Preliminary results of stem cell treatment of periodontal diseases, presented at the International Convention of Dentistry held in Havana, were described by researchers as "very encouraging."

The condition of the tissues that support and protect the tooth (periodontal), most frequent in Cuba and the world, are chronic gingivitis characterized by inflammation of the gums, and periodontitis, a more advanced stage of the same disease, which, besides the inflammation destroys the insertion tissue of the tooth.

Since the beginning of the study 21 patients suffering from moderate to severe stages of this periodontal condition have received stem cell therapy. The first ten who have already completed two years into therapy, have maintained a positive trend and there have been no secondary adverse signs to the treatment, said Dr. Amparo Perez Borrego, second-degree specialist in Periodontics, head of the Dental Teaching Department of the Enrique Cabrera Faculty of Medical Sciences.

She said that all the patients studied showed no clinical signs of gingival inflammation after seven days after surgery, and recovered their natural color (pink-coral) and its characteristic texture, called "orange peel".

"We believe this therapy, initiated in the country as a research project on January 15, 2008, opens paths of hope for the benefits it can bring to patients substantiating its effectiveness," said the researcher.

Granma interviewed Professor Porfirio Hernández Ramírez, national coordinator for Regenerative Medicine, who was optimistic about the results of this application of stem cells in dentistry, in addition to those achieved in the implementation of this therapy in Angiology, primarily on chronic and critical ischemia of the lower limbs, as well as its application in Orthopedics, citing complicated fractures, pseudo-arthritis, bone cysts and necrosis of the hip, with similar results to those reported by the world literature with cells obtained from bone marrow or obtained in the same way as a conventional blood donation.

This new research is being conducted by the William Soler Pediatric Hospital in close collaboration with the Institute of Hematology and Immunology.