Drs. Santiago Orrego and Carolina Montoya in their lab. The team is revolutionizing oral healthcare. Courtesy Temple University
A Revolutionary Nonsurgical Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Drs. Santiago Orrego and Carolina Montoya’s gel uses electricity harnessed by the movement of the jaw to treat periodontal disease by growing bone and controlling infection.
It sounds straight out of science fiction: a miraculous gel that helps the body regrow bone in the periodontal pocket. One weird thing about the human body is how it naturally regrows some parts, but not others: your hair comes back when cut, your bones will heal from breaks, but your teeth — not so much. Gum disease occurs when microbes trigger gum inflammation, causing the underlying bone to begin a process of self-destruction. In advanced cases, the bone below the tooth dies, leading the tooth to fall out. Current periodontitis treatments involve surgery, but now, there is a nonsurgical solution.
Ambilux Dental Gel, a smart hydrogel, developed by Drs. Santiago Orrego and Carolina Montoya at Temple University, aims to reverse the effects of gum disease when deposited in the space between the gum and teeth. The gel contains piezoelectric materials, which convert the movement of one’s jaw into an electrical charge that stimulates bone growth. All it takes is a few squirts with a syringe. Oral Biolife Inc. licensed the technology from Temple and is among the first to translate piezoelectric materials for dentistry. Their novel product is the result of many moving parts and paths of research, combining dentistry and engineering.
“We work closely with practicing dentists to produce bioengineering-driven solutions for the challenges they face in the clinic.”
Dr. Santiago Orrego