Cavities were cured in 1985, and no one knows it yet
Cavities were cured in 1985, and no one knows it yet
There is a discussion on Hacker News, but feel free to comment here as well.
This site sucks, I found a NIH study from 2002 on the subject
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12369203/
EDIT: OK Wikipedia to the rescue: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caries_vaccine#:~:text=mutans.,%2C require occasional re-applications.
"On a different line of research, Jeffrey Hillman from the University of Florida[6] developed a genetically modified strain of Streptococcus mutans called BCS3-L1, that is incapable of producing lactic acid – the acid that dissolves tooth enamel – and aggressively replaces native flora. In laboratory tests, rats who were given BCS3-L1 were conferred with a lifetime of protection against S. mutans.[7] BCS3-L1 colonizes the mouth and produces a small amount of a lantibiotic, called MU1140,[7] which allows it to out-compete S. mutans.[8] Hillman suggested that treatment with BCS3-L1 in humans could also provide a lifetime of protection, or, at worst, require occasional re-applications. He stated that the treatment would be available in dentists' offices and "will probably cost less than $100."[9] The product was being developed by Oragenics, but was shelved in 2014, citing regulatory concerns and patent issues.[10] In 2016, Oragenics received a 17-year patent for the product.[11]
On rare occasions the native S. mutans strain escapes into the blood, potentially causing dangerous heart infections. It is unclear how likely BCS3-L1 is to do the same.[12]"
TLDR; Sounds like the risk of it entering the bloodstream and causing heart problems is what stopped it from advancing.
19Damn. It might still be worth it for me, who has had an average of 8 cavities/year for all the years I’ve had teeth without much of a sweet tooth. I have less basic saliva than most people, my sister and mother had the same problem
6The infection they talk about is for the native bacteria, they simply don't know whether the modified one causes the same issue.
4Yes, now imagine a much more prolific version of the same condition. It is a reasonable assumption that it could cause the same condition.
I don't know anything about the probabilities, so I'm not sure if it's overreacting or not. From a liability perspective a product that has applications for billions of people, even a small probability of complications is important to examine.
I would hope they could consider making it a prescription for people like me with frequent cavities.
4
Lol it won't be offered in dental offices for long
2
Man... I was born in 85. You're telling me I could have been made immune to cavities my entire fucking life if not for greed? I fucking hate this world.
4Only if you trust this unverified source
1