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Gum Implants to Treat Periodontal Disease?

posted in Dental Implant News

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Any thoughts on the latest news about a promising treatment for severe periodontal disease in which a biodegradable gum implant slowly releases medicines that fight infection?

Word of the new procedure — designed to be less invasive and more effective then current surgical treatments — came last Thursday at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco. "I’m extraordinarily confident that this technology will work," said study co-author Kathryn E. Uhrich, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Although animal and human trials have yet to begin, Uhrich said that the laboratory work already conducted with co-author Michelle L. Johnson — one of Uhrich’s graduate students — indicates that the plastic implant appears to be both effective and safe.

"We’re using antibiotic anti-bacterial properties, which everyone already knows about, alongside aspirin-like, anti-inflammatory properties, which everyone also already knows about," she explained. "So it’s pretty easy to make, and I see no real significant technical obstacles." "What’s unique here, however, is our plan to treat periodontal disease by combining these properties with a polymer — or plastic — implant structure that enables delivery of the drugs with minimal invasiveness," she added.

According to Uhrich, the proposed new procedure would cut the need for invasive surgery in half by relying on an implant that would release both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory medications over a prescribed time. Meanwhile, the barrier itself slowly disintegrates.

The researchers say patients benefit because the barrier doesn’t have to be removed with surgery, and gum tissues are healed with the use of salicylic acid — the active anti-inflammatory ingredient found in aspirin. "This is absolutely a unique process, " said Uhrich. "There’s nothing out there like this right now."

Uhrich said the procedure could be available to patients in as little as two years, depending on U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval following animal and human trials. Primate trials are already being set up.

However, Robert Genco, a distinguished professor of oral biology, periodontology, and microbiology in the school of dental medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, had some reservations about the procedure.

"The proof in the pudding is going to be the human trials," he said. "It might be a useful adjunct treatment to the deep-scaling needed to remove tenaciously attached bacteria," he said. "But there is also a possible negative aspect in that the anti-inflammatory impact of this procedure could theoretically reduce the body’s ability to cope with the infection by undermining the body’s ability to get rid of the most difficult-to-remove bacteria. It’s not been shown for sure that this would be a problem, but it’s something that would have to be dealt with."

Source: American Academy of Periodontology

4 Responses to “ Gum Implants to Treat Periodontal Disease? ”

• Anonymous September 20th, 2006

  
  

  1. Can we please stop using the term “Gum” in articles to dental professionals, when we refer to the gingiva.
  2. Perhaps others feel differently, but I would prefer not to hear from patients in these discussions.
  Or, group the comments and questions of patients apart from professional topics.

• Philip September 20th, 2006

  
  

  Good evening everyone,
  I felt I had to respond to the comments
  Posted by: | Sep 20, 2006 5:28:31 AM.
  Does the author not think that as a dental patient, I would not bring something to the discussion table as well?
  That is both interesting and sometimes thought provoking to a professional such as you?
  If I am going to allow someone to handle a mini tool kit inside my mouth, well I think I have a right to know what led him to propose the treatment he is now embarking upon in and around my gums (sorry I meant gingiva - its just easier to say gums)
  And if I have a little knowledge that allows me to make an informed decision -as to whether I will benefit from that treatment then surely both dentist AND patient will benefit - in different ways.
  I don’t want to be treated by a dentist, who thinks that patients are beneath his or her station and haven’t got the mental capacity to take on board elementary dental terminology.
  Patients and dentists cannot exist without each other and mutual trust and respect is a cornerstone of a successful dental practise.

• Anonymous September 20th, 2006

  
  

  this lady from Rutgers is way out of line making statements that it will cut down the need for surgery by more than half—-first she is not even a dentist —- she has not followed patients treated or untreated in a private practice for 10-30 years –second we heard this with Keyes-tetracycline fibers-Arrestin — Periostat etc. these materials will more than likely be an adjunct to surgical and non surgical care as it will not permanently change the bacterisl flora in deep pocketsperhaps 45-90 days if lucky . Tell her to get real and do not make statements to the press like Loesche did years ago. As a scientist I feel anyone who markets to the press in this manner is a fool

• Kristine October 25th, 2006

  
  

  This “lady” from Rutger’s University is a very intelligent human being. A chemist known by many….you are correct, she is not a dentist, she is a chemist. Dentist’s rely on chemist’s to experiment and come up with new technology. She is real and is certain of her statements to the press with full confidence.

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