April 17, 2005

By: William Pensworth
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Dental Teeth Care – Devastating Dental Discoveries In Teeth Formation

Scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, (NIDCR), concerned with dental teeth care have created a mouse model for researching the dental disorder Dentinogenesis Imperfecta III (DGI III), by deleting a gene apparently responsible for coordinating the mineralization of a tooth's dentin, (a hard material that makes up the bulk of an adult tooth, lying between the outer enamel and the core of the tooth; the dental pulp.) The dental care researchers reported their findings in the July 4 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

The mouse model's teeth showed discoloration, pulp cavities, pulp exposure, and other irregularities all typical characteristics of teeth with DGI III. Additionally, there was evidence of partially mature dentin trapped between fully mineralized areas, unlike a normal tooth, where the mature dentin would be mineralized completely, according to dental tooth care specialists.

"Our study shows that DSPP plays a key role in orchestrating the process of dentin mineralization," said senior author and orthodontist Dr. A. Kulkarni from the NIDCR, referring to the 3-tier process in the hygienic tooth formation. The building up of the dental scaffolding and mineralization in the tooth when calcium is deposited on to this framework creates one calcified mass that is the mature dentin in normal teeth. Elaborates the renowned dentist Dr. Taduru Sreenath, the dental study's first author, while referring to two proteoglycans called decorin and biglycan, unusually large amounts of which were found within the area of the affected teeth that has not been mineralized. These are supposed to promote mineralization and proper oral hygiene. In normal teeth, decorin and biglycan are probably degraded and then mineralization proceeds.

The teeth look discolored and translucent. On X-ray, these appear as 'shell teeth'. Most of those severely affected with DGI-III are candidates for dentures or implants by age 30 despite dental care intervention. DGI III is classified into three subtypes, which generally occur in the dental development in the new born.

Author Notes:

William Pensworth contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!