Tooth loss is a major problem of humanity. It may lead to physical and mental discomfort, compromising the quality of life and social interactions. First attempts of dealing with tooth loss appeared in the 600 AD in Mayan civilization. In 1931 archaeologists found a mandible fragment of a Mayan woman with tooth-shaped pieces of seashell as a substitute for natural lower incisors. Contemporary dental implants are nothing like the Mayan shells. They consist of titanium root with the ability of osseointegration and a prosthetic crown of aesthetic features. Read full text »

Study from Columbia University Medical Center shows that bones are connected with male fertility. Scientist in ahead of print report demonstrated that the skeleton, through a hormone released by bones, acts as a fertility regulator in male mice. This mysterious hormone is well known osteocalcin. Read full text »

Stem cells are self replicable cells that can differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. Their special abilities have been investigated by many researchers and now are being used against diseases such as leukemia. In the near future they are also expected to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, cardiac ischaemia or bone loss. Naturally, a growing interest has been shown also amongst dental researchers. Their main goal is to replace the infected dental tissues with patient’s own stem cells and induce their growth leading to a full regeneration of the damaged tooth. With a little bit of luck this conceptual approach to the therapy named “regenerative dentistry” will soon have its place in the clinical practice. Read full text »