SMaRT Replacement Therapy Evan Lum

What is this? SMaRT Replacement Therapy is a one-time topical treatment with the potential to treat tooth decay for life. Developed by a Florida-based company called Oragenics

What Causes Tooth Decay? A bacterium called Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) sits on the surface of the teeth. This bacteria converts sugar in our mouth into lactic acid which erodes enamel and causes tooth decay. Tooth decay is the process that results in cavities. If untreated, this can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.

How Can SMaRT Prevent Tooth Decay? Oragenics has developed a genetically altered strain of S. mutans, called SMaRT which does not produce lactic acid. The strain is engineered with a colonization advantage over native S. mutans which are killed off, leaving the SMaRT strain unharmed. So far testing has proved this to permanantly replace the old strain, resulting in permanent protection from tooth decay.

Procedure SMaRT Replacement Therapy is designed to be applied topically to the teeth by a dentist, pediatrician or primary care physician The SMaRT strain is administered using a cotton-tipped swab during a single five- minute, pain-free treatment. The SMaRT strain will work to replace the old S. mutans over the next 6 to 12 months before full, permanent protection.

Benefits Tooth decay is mostly preventable by good oral hygiene. However, it remains the most common chronic infectious disease in the world which means. A one time, life long prevention of tooth decay would prevent this disease for those who don’t comply with an oral care regimen.

Trials The first Phase I clinical trial was initiated in 2005 but was stopped and postponed due FDA holds. In Sept. 2007, the FDA removed the clinical hold and the Phase I trial continued. As of now, only attenuated strains of SMaRT are being used, specific for D-Alanine, an amino acid not found in human diet.

No lactic acid creation under any cultivation conditions Dramatically reduced ability to cause tooth decay Aggressive displacement of native, decay- causing strains of S. mutans and preemptive colonization on the teeth of laboratory rats No adverse side effects in either acute or chronic testing in rodent models Results from Lab and Animal Models

Sources health/tc/tooth-decay-topic-overview health/tc/tooth-decay-topic-overview prevention prevention dUS Mar-2009+BW dUS Mar-2009+BW ealth/breakthroughs/ ealth/breakthroughs/

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