Dr. Mahmoud Torabinejad FALL 2022 Faculty Winner
Dr. Hacer Aksel FALL 2022 Resident Winner
Dr. Torabinejad’s primary interest in endodontics lies in its biological aspects as they relate to clinical practice. Dr. Torabinejad’s almost 50-year career as an endodontic researcher began with his focus on pulpal, periapical, inflammation and immunology. He applied those principles to the successful development and use of the mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) for various procedures such a vital pulp therapy, apexification, regenerative endodontics, perforation repair, root end and root canal filling. MTA also proved to a valuable fundraising tool for the Foundation. Pulp regeneration is not a new idea. In fact, it is an old concept that, with the development of new technology, has seen a resurgence of interest. Based on many animal and a few human studies it appears that the currently used protocols do not lead to regenerating pulp tissue but to the formation of hard tissues in the root canals, instead. Because of uncertainty regarding the nature of tissues developed using current protocols, some endodontists use previous methods for treating teeth with necrotic pulps and open apexes. Dr. Torabinejad’s current research proposal details using non-invasive, high-resolution MRI in ferret teeth to discover new information regarding the nature of tissues following regenerative endodontics.
In Dr. Aksel’s highest scoring research proposal, she wants to explore new biomaterial approaches to achieving predictable pulp and dentin tissue healing in the treatment of deep caries in permanent teeth with vital pulp. “Clinical interventions for dental caries, which is the most common health problem worldwide, range from simple fillings to the more invasive root canal treatment,” states Dr. Aksel. “Vital pulp therapy is a minimally invasive approach to treat deep caries of the vital teeth while maintaining dental pulp vitality and inducing mineralized tissue formation. Preserving the pulp vitality will not only maintain the biological functions of the dental pulp but also result in higher mechanical strength and reduce the risk of fracture. If root canal treatment can be prevented or postponed, the longevity of the tooth will most likely be improved.” Currently, the health status of dental pulp cannot be evaluated in a clinical setting using traditional clinical tests unless the pulp is removed and studied histologically. “Significant effort has been made to identify a biological marker to predict the inflammatory status of the dental pulp and its healing capacity,” says Dr. Aksel. “Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is one of these markers involved in the pathogenesis of pulpal disease.”
Congratulations to the members of the 2022 Winner’s Circle! This is just a sampling of each of these talented endodontists’ accomplishments. Click here to read the full articles on each of these researchers, their goals, and outlook on endodontics!
FOCUS 2023
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