Dr. Boghosian is an assistant clinical professor and director of clinical research in the division of biological materials at Northwestern University Dental School, as well as a private practitioner in Chicago. In the future, dentistry will look toward a more biological, or biomimetic, approach to restoring diseased teeth and rehabilitating the oral cavity back to function. Dr. Boghosian provides the example of treating a patient with sensitive teeth, a fairly common complaint.
Sensitive teeth are often the result of the gums receding, exposing the roots of the tooth.
Patients complain of sensitivity to cold, like when eating ice cream or drinking a cold beverage, and touch, such as contact with the toothbrush or dental floss. One way to treat this problem currently is by sealing the root surface with a synthetic adhesive material to desensitize the area. Dr. Boghosian says there is a more natural approach available. Researchers at the American Dental Association Health Foundation's Paffenbarger Research Center have developed a patented technology of a biomimetic desensitizing agent which uses calcium and phosphate, the key components of human bone and teeth. While Dr. Boghosian sees a trend of more biologically active materials being developed for use in dentistry, in his lecture he reports on the latest improvements in currently available dental materials.