Wisdom Teeth Are Indeed Wise

Wisdom Teeth A Source For Stem Cells?

Researchers in Japan have successfully made stem cells from wisdom teeth, creating an alternative source of pluripotent cells for researching and treating disease and avoiding the ethical problems surrounding embryonic stem cell research.

Scientists at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, which is funded by the government, said they used wisdom teeth that had been frozen for three years after being removed from a 10 year old girl. Lead investigator of the project, Hajime Ogushi, told AFP news agency that their work was significant for two reasons. First, it avoids the ethical problem of using embryonic stem cells, and besides, wisdom teeth are usually thrown away, and second, it is easy to stock wisdom teeth.

Replace Your Toothbrush With Chewing Gum?

Dental News: University of Kentucky researchers have developed a chewing gum that can help replace both the toothpaste and a toothbrush, thus improving the health of soldiers in the field as well as children in poor countries.

That's right, Gum.

Developed via what's known as the "military gum project,", researchers have found that an antimicrobial, known as KSL, can be infused in chewing gum. KSL is anti-adhesive and abrasive agent that disrupts and helps dissolve plaque and, as every toothpaste commercial has told us for years, fighting plaque is key to good oral hygiene.

Since World War I, thousands of American soldiers have suffered from the extreme form of gingivitis that can result in painful ulcers, infection and bleeding gums. You've probably heard it called "trench mouth." Even today, about 15 percent of all U.S. Army sick calls are related to dental problems.

Five White Lies of Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental News

AOL's website for money and financial matters --DailyFinance.com-- recently reported on five secrets of the cosmetic dentistry industry which is estimated at $2.75 billion in the US alone, with the most common cosmetic-related dental procedure being veneers estimated by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) at over $371 million.

DailyFinance.com suggested that before you plunk down cash to a dentist for a cosmetic-related dental procedure (especially veneers), here are five secrets (a.k.a. "little white lies") the dental industry would rather you didn't know:

White Lie # 1: There Is No Specialty Known As "Cosmetic Dentistry."