Prefabricated blood vessels may revolutionize root canals

Root canals are used to save a tooth that has become infected or decayed, with over 15 million performed each year in the U.S.. However, this procedure can cause teeth to become to become brittle and susceptible to fracture over time. The procedure involves removing infected dental tissues and replacing them with synthetic biomaterials covered by a protective crown. Now researchers in Portland, Oregon, have developed a process by which they can engineer new blood vessels in teeth, creating better long-term outcomes. By removing the tooth’s blood and nerve supply it is without an biological response. Then can cause the tooth to be lost and a need of dentures or implants. The researchers used a 3D printing-inspired process, which was based on their previous work fabricating artificial capillaries, to create blood vessels in the lab. They placed a fiber mold made … Read more