Dental Vaccine

[Mulberry Molar]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

What do you know about the current state of development of the dental caries vaccine? What problems are stopping this from becoming a reality? In how many yrs do you think it will become available?

 

[dentalman]

This is my own humble opinion - but I would say in about a hundred years, or, not in my lifetime. First, there is more than one bacteria that plays a part in dental caries. In fact, a big group of them get together and create a cool biofilm. Perhaps if someone could target the bacteria that make the first layer, this would help get things going. But unfortunately, it is a more complicated process than other diseases we have vaccines for. I still think we should keep trying to look - don't get me wrong - I just think it is going to be tough.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Don't forget that step mutans also has benefical affects and no one really knows what will happen if you eliminate them

 

[mzalendo]

may be complicated but definately much less than 100 years

 

[DrJeff]

Here's another issue that likely would come up if the vaccine was to gain FDA approval.

Let's say that the vaccine costs $100 per dose(just an assumption, no clue what it would be in reality. Per my understanding of how the mechanism of this vaccine would work is that it would need to be readministered 3 to 4 times a year to maintain its efficacy level. Now, the insurance companies would come into play since many patients have dental insurance/base their treatment on what is and isn't covered by dental insurance companies.

Dental insurance companies have vast demographic records of their patients dental needs, right down to the point where they could tell you what the "average" numbers of fillings placed per enrolled patient per year in a certain county(and often zip code) is. They'd(the insurance company) look at things from the following standpoint. If to vaccinate one of their enrolled members they'd spend say $400 per year for vaccine, above and beyond regualr cleaning/exam/x-ray fees, but that if they didn't vaccinate they'd spend $300 per year for average fillings done on the same enrolled people, I guarentee you that they WOULDN'T cover the vaccine, and hence a number of you patients WOULDN'T want it/pay for it OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. Sure, some parents would for their kids, but not nearly all of them (I see this every now and then when a dental insurance plan doesn't have sealant coverage and the parents opt not to pay for them, but rather wait until a filling is required, and then often want a composite restoration placed for their child which actually has a higher out of pocket co-pay than what the sealant would have cost them originally 😕 🙄 😱 ).

One of the biggest things you'll face almost every day is the difference between the scientific side of dentistry and the economic side of dentistry, and how the dental insurance companies/industry effects this. Since remember, dental insurance companies are FOR PROFIT companies who want to keep their costs down to maximize their profits.

 

[flossin']

Isn't there already a vaccine called a "toothbrush"???

 

[beannaithe]

Isn't there already a vaccine called a "toothbrush"???

But that means I have to do physical labor!! 😱

 

[DrJeff]

Isn't there already a vaccine called a "toothbrush"???

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for us in the dental profession) many people seem to be "allergic" to the toothbrush 😀 And for some, you'd think that dental floss may very well bring on an anyphylatic reaction 😱 😉

 

[leia05]

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for us in the dental profession) many people seem to be "allergic" to the toothbrush 😀 And for some, you'd think that dental floss may very well bring on an anyphylatic reaction 😱 😉

nice

also, don't forget the massive quantities of coca-cola consumed per year by a lot of people..i know some people who drink 4 or more per day! now i know THAT can't be good--for the waistline or the teeth

 

[DrJeff]

nice

also, don't forget the massive quantities of coca-cola consumed per year by a lot of people..i know some people who drink 4 or more per day! now i know THAT can't be good--for the waistline or the teeth

Just remember that 1 20oz bottle of coke/pepsi/mt dew (whatever beverage sugared soft drink you like) over the course of a year ='s just under 60lbs of sugar consumed and roughly 90,000 extra calories or roughly 25 extra pounds of body weight to deal with (roughly 3,500 calories per pound of body weight) 😱 😱 I just love throwing those stats out at my patients! 😱

 

[Dr. Pedo]

This mumbo-jumbo is ridiculous. Dr. Jeff I agree with you're comments. I truthfully believe that this will never become a reality in our lifetime.

Think rationally about this: perhaps my knowledge is skewed because I'm in pediatrics.

1) Dental decay is 100% preventable.
2) Dental decay is 100% treatable and 100% curable.

The facts presented above render the vaccination extremely low on the priority list----see small pox, polio, mumps, etc...

Now even these important vaccinations are coming under-fire for their "possible" linkage to devastating systemic manifestations. Parents are scared, don't know who to trust (see VIOXX), and want to stick the fewest amount of needles with the fewest amount of chemicals/bugs into jonny. Obviously deadly or crippling diseases the risk/benefit is huge. But preventable----Hell, I struggle to convince parents to let me place a sealant!!!! Which was suppose to put dentists out of business along with fluoride . Everyday I try to put myself out of business by professionally cleaning, teaching how to prevent decay and sealing good teeth.

Now lets take a vaccine for cavitites. Prevented by toothbrushing and flossing. Lets see the parents when you tell them we have a concoction that will wipe-out jonny's cavity-producing bacteria. The long-term effects are unknown but trials on mice have shown promising results 😱 . And what is really cool is Jonny is going to be part of the group that helps determine the long-term effects !!!!!!!!!!! OR you could just buy a toothbrush and some floss and see a dentist appropriately...........hmmmmmmmmmm. Tough choice. 😕 Alright why don't you go home and think about it------in the mean-time prevent decay with simple brushing and flossing 😛 .