Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Stem Cells Grow Jaw Joint!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Stem Cells Are Amazing

Chronic degenerative disease of the temporomandibular joint is can be frighteningly debilitating. Fortunately most people are able to adapt to the arthritic condition. Like a knee or a hip, occasionally the destruction of the joint is so bad that surgical reconstruction is needed.
Unfortunately though implants for temporomandibular joints have not progressed as well as other types of implants.
Now it looks as help may be on the way in the near future. Scientists from Columbia University, using human adult stem cells have recently to build the bones of the temporomandibular joint. The stem cells were obtained form bone marrow and seeded into a “tissue scaffold” that served as a matrix for growing the bone.
According Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, the lead author on the research, the new technique could also be applied to other bones in the head and neck, including skull bones and cheek bones, which are similarly difficult to graft. Dr. Vunjak-Novakovic pointed out that only bone was created and not other tissue such as cartilage.
If you are experiencing temporomandibular joint pain and questions about the option available to treat a temporomandibular joint disorder, please give us a call at 561-394-9000.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.