Tideglusib works by stimulating stem cells in the pulp of teeth

Teeth decay is sadly a part of life. It happens to everyone over time, as the enamel and dentine gets worn away by eating and drinking. Not only that, but it can be sped up if people don’t take proper care of them. While dental implants can be used to replace lost teeth, preventing tooth loss in the first place should be a priority. Oral hygiene is important after all. But what if there was a way to reverse the damage?

Tideglusib works by stimulating stem cells in the pulp of teeth, the source of new dentine. Dentine is the mineralized substance beneath tooth enamel that gets eaten away by tooth decay, and is a problem that many a dentist fights against every day. Keeping everyone’s teeth clean, shiny, and safe is a big deal, and looking for any option to help boost their fighting chances, and to help their patients, is a good endeavor. However, if someone’s teeth are beyond repair then options like veneers could be for the best interest of the patient to ensure proper teeth health and also allow them to feel less self-conscious about their teeth if they are discoloured or decaying.

It has since been found that teeth can naturally regenerate dentine without assistance, but only under certain circumstances. The pulp must be exposed through infection (such as decay) or trauma to prompt the manufacture of dentine. But even then, the tooth can only regrow a very thin layer naturally-not enough to repair cavities caused by decay, which are generally deep. Tideglusib changes this outcome because it turns off the GSK-3 enzyme, which stops dentine from forming.

In the research, the team inserted small, biodegradable sponges made of collagen soaked in Tideglusib into cavities. The sponges triggered dentine growth and within six weeks, the damage was repaired. The collagen structure of the sponges melted away, leaving only the intact tooth.