Technabob » tooth http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Weird Science Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:00:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Forget the Tooth Fairy, Order a Biotooth http://technabob.com/blog/2010/01/03/biotooth-stem-cell-tooth-replacement/ http://technabob.com/blog/2010/01/03/biotooth-stem-cell-tooth-replacement/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:43:56 +0000 Lambert Varias http://technabob.com/blog/?p=25809 A group of British scientists claim that they have figured out a way to make dentures obsolete, with the power of stem cells. Simply put, stem cells taken from a patient will be used to grow a bunch of cells that will grow into a tooth. The cells will then be implanted in an incision in the patient’s gum. Even more amazing, the process of “nudging” the stem cells to turn into a “ball of cells” that will in turn become a tooth supposedly takes only two weeks. The scientists have formed a company, Odontis, to capitalize on their technique, and they are calling their (potential) product the BioTooth.

biotooth schematic

The scientists – led by, Prof. Paul Sharpe, a specialist in the field of regenerative dentistry at the Dental Institute of King’s College, London – also claim to have successfully tested the technique in mice. Based on The Guardian‘s article, however, it seems that although Sharpe’s team can coax the stem cells to become a tooth, they can’t force it to become a specific kind of tooth, like a molar or an incisor. Still, this is an amazing breakthrough.  Bad news for the tooth fairy. And for people who make dentures.

[via Neatorama]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2010/01/03/biotooth-stem-cell-tooth-replacement/feed/ 8 Technology Saves the Day in a Weird Way: Man Loses Eyesight, Doctors Restore It by Implanting His Tooth in His Right Eye http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/13/man-loses-eyesight-tooth-implant/ http://technabob.com/blog/2009/07/13/man-loses-eyesight-tooth-implant/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:12:52 +0000 Lambert Varias http://technabob.com/blog/?p=16653 Martin Jones lost his eyesight about 10 years ago, when “a white hot tub of aluminum exploded in his face” while we was working at a scrapyard. Doctors had to remove his left eye, while his right eye was rendered useless because of the damage. Jones married his wife four years ago while still without eyesight. But thanks to the Sussex Eye Clinic in Brighton, Jones finally got to see his wife and scored a wicked looking right eye in the process. How? By having part of his front tooth implanted in his right eye. Go Technology go!

tootheye

As you can see, Jones’ tooth serves as as a support for the lens that was created out of a patch of his skin. What’s even more amazing (for me at least) is that the procedure, developed by surgeon Christopher Liu, has actually been performed about 50 times! So Jones isn’t the only guy with the Sauron-like eye. Check out Daily Mail‘s report for more details.

[via gizmo watch]

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