MEDIA RELEASE
20 May 2009
New treatment re-grows decayed tooth enamel
Embargoed till first editions/bulletins Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Third generation dentist Nathan Cochrane has made a breakthrough that would have amazed his
great grandfathera way to make decayed tooth enamel re-grow, reversing tooth decay and
avoiding the need for fillings.
The treatment works while you sleep by delivering to the affected tooth a powerful solution of
calcium, fluoride and phosphate, the building blocks of tooth enamel. The tooth absorbs the solution
from a small tray fitted into the mouth overnight.
The localised application of the mineral treatment re-grows the crystals of the tooth, repairing
damaged tooth enamel, said Dr Cochrane, of the Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health
Science. He will outline the system at the Pathfinders: the Innovators Conference at the National
Convention Centre in Canberra next week (Tuesday, May 26).
Working as a dentist I see how teeth with fillings in them often weaken he said. I wanted to find
out whether a chemical process could be used to replace the minerals lost from teeth through
decay.
Working with world renowned tooth remineralisation expert, Professor Eric Reynolds, and colleagues
at the CRC, Dr Cochrane discovered that a substance isolated from cows milk could be used to
stabilise the calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions, allowing them to diffuse into tooth enamel and
embed themselves in the crystal lattice.
To prevent saliva from diluting the mineral solution, he developed a small tray that fits over the tooth
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and focuses the solution on it. The device has been patented.
Dentists who have patients showing signs of early decay will be able to prescribe the nightly use of
the remineralisation treatment for a given period, potentially avoiding treatments such as fillings and
extractions, said Dr Cochrane.
Dr Cochranes great-grandfather, an engineer who later trained as a dentist, would have been
astounded by the treatment pioneered by the dentist-turned-scientist.
Dr Cochrane is one of eight early career scientists invited to present their research results at the
Pathfinders Conference, organised by the Cooperative Research Centres Association. The CRCA
represents Australias 50 CRCs operating under a federal government program to drive public/private
sector research.
Caption for accompanying image:
Dr Nathan Cochrane at work in the lab. He has developed a new way to fight tooth decay.
Information: Dr Nathan Cochrane, CRC for Oral Health Science Ph 0401 678 143
Kerryn Garner, Communications Manager, CRC for Oral Health Science Ph 0449 508 393.
CRCA Media Ph 0419 250 815; Email crcamedia@gmail.com