SealBio: A novel, non-obturation endodontic treatment based on concept of regeneration

Summary SealBio, an innovative, non-surgical endodontic treatment protocol, based on regenerative concept has been developed to manage pulp and periapically involved teeth.

A novel "regenerative" technique to repair infected teeth -- claimed to be painless and cheaper than the traditional root canal treatment -- has been developed by doctors at the All ndia nstitute of !edical Sciences "A !S# in $e% &elhi. 'ermed as "SealBio", the technique uses body(s o%n stem cells and eliminates the need for cumbersome root canal fillings. &eveloped by doctors $aseem Shah and A)ay *ogani at the &epartment of +onservative &entistry and ,ndodontics, it has obtained an Australian patent, %hile an application %ith the -S .atents office is under process. /oot canal treatment demands rigorous training, clinical s0ills and several cumbersome sittings %ith dentist. t involves thorough cleaning and shaping follo%ed by filling of the entire root canal %ith one of several sealer cements. 'he A !S technique is claimed to be the first that dispenses %ith the need for root canal filling. nstead of filling the root canal %ith artificial materials that may pose bio-compatibility problems, it ma0es use of regenerative potential of stem cells and gro%th factors available at the root of the teeth. Stem cells act as a repair system for the body capable of replenishing adult tissues. n case of this technique, the stem cells at the root of the decayed teeth are stimulated to induce regeneration and deposition of a natural tissue barrier "seal# to fill up the root canal in )ust one sitting. n other %ords, a "biological seal" is achieved at the root canal rather than attempting to seal it %ith artificial filling materials %ith all its dra%bac0s, the doctors say.

'he root canal is restored to health by gradual build up of tissue by stem cells over a period, e1tending from a fe% %ee0s to some months. 'he A !S doctors say that this treatment simplifies the %hole procedure %ith minimal use of equipment, less time and cost of treatment. 2ne of the essential requisites for successful outcome of endodontic treatment is believed to be achieving sealing of root canal system at both3 apical and coronal end of a disinfected root canal. ,ven %ith conventional guttapercha obturation, the ultimate aim is to achieve a cemental4fibrous barrier at the root ape1 'herefore, achieving a biological seal, SealBio should be preferable over an artificial barrier of sealer and guttapercha cones at the apical end of root canal system. 5ith the success achieved %ith revasculari6ation in healing of periapical lesions and hard tissue deposition at apical and lateral %alls of the root canals "maturogenesis# in immature teeth, the processes involved in the healing mechanism are no% better understood. /ole of various stem cells, gro%th factors, 7ert%ig(s epithelial root sheath "7,/S# and their interactions in regeneration of tissues have been documented. ,1ploiting this mechanism of stimulating healing and regeneration of tissues and combining it %ith thorough disinfection of root canal system, a novel treatment approach %as conceived to manage non-vital mature teeth %ith periapical pathology. /esults8 'he novel treatment protocol %as found to be favourable in resolving periapical infection, both clinically and radiographically. +onclusions8 'his innovative endodontic treatment protocol highlights and reiterates the importance of cleaning and shaping and puts forth the possible role of stem cells and gro%th factors in healing after non-surgical endodontic therapy. 'he ne% technique, as discussed and documented in this pilot clinical study can prove to be the most simple, easy to perform and cost-effective method of regenerative endodontic treatment. 'he result proves the importance of thorough cleaning and shaping and a %ellcondensed, bacteria-tight coronal seal in endodontic treatment success. A small sub-set of si1 teeth evaluated by pre and post treatment +B+' has sho%n increased density of bone and cementum, supporting the premise that minerali6ed tissue deposition does occur at the root ape1 "hence sealing the apical end %ith biological tissue, i.e. SealBio#. Source 8 $+B , 'he 'imes of ndia

04% 8 +B+', non-obturation ,ndodontic treatment, periapical healing, regenerative endodontics, sealBio