New way of stopping tooth decay

Press, 28 August 1984, Page 25

New way of stopping tooth decay

PA Dunedin A Wellington researcher is breaking the link between dental plaque and tooth decay by enriching the plaque with minerals. Dr E. I. F. Pearce, of the Medical Research Council’s dental unit, said the main aim was to protect teeth by stopping the plaque acids damaging tooth enamel. As well, the technique may even repair teeth damaged by decay. Dr Pearce presented a paper on some of his experiments at the Dunedin meeting of the Australia and New Zealand division of the International Association for Dental Research. His line of research began in 1980 and the technology has been bought by the Development Finance Corporation. Dr Pearce said the corporation was patenting the technique of enriching plaque with calcium, phosphate and fluoride. Tooth decay is caused by. acids formed as a waste product from sugar fermentation. These acids will dissolve mineral crystals in the tooth. Dr Pearce’s method is to make these plaque acids saturated with minerals.

They are therefore unable to dissolve more minerals from the teeth. Dr Pearce has developed a solution and uses it like a mouth rinse. Associate Professor R. H. Brown, of the Otago University School of Dentistry, reported the findings of a Dunedin dental study which showed a “staggering” fall in children’s tooth decay problems. Only 1.5 per cent of the nine-year-old children surveyed had fillings or decay in their front teeth — a huge reduction on 30 years ago, he said. Fifty-five per cent had no fillings or decay in their permanent teeth. This compared with 7 per cent de-cay-free in 1950. Professor Brown said fluoride was responsible for the decline shown in the study of 697 children. “Only 10 had experienced any decay whatsoever in their front teeth," Professor Brown said. “It is a staggering change from when we used to spend, most of our time filling children’s teeth. “We are confident it is a result of the benefits of fluoride,” he said.