Rinsing away decay; while new inroads in chemical dentistry aren't likely to make the dentist's drill obsolete, they may reduce the need for drilling and even more serious dental work - includes related article on saliva

Science News, April 19, 1986 by Janet Raloff

Today this treatment is available only at Tufts or from one of a few Tufts-trained dentists. The real limitation to its wider use, Johansen says, is the availability of the remineralizing chemicals, which are presently being formulated at Tufts. However, Johansen says, negotiations are under way with potential developers to get them onto the commercial market "soon." And once they are available, Johansen says he'll begin classes to train dentists to use the therapy in their own practices.

With advances like these, research is closing in on cavities. Whether marketed as an over-the-counter mouth rinse or a semicustomized prescription treatment, the new remineralizers may someday offer a painless and largely automatic repair of incipient decay.

Photo: When tooth crystals are remineralized, they often become larger -- and therefore stronger -- than the originals. Enamel crystals shown in this scanning electron micrograph have been remineralized from 10-30 microns in diameter to about 100 microns.

Photo: Left: Artifically created carious lesion in human enamel, concealed by a 20-micron-thick cover, viewed with polarizing microscope. Right: Ten 6-minute surface exposures to remineralizing fluids have reduced porosity, reduced the lesion area by 86 percent and increased the depth of surface cover by 30 microns.

Photo: Bulimia: Stomach acids have entirely eroded the enamel from the backs of upper front teeth in this patient, shown here five years after Tufts fluoride-and-remineralizing program. A single series of the treatments saved the teeth by halting tooth-mineral erosion, rampant decay and painful sensitivity to temperature extremes.

Photo: Top photos: Two patients, just after irradiation for head and neck cancer, suffering "dry mouth." Patient not receiving Tufts therapy (lower left) developed tremendous decay and tooth loss in 11 months. Lower right: Ten years after Tufts treatment this patient's teeth are intact and healthy.