:  traditional guided bone regeneration therapy or new experimental tissue repair cells. The original cells were extracted from bone marrow in patient’s hips. Aastrom is a University of Michigan spinout company with a proprietary system designed to process cells into stem cells. These cells were inserted into different areas of the mouth and jaw on half of the patients in the experiment. The results were promising, with the experimental cells promoting faster regeneration than traditional methods. In the future, this new process could prove particularly valuable in cases of birth defects or heavy trauma where larger areas of bone growth are necessary.

Visit your Pella, IA Dentist

Your dentist in Pella, IA, is happy to provide a full range of comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. Call (641) 628-1121 today to schedule an appointment. We are located on the west side of the historic town square in Pella, IA. Please see the map for directions.