title: Promotion of natural tooth repair by small molecule GSK3 antagonists.
abstract: The restoration of dentine lost in deep caries lesions in teeth is a routine and common treatment that involves the use of inorganic cements based on calcium or silicon-based mineral aggregates. Such cements remain in the tooth and fail to degrade and thus normal mineral volume is never completely restored. Here we describe a novel, biological approach to dentine restoration that stimulates the natural formation of reparative dentine via the mobilisation of resident stem cells in the tooth pulp. Biodegradable, clinically-approved collagen sponges are used to deliver low doses of small molecule glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) antagonists that promote the natural processes of reparative dentine formation to completely restore dentine. Since the carrier sponge is degraded over time, dentine replaces the degraded sponge leading to a complete, effective natural repair. This simple, rapid natural tooth repair process could thus potentially provide a new approach to clinical tooth restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Dental Institute, Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: Vitor C M
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Dental Institute, Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babb
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Dental Institute, Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: Dhivya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Dental Institute, Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Sharpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003804:Dentin / Q000378:metabolism*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051379:Mice; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3