Researches create a new vaccine to treat gum disease
For a large number of people, the mere thought of undergoing dental treatment is enough to make them feel anxious; however, painful trips to the dentist could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a revolutionary new vaccine.
Scientists at the University of Melbourne in Australia have been working on a preventative vaccine with CSL for the best part of fifteen years. They claim that the injection, which encourages the body’s immune system and natural healing processes to treat gum disease, could become available within the next 3-5 years, and believe that the finished article will make waves in modern dentistry.
A study dedicated to a prototype of the team’s injection has been featured in the journal NPJ Vaccines. The team has stated that the vaccine works by stimulating the body’s natural defence mechanisms, and subsequently neutralises Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria. This strain of bacterium is responsible for damaging both gum and bone tissue, and as such the vaccine will help to prevent tissue damage and reduce the risk of premature tooth loss. Patients who receive the vaccine are also less likely to need intensive dental treatment further down the line.
Gum disease affects around a third of adults, and studies have suggested that it elevates the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and strokes, as well as leading to tooth loss.
Professor Eric Reynolds, a researcher on the project, explained that the vaccine offers something different to treatments that are currently used. Surgery and intensive cleaning are effective, but they don’t prevent bacterial activity, which means that it’s difficult to actually cure periodontitis. There are “high hopes” that this vaccine could make a real difference to thousands of people in years to come.
