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Dental Tribune Middle East & Africa Edition | 5/2017 NEWS 33 Study shows aspirin could repair dental caries According to research results, aspirin can enhance the function of stem cells found in teeth, thus aiding regeneration of lost tooth structure. (Photograph: Solis/Shutterstock) said, “There is huge potential to change our approach to one of the biggest dental challenges we face. Our initial research findings in the laboratory suggest that the use of aspirin, a drug already licensed for human use, could offer an immedi- ate innovative solution enabling our teeth to repair themselves.” Caries is the most common dental disease worldwide and places a large financial burden on the NHS. This strain on the system is a particular concern in Northern Ireland, which has the highest prevalence of tooth decay in the UK. “Our next step will be to develop an appropriate delivery system to test the drug efficacy in a clinical trial. This novel approach could not only increase the long-term sur- vival of teeth but could also result in huge savings for the NHS and other healthcare systems worldwide,” said el-Karim. The research findings were present- ed on 7 September at the British Soci- ety for Oral and Dental Research An- nual Scientific Meeting in Plymouth in the UK. By DTI BELFAST, UK: According to a new study by researchers at Queen’s Uni- versity Belfast, aspirin could reverse the effects of dental caries. Accord- ing to the research, aspirin can en- hance the function of dental stem cells, thus aiding self-repair of the tooth—a result that could drastically reduce the need for one of the most common types of dental work. In England alone, the National Health Service pays for about seven million fillings each year. Researchers combined genomics and novel bioinformatics to iden- tify aspirin as a candidate drug with properties that stimulate existing stem cells in the tooth to enhance the regeneration of the damaged tooth structure. Treatment of stem cells from teeth with low-dose aspi- rin significantly increased reminer- alisation and the expression of genes responsible for forming dentine. According to the study, this new discovery, coupled with the known anti-inflammatory and pain-reliev- ing effects of aspirin, could provide a unique solution for controlling dental nerve inflammation and pain while promoting natural tooth re- pair. Lead researcher Dr Ikhlas el-Karim Phobia of dentists leads to more decay and tooth loss By King's College London People who have a severe fear of the dentist are more likely to have tooth decay or missing teeth, according to a new study from King’s College Lon- don. The study, published in the British Dental Journal, compared the oral health of people with and without dental phobia. The results showed that people with dental phobia are more likely to have one or more de- cayed teeth, as well as missing teeth. In addition, the study found that those with dental phobia reported that their quality of life is poor. In the study, researchers suggest that this could be that because many people with dental phobia avoid seeing a dentist on a regular basis to address preventable oral conditions. The team also found that once a visit has been made, the phobic patient might also prefer a short-term solu- tion, such as extraction, instead of a long-term care plan. Anxiety about visiting the dentist is common and becomes a phobia when it has a marked impact on someone’s well-being. Researchers analysed data from the Adult Dental Health Survey (2009), where out of 10,900 participants, a total of 1,367 (344 men and 1,023 women) were identified as phobic. ‘This phobia can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life, including on their physiological, psychological, social and emotional wellbeing. Other research has shown that people with dental phobia express negative feel- ings such as sadness, tiredness, gener- al anxiety and less vitality. An action as simple as smiling will be avoided due to embarrassment of their poor teeth.’ Dr Ellie Heidari, Dental Insti- tute ‘Our study found people with dental phobia tend to experience a range of dental diseases which result from their avoidance of the dentist. Ide- ally we would want to help them over- come their dental phobia and attend the dentist, but in the interim perhaps we could be helping them to take good care of their teeth themselves. By providing these patients with a de- tailed at home oral healthcare plan, dental practitioners could help reduce acute conditions with preventative care.’ Professor Tim Newton, Dental Institute