Kids get cavities. Dentists fill them. It's a fairly old arrangement, but it may soon come to an end if cavities go the way of smallpox. Jeffrey Hillman's company, Oragenics, has patented a simple swab of bacteria that when wiped across a set of teeth will (allegedly) grant a lifetime of protection from tooth decay. By this fall, Hillman, a dental researcher at the University of Florida, will begin testing the new strain on 15 to 30 volunteers.
If I read the PopSci articles correctly, Oragenics has proven everything that needs to be proven already. To my way of thinking, the FDA is delaying the Oragenics solution as much as possible to delay as long as possible the event of Oragenics going to market. Too much money is at stake. I REALLY hope that Dr Hillman is successful! This would be a GREAT advance! John Duffy
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