UNAIR NEWS – Information regarding the opinion of Universitas Airlangga experts this time comes from the field of dental medicine. From a scientific article published on UNAIR NEWS page on Tuesday, February 2, Dr. Agung Krismariono, drg., M.Kes., Sp.Perio (K)., explained that periodontal disease is a disease that damages the tooth supporting tissue.
In an article written from a journal paper entitled “A revolution of stem cell in periodontal regeneration”, Agung explained that diseases that damage tissue are generally caused by bacteria that can survive in an environment with very little oxygen. Therefore, he continued, the more bacteria around the teeth entering the tooth supporting tissue located deep inside, the easier these bacteria will multiply and damage the tooth supporting tissue.
“Damage to the tooth supporting tissue will make the teeth loose and even the teeth can be separated by themselves from the supporting tissue,” he said.
In this article, Agung explained that various methods had been used, both to prevent damage to the tooth supporting tissue and to treat the damaged supporting tissue. Prevention, he said, could be done independently at home by regularly brushing teeth.
“Prevention of damage to the tooth supporting tissue can also be done by regularly visiting the dentist. This visit is intended so dental and gum health checks can be carried out, as well as cleaning the plaque around the teeth, “he said.
Furthermore, he also explained that with technological advances, the current knowledge to accelerate the growth of supporting tissue has developed rapidly. The technology, he continued, is known as tissue engineering that utilizes stem cells.
“Stem cells are the beginning of other cells’ growth. Stem cells have the ability to multiply, do not have specific functions, and are able to develop into certain cell types needed to repair damaged tissue, “he explained.
At the end, he also explained that stem cells can come from embryonic tissue as well as adult tissue. Embryonic stem cells are usually collected from the umbilical cord of the fetus during delivery. Meanwhile, he continued, the most developed stem cells are those from adult tissue. Stem cells originating from adult tissues include those from teeth. Stem cells that come from teeth usually come from baby teeth, wisdom teeth and from small molars.
“Although the use of stem cells derived from teeth and surrounding tissues to treat tooth-supporting tissue damage is currently still within the limits of scientific research and has not been widely used, this method of treatment with stem cells provides a beneficial opportunity for periodontal tissue repair in the future, “he concluded.
Author: Nuri Hermawan
