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National Museum of Dentistry Exhibition

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Discover cutting-edge science that could grow new teeth and treat disease
Posted: June 7, 2007
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENTISTRY FEATURES BIOENGINEERING: MAKING A NEW YOU EXHIBITION
 
Discover cutting-edge science that could grow new teeth and treat disease
 
Humankind has sought to replace lost teeth for thousands of years. Even the ancient Egyptians used gold wire to attach a donor tooth to their own teeth. Can you imagine replacing a missing tooth with a new one grown from your own cells? Today, cutting-edge dental research is being done that could not only revolutionize the way a lost or diseased tooth is treated, but it could offer the key to diagnosing and treating systemic disease. Bioengineering: Making a New You, opening June 16, 2007, at The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, reveals how researchers have taken the first steps to growing new teeth from adult stem cells. Discover how  this emerging science works, what it means for the future of dentistry, and what types of careers could help make it a reality.  
 
Through engaging displays and hands-on experiments that reveal the science behind the breakthroughs, Bioengineering: Making a New You traces the history of tooth replacement from the ancient Egyptians to today; explores how researchers are using adult stem cells (found in the pulp of baby teeth and adult teeth) to begin growing natural teeth replacements; and reveals how genes inserted into the salivary glands could be used to treat systemic disorders like diabetes. 
 
“Bioengineering: Making a New You showcases innovative research that could ultimately change the face of oral health and the treatment of systemic disease,” said NMD Executive Director Rosemary Fetter, “The National Museum of Dentistry is proud to play part in educating the public about these important advances in dentistry that will make a significant impact on our lives in years to come.”
 
The completion of the Human Genome Project has enabled scientists to unlock the secrets of our genetic code, opening the door to unprecedented breakthroughs in science. Researchers have already taken the first steps to separately grow the crowns and roots of teeth from adult stem cells. They are working on growing a complete tooth with the correct size and shape. Researchers are also studying ways to treat oral and systemic diseases using genes. Salivary glands are being studied as an ideal injection site for gene therapeutics.
 
Bioengineering: Making a New You is the latest installment of Your Spitting Image series, the first museum exhibition to focus on the cutting-edge research that is changing the face of dentistry. Developed by The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, this innovative and interactive three-part exhibition includes Saliva: A Remarkable Fluid, Forensics: Solving Mysteries, and Bioengineering: Making a New You. The series explores how emerging science will affect dentistry and overall well-being in the not-so-distant future.
 
NMD is pleased to have the continued involvement of Dr. Christian Stohler, Dean of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery,University of Maryland Dental School, and Dr. Harold Slavkin, Dean of the University of the Southern California School of Dentistry, in an advisory role for the Your Spitting Image project.
 
Special advisors for Bioengineering: Making a New You are Dr. Christopher Fox, Executive Director of the International and American Associations for Dental Research; Dr. Songtao Shi of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, whose research centers on growing roots from dental stem cells; Dr. Malcom Snead of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, the principal investigator of a collaboration to conceptualize a plan to successfully regenerate teeth; and Dr. Pamela Yelick of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, whose research focuses on using stem cells found in shed baby teeth to grow crowns.
 
Support for Your Spitting Image is provided by Patterson Dental Foundation, Drs. Constance P. and Leslie W. Seldin, and Drs. Lawrence E. John and Robert J. Wilson.
 
YOUR SPITTING IMAGE
 
Your Spitting Image is the first museum exhibition to focus on the cutting-edge research that is changing the face of dentistry. Developed by The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, this innovative and interactive three-part exhibition targeted to middle and high school students highlights saliva, forensics, and bioengineering, exploring how emerging science will affect dentistry and overall well-being in the not-so-distant future.
 
Saliva: A Remarkable Fluid
Visitors are taken on an interactive odyssey through their mouths, introducing them to that oft-ignored, but oh-so-essential liquid that protects their teeth, aids in digestion, and improves their sense of taste through the use of experimental and interactive computer activities. Learn what saliva is made of, how it works in the body, and what happens to their oral health and overall health if the salivary glands ever become impaired.   
 
Forensics: Solving Mysteries
Step into the role of a member of a disaster recovery team and learn how to identify victims of a mass disaster. Discover how to identify gender and race from skull structure, create dental charts, and analyze radiographs to make identifications. Then explore how extracted DNA from teeth can identify victims in the absence of medical records.
 
Bioengineering:  Making a New You
From the ancient Egyptians’ use of gold wire to hold replacement teeth in place to the latest experiments in growing crowns and roots from adult stem cells, Bioengineering: Make a New You reveals the history of tooth replacement and what’s in store for the future. Explore how the genetic secrets unlocked by the Human Genome Project and the science of bioengineering are making this exciting research possible, learn how genes introduced through saliva could one day treat disease, and find out more about the specialized careers that could help make this future possible.
 
 
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENTISTRY
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a lively national center where visitors learn the importance of a healthy smile and the rich history of dentistry. Recognized for innovative exhibits and programs that educate the public about the importance of oral health in a healthy life on site, online, and across the country, the museum is designated by Congress as the official museum of the dental profession in the United States.
 
The museum features school tours throughout the year and changing interactive exhibits that communicate the importance of oral health to a healthy life. Its web site offers a wealth of information about the museum,
as well as materials for teachers and activities for children. NMD’s signature online program—www.MouthPower.org—was developed in partnership with the American Dental Association to help children discover the power of a healthy smile. The museum also develops innovative traveling exhibitions that travel across the county, providing the public with engaging information about oral health.
 
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is located at 31 South Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Call (410) 702-0600 or go to www.dentalmuseum.org.
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