Regenerative & Autologous Dentistry

Our team at Zircon Medical recently hosted Dr. Waldmeyer, a surgeon specializing in regenerative dentistry, on our podcast series to discuss the value of implementing autologous materials in dental practices.

Introducing Dr. Waldmeyer, an oral surgeon specializing in regenerative dentistry

Dr. Manuel Waldmeyer is a specialist in oral surgery and implantology. He is a board member of DDS Germany and founded Zahnarztpraxis Dr. Waldmeyer in Kassel in 2018. He is also the founder of a continuing education platform named Dentalekt, where he offers DVT specialist courses for dentists. He recently published a book project on the concepts of regenerative dentistry, where each co-author contributed new techniques and methods, such as using the extracted tooth to generate new bone and soft tissues.

Bone regeneration using extracted teeth

Dr. Waldmeyer says his favorite regenerative technique explored in the book comes from Professor Bindermann, who developed a technique to stimulate bone regeneration using extracted teeth. The method of using extracted teeth to stimulate bone growth has actually been around since the 1960s, but the practical application has only become available in the European market for the past five or six years. When the tooth comes into contact with the alveolar bone — the dentin and alveolar bone are chemically similar — the osteoclast bindsto the surface of the dentin to stimulate new bone growth.

Dr. Waldmeyer says an extracted tooth continues to be seen as a biological waste, even though the best materials for bone growth are those produced by the body. But the extracted tooth can’t simply be broken down and placed at the alveolar bone site. Instead, the tooth has to be cleaned thoroughly and then particulated in a step-by-step process, following which it can be applied on the socket. The procedure can be performed using any teeth, including teeth that have been pre-treated with a root canal.

However, dentists must be aware of the history of the tooth. A tooth treated with Toxafit isn’t suitable for this procedure because the chemicals and toxins can’t be removed completely. This procedure is safe because the tooth undergoes a sterilization process to make it at least 99.96 % sterile. That’s why teeth shouldn’t be thrown away — they should instead be preserved as biological materials. Extracted teeth can be used for numerous purposes, including fillings, treating periodontal defects, sinus lifts, ridge preservation, and other applications.

However, while extracted teeth can be used for numerous applications, dentists should still practice caution. Extracted teeth work like all particulate materials, but it’s important not to overstrain the biology or overuse the product.

The expectation of biological solutions from patients

Dr. Waldmeyer says using autologous materials for regenerative dentistry falls in line with growing patient expectations for increasingly biocompatible solutions. When patients are asked if they want synthetic materials from cows or cattle, which may still have embryo residual risk or their body’s own material, they almost always prefer autologous materials. In a world where patients increasingly demand holistic solutions to their health, autologous solutions should definitely be offered more readily.

Dr. Waldmeyer encourages patients and clinicians to not throw away teeth — they’re not biological waste. The teeth should be saved because they can be used later in life, no matter when the tooth is removed.

CBCT training courses with Dentalekt

Dr. Waldmeyer has founded a dental continuing education platform called Dentalekt, which aims to offer training courses to dentists in Germany. Dr. Fuhrmann, the former head of dental radiology in Hamburg, used to run training courses that he eventually decided to stop offering three years ago. Dr. Waldmeyer had done the courses and realized that he would like to implement his own concepts into those courses to mold them into his vision.

When Dr. Fuhrmann left, Dr. Waldmeyer started offering the courses and steered the program in a new direction. He registered the courses in Hesse, after which between 150 and 200 colleagues enrolled in the DVT courses annually. They offer two separate CBCT specialist courses in Hamburg and in Hesse. Until last year, they offered online courses, but from January onwards, one course may take place in attendance and the other in hybrid as an online course.

Dr. Waldmeyer believes performing implants without a guide is like turning off the sat nav in cars. You may have planned the route, but the moment you turn the ignition, it’s just you and the car — no guidance. Similarly, implants can also be placed without templates or guidance. But if you implement guides , you can dramatically reduce the operating theater time and ensure optimal precision.

You can complete a single implant with an internal lift between 15 and 20 minutes with complete accuracy. Some dentists believe using CBCT adds to the treatment time, which might be true, but it dramatically reduces chairtime, eventually improving the patient experience. Furthermore, since the treatments are faster and more accurate, dentists can see more patients simultaneously, boosting productivity and efficiency.

If you want to join Dr. Waldmeyer’s courses, you can go through the list of courses in Dentalekt. You can also follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube, or listen to him on the latest episode of the Zircon Medical Podcast.