Biomimetic Dentistry

Dr. Wood is passionate about practicing biomimetic, or biology mimicking dentistry.

This approach relies on 3 pillars:

1. highly innovative and technologically advanced restorative materials, proven to be the highest and longest performing of their kind.
2. the use of those materials under the most ideal clinical conditions (ie total moisture isolation) to prevent contamination and maximize the lifespan of a tooth and it's restoration.
3. very meticulous, strict techniques and protocols which allow the materials to perform to their highest degree and function in the most natural way, minimizing stress and strain on the tooth.

This vision allows us to approach even the simplest of restorations with the most diligence, understanding how our restorations will impact the long term prognosis of the teeth on which we work. The more tooth structure is missing, the more important technique and materials become.

While preserving tooth structure and restoring function in the most natural way is great for everyone's teeth, it may be especially helpful to certain populations. One of these is those people suffering from eating disorders. Bulimia can increase our risk of acid erosion up to 10x, with 90% of people with bulimia displaying signs of enamel erosion. Many such patients have few options to restore their teeth's function aside from a full mouth rehabilitation. When the patient is very young, this can create restorative challenges down the road, when those restorations begin to fail. Biomimetic dentistry can offer another approach, where severely eroded teeth that would otherwise need root canal treatment or extraction could avoid having this treatment, relying on adhesive principles to retain restorations that would otherwise not stay on. This can allow for more conservative tooth preparation, avoiding exposure of the nerve. This approach can therefore be less costly and more conservative. Dr.Wood struggled with body image and eating disorders herself in early adolescence, and is passionate about helping rebuild the smiles, self love, confidence and self care of those struggling with eating disorders.

Another population that Dr.Wood has treated extensively is those patients undergoing cancer treatment and bone density treatment. Due to certain medications, these patients may not be great candidates for dental implants. This leaves them few options if a tooth cracks suddenly and they are not prepared for living without a tooth. While bridges and removable appliances are often an option, some people are also not great candidates for extractions, as they have an increased risk of bone necrosis. For them, extraction is contraindicated, and biomimetic dentistry can provide an alternative approach where the tooth may be maintained.

Other patients who we have treated with this approach include the very elderly, who are frail and unable to tolerate physically taxing procedures. We see many such patients and are grateful for the trust our patients' caregivers and loved ones place in our care.

Dr. Wood thinks, as her whole team gets to hear about daily, that biomimetic dentistry is the best thing since sliced bread, and can't wait to share it with you!

If you would like to learn more about biomimetic dentistry, here are the technical details for our science nerds:

Biomimetic dentistry focuses on the creation of unique anatomical structures within the tooth that, in a statistically significant and evidence based way, allow for the highest degree of bond formation between the tooth and restoration. These structures allow for the least degree of post operative sensitivity, lower rates of recurrent decay, lower rates of need for root canal treatment, lower rates of restoration and remaining tooth fracture, and lower rates of tooth loss in structurally compromised teeth.

The following is a list of these anatomical structures:

• Hybrid layer
• Peripheral seal zone

The following advanced techniques are employed to, in a statistically significant and evidence based way, facilitate the creation of above anatomical structures:

• Decoupling with time 
• C factor reduction
• Incremental, targeted caries removal 
• Advanced structural analysis 
• Crack type diagnosis and evidence based treatment
• Minimal, targeted removal of tooth structure

The following specialized and advanced materials are used in the creation of above mentioned anatomical structures:

• advanced packing of specialized isolation tape
• application of specialized isolation matrix bands and systems
• layering in an evidence based way, of incremental advanced materials designed to replicate various tooth structure
• Targeted and staggered use of specialized bonding agent that can achieve bond strength of 30-50 MPa when used in conjunction with above materials and techniques. 

38 hours of continuing education were necessary to gain the knowledge required to practice these advanced techniques, properly use advanced materials, and create their desired end points.

Further reading on above materials and methods:

The hybrid layer

The most essential part of an adhesive restoration. Without a hybrid layer, exposed dentin leaves restorations susceptible to redecay, crack initiation and post-operative sensitivity, but with predictable bonding and hybrid layer formation, restorations have been shown to stay bonded and symptom-free for decades.