New research is hoping to use stem cell technology to improve the procedure of root canal treatments for dental patients.
According to the Boston Globe, scientists at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine are looking into whether or not stem cells could be used to generate dental pulp.
This could then be used during root canal treatments in order to replace the man-made substance that dentists currently fill the tooth in with.
"It's kind of like any other kind of discarded tissue … now being carefully considered as to whether it might have some sort of medicinal benefit to an individual," explained Tufts dental professor Pamela Yelick.
However, any potential developments may still be some time away, as research is only being tested on mice at present.
A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. When a tooth is decayed or damaged, root canal treatment in which the tooth is drilled and cleaned, filed, filled with a rubber filling and crowned may be carried out to repair it.
