GC America to fund research on dental materials for aging populations

GC America Inc. has provided a gift for the next three years to create the Kiyoshi Nakao Fund for Aging Population Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

“It is a current-use research fund for helping to support different projects dealing with the aging population and oral health issues,” says Dr. Clark Stanford, distinguished professor and dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

Dr. Mark Heiss, director of regulatory and academic affairs, GC America Inc., says that the fund, “will be used to support research and education in topics such as MI (Minimum Intervention) dentistry, dental material research and collaboration with the objective to enhance oral health to this segment of the population.”

Related reading: A review of COEfect MinuteWipes and MinuteSpray

Named for Mr. Kiyoshi Nakao, a former chairman and president of GC Corporation and grandfather of Makoto Nakao, current chairman of GC Corporation, the fund will immediately assist Dr. Ana Bedran-Russo, associate professor of restorative dentistry, in her research "on ‘smart’ materials that actually self-heal and that can be used for restorations that can help stabilize or regenerate tooth structure,” Dr. Stanford says. He also notes that the interest of the parent company GC Corporation is appropriate because Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world.

“There has been much focus and discussion on the aging population in Japan,” explains Dr. Heiss. “Japan’s aging population has led to programs to promote good oral health in the elderly population. In the U.S. and globally it has been known that there is an oral-systemic health connection.”

Dr. Stanford explains that GC Corporation Chairman Makoto Nakao is committed to helping the aging population. “That can be everything from preventive products to materials to tooth replacement, if needed,” Dr. Stanford notes.

Dr. Heiss notes that Dr. Stanford provided his vision to GC America to provide education, training and research on the subject of the aging population. This led to a win-win proposal for GC America to provide funding to promote this subject matter.

“I have long been fascinated by the remarkable robustness of dentin, which is very dynamic and will mature and modify due to aging and disease,” Dr. Bedran-Russo says. “My specific research interests include multi-functional roles of the dentin extracellular matrix on the strength and stability of dentin and the development of clinically applicable bioinspired strategies to preserve and restore dentin. The Kiyoshi Nakao Fund will provide the financial support needed to advance research into the etiological factors associated with the onset and progression of carious and non-carious cervical lesions with high prevalence in the elderly population."

“When you look at medications that elderly people typically are taking, the number one side-effect is xerostomia (dry mouth) and that leads to an increase in tooth decay, especially as we get older,” Dr. Stanford says. “All materials fatigue, fracture and eventually fail, but can we create materials that can in essence detect that potential failure and self-heal that fracture so it doesn’t propagate to a loss, something that needs to be redone?"

Trending research: Study finds postmenopausal women with gum disease may have increased cancer risk

“We hope to develop new therapies or protocols for the prevention and management of carious and non-carious cervical lesions at the highly susceptible root surfaces and ultimately preserve the natural dentition,” Dr. Bedran-Russo says.

In 2019, GC America will expand its training and research facility in Alsip, IL. “We hope to expand the current collaboration with UIC by providing additional venues for continuing education and dental student material science education,” Dr. Heiss concludes.

From left: Steve Fletcher, president and COO, GC America; Dr. Clark Stanford, distinguished professor and dean, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry; Makoto Nakao, chairman, GC Corporation. Photo courtesy GC America Inc.