CLINICAL FEATURE
THE FUTURE OF DENTAL CARE As personalised medicine continues to shape the future of healthcare, the concept of a tooth bank represents a significant leap in dental care. By offering a customised, sustainable solution for bone grafting, dental clinics can enhance the quality of patient care while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in modern dentistry. For clinics looking to differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape, the introduction of a tooth bank could be a game-changer. By providing this unique service, they can offer patients a forward-thinking approach that prioritises their long-term health and wellbeing, creating lasting relationships based on trust and innovative care. In conclusion, the concept of a tooth bank is an exciting development in dentistry, bridging the gap between
4. Reduced risk of complications: Auto-tooth bone grafts generally have a lower risk of complications compared to synthetic or allogenic grafts due to their biological compatibility. 5. Patient retention: Patients who store their teeth in a dental clinic is likely going to go back to the same place for other treatments, as there is a greater confidence, knowing that a reliable source of graft material is available when needed. 6. Improved patient trust: Offering a tooth bank can enhance patient trust and satisfaction by demonstrating a commitment to innovative and personalised care. 7. Source of income from storage and processing: Depending on the clinic, a small fee can be charged as a storage fee for the patients for the preservation of the tooth, guaranteeing a steady stream of income.
5. Urist MR. Bone histogenesis and morphogenesis in implants of demineralized enamel and dentin. J Oral Surg. 29: 88- 102, 1971 6. Butler WT, Mikulski A and Urist MR. Noncollagenous proteins of a rat dentin matrix possessing bone morphogenetic activity. J Dent Res 56: 228-232, 1977 7. Inoue T, Deporter DA and Melcher AH. Induction of cartilage and bone by dentin demineralized in citric acid. J Periodontal Res 21: 243-255, 1986 8. Murata M, Kawai T, Kawakami T, Akazawa T, Tazaki J andIto K. Human acid- insoluble dentin with BMP-2 accelerates bone-induction in subcutaneous and intramuscular tissues.J Ceram Soc Japan 118: 438-441, 2010 9. Coots, B.K. Alveolar bone grafting: Past, present, and new horizons. Semin. Plast. Surg. 2012, 26, 178–183. 10. Mazzucchi, G.; Lollobrigida, M.; Lamazza, L.; Serafini, G.; Di Nardo, D.; Testarelli, L.; De Biase, A. Autologous Dentin Graft after Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Extraction to Prevent Periodontal Pocket Formation—A Split- Mouth Pilot Study. Materials 2022, 5, 1431. 11. Park, S.-M.; Um, I.-W.; Kim, Y.-K.; Kim, K.-W. Clinical application of auto-tooth bone graft material. J. Korean Assoc. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. 2012, 38, 2–8. 12. Faria-Almeida, R.; Astramskaite- Januseviciene, I.; Puisys, A.; Correia, F. Extraction socket preservation with or without membranes, soft tissue influence on post extraction alveolar ridge preservation: A systematic review. J. Oral Maxillofac. Res. 2019, 10, e5.
cutting-edge technology and personalised patient care.
As more clinics explore the possibilities of tooth banks, the
CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS
REFERENCES 1. Min BM. Oral Biochemistry. Daehan Narae Publishing Co., Seoul, 2007, pp36-64 2. Kim YK, Kim SG, Oh JS, Jin SC, Son JS, Kim SY and Lim SY.Analysis of the inorganic component of autogenous tooth bone graft material. J Nanosci Nanotech 11:7442-7445, 2011 3. Kim YK, Yeo IS, Kim SG, Um IW and Kim YK. Analysis of crystalline structure of autogenous tooth bone graft material: X-ray diffraction analysis. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 37: 225-228, 2011 4. Murata M, Akazawa T, Mitsugi M, Um IW, Kim KW and Kim YK. Human dentin as novel biomaterial for bone regeneration. In:Biomaterials -Physics and Chemistry, ed by Pignatello R, InTech, Croatia, 2011, pp127-140. concept could become a standard part of dental care, transforming waste into a valuable resource and giving patients more control over their oral health journey. The days of simply discarding extracted teeth may soon be replaced by a future where every tooth has a second life — helping to rebuild what was lost and offering a new lease on dental health. DA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The success of a tooth bank hinges on awareness and education. Patients need to be informed about the benefits of storing their teeth early, even before extraction. Additionally, not all dental clinics have the infrastructure for processing, which may require collaboration with an auto-tooth bone graft processing centre. Another consideration is the cost. While the long-term benefits can outweigh the initial expenses, patients must weigh the cost of storage and processing against traditional grafting options. The long-term preservation of teeth poses some technical challenges, hence regular monitoring and maintenance of storage conditions are essential, and clinics need to be transparent with patients about the expected shelf life and effectiveness of preserved teeth.
Dr How graduated from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in 2014 with distinction. In 2017, Dr How was awarded Membership of
Royal college of surgeons of Edinburgh (MFDS RCSed) for her commitment to professional development. Dr How is now a private general dental practitioner in Maxcare Platinum Dental in Petaling Jaya. She enjoys practising aesthetic and restorative dentistry, orthodontics, implants & oral surgeries in her practice. A staunch advocate of patient education and preventive dentistry, Dr How is committed to empowering her patients to achieve optimal oral health and beautiful smiles.
34 DENTAL ASIA SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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