Health

Gene weakens dental implant

(Source: O Estado de S. Paulo, by Evandro Fadel)
      
   Study at PUC-PR identifies genetic factor, present in about 30% of the population, which contributes to problem

Researchers coordinated by Professor Paula Cristina Trevilatto, the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUC-PR), can detect the influence of genetic factors in the loss of dental implants, a problem that affects about 3.5% of people who are subject to technical per year. "The work shows that the first evidence in the literature," says Paula.

The implant is the placement of a titanium screw in the bone and the average cost can range from $ 1 thousand to R $ 3 mil. To be successful, we need to integrate both. About 10 million implants are performed each year worldwide. In Brazil, about 20% of the population has already lost all their teeth, according to the Ministry of Health Other studies indicate that only 10% of Brazilians between 65 and 74 years of age have 20 or more teeth in the mouth.

Among patients with multiple losses of implants, the researchers noted the PUC-PR alleles (one of the alternative forms of a gene) of the group of interleukin 1 (protein secreted by cells of the immune system) that weaken the anti-inflammatory natural. Because of this genetic peculiarity, there is difficulty in integration of titanium to the bone. It is estimated that between 25% and 30% of the population has this allele, which increases up to three times the risk of losing an implant.

PREVENTION

"In the future, a molecular diagnostic kit could be developed to identify individuals at higher risk to lose implants," the coordinator of the study estimates. "They can even be developed synthetic molecules to circumvent the problem."

According to the researchers, there is clinical and social factors that lead to the loss of dental implants, of which smoking and poor quality of bone are among the principal. "But there are people who have a propensity to multiple losses and never suggested evidence of a genetic basis," says Paula. Researchers are coming to the patent application of the discovery.

They focused on the analysis of medical records of 3,578 patients who received dental implants in the Latin American Institute for Research and Education in Dentistry (Ilapeo) of Curitiba, in the period 1996 to 2006. Of these, 126 had losses. An examination of DNA was performed in 90, compared with 176 others who did not present any problem.

According to Paula, the collection of genetic material for the examination is done with a simple rinse in water with sugar. "It is not invasive for the patient," he explains. She hopes to become a routine, which can lower the cost of the examination, whose value is not defined. Based on these initial results and analysis of other genes, could be developed a kit to identify the higher risk of early loss of implants. "So it may be possible to prevent the planning of individualized therapy."

The work was presented last year in a congress of dentistry sponsored by International Association for Dental Research in Toronto, Canada. Next month, the researchers go to the USA to release it. The research was sponsored by Neodent implant Osteointegrável.

The implantodontista Mario Groisman considered a very interesting discovery and hopes the publication of research in the journal English Clinical Oral Implants Research, one of the most important area. "With a test that provides a predisposition to the problem can develop therapies to control the influence of interleukin, Groisman points. "There are similar studies on the action of bacteria in periodontal inflammatory processes, but is the first time you encounter a work that investigates genetic causes."

FIGURES

20% of Brazilians
have lost all the teeth of the mouth, according to the first National Oral Health Survey, completed in March 2004 by the Ministry of Health

25% to 30% of the population
shows the genetic variation that increases up to 3 times the risk of losing a tooth implant

3.5% of patients
subjected to the technique every year end up losing the implants by problems of integration of titanium to the bone of the mouth

 


Source: Idec

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