Ivoclar Vivadent Ag

Dentigenix Inc.

University of California

Bruce Rutherford

Wenyuan Shi

Jian He

Ben Wu

Fengxia Qi

Daniel K Yarbrough

Christopher Somogyi

Clinton White

Erick Rabins

Randal Eckert

Sotirios Tetradis

Elizabeth Hagerman

Christopher Somogyl

Eric Rabins

Compositions and methods useful in restorative dentistry are disclosed. Compositions of the present invention include a peptide, and a polymer matrix. The peptide is one capable of reacting with a source of mineralizing ions to initiate deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals within the polymer matrix. Compositions of the present invention are uniquely capable of sealing a junction between a dental restorative material and adjacent native tooth tissue.

Mineralizing composite materials for restoring teeth

The invention provides methods, apparatus and kits for regenerating dental tissue in vivo that are useful for treating a variety of dental conditions, exemplified by treatment of caries. The invention uses tissue scaffold wafers, preferably made of PGA, PLLA, PDLLA or PLGA dimensioned to fit into a hole of corresponding sized drilled into the tooth of subject to expose dental pulp in vivo. In certain embodiments the tissue scaffold wafer further comprises calcium phosphate and fluoride. The tissue scaffold wafer may be secured into the hole with a hydrogel, a cement or other suitable material. Either the wafer or the hydrogel or both contain a morphogenic agent, such as a member encoded by the TGF-&#x3b2; supergene family, that promotes regeneration and differentiation of healthy dental tissue in vivo, which in turn leads to remineralization of dentin and enamel. The tissue scaffold may further include an antibiotic or anti-inflammatory agent.

Methods for treating dental conditions using tissue scaffolds

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Bruce Rutherford