Community Social DentistryPediatric Dentistry
In the field of pediatric dentistry, we focus on general dental care in children in order to promote oral health.
In particular, we are in the process of identifying causative genes and understanding the pathogenic mechanism of diseases that cause morphological abnormalities of the teeth. We also work on control of the form and number of teeth in oral cavity through utilization of information gained through research and development of new tooth regeneration technology through application of stem cells (iPS cells).
Also, by using the previously discarded “milk teeth” as a cell source for regenerative medicine, we have developed a less invasive cell preparation method that we are introducing nationwide to help make regenerative dental care a reality. We also strive to improve the quality of dental carry treatment, the main goal of current pediatric dentistry, by developing and utilizing various materials which help in prevention and treatment of the disease. We closely monitor　the current condition of cavities in local children to come up with new approaches to dietary education.
Staff
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Prof. Satoshi Fukumoto,
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Associate Prof. Aya Yamada,
Topics of Research
- Identification and Functional Analysis of Genes Related to Oral Diseases
- Development of Regenerative Medical Technology Utilizing Milk Teeth
- Development of Methods to Induce iPS Cells to Form Enamel or Dentin
- Development of New Dental Materials for Enamel
- Development of Dietary Education Programs for Children
Recent Publications
- Arakaki M, Ishikawa M, Nakamura T, Iwamoto T, Yamada A, Fukumoto E, Saito M, Otsu K, Harada H, Yamada Y, Fukumoto S. Role of epithelial-stem cell interactions during dental cell differentiation. J Biol Chem. 2012 Feb 1. [Epub ahead of print]
- Kamasaki Y, Nakamura T, Yoshizaki K, Iwamoto T, Yamada A, Fukumoto E, Maruya Y, Iwabuchi K, Furukawa K, Fujiwara T, Fukumoto S. Glycosphingolipids regulate ameloblastin expression in dental epithelial cells. J Dent Res. 2012 Jan;91(1):78-83.
- Ishikawa M, Iwamoto T, Nakamura T, Doyle A, Fukumoto S, Yamada Y. J Cell Biol. 2011 Jun 27;193(7):1257-74. Pannexin 3 functions as an ER Ca(2+) channel, hemichannel, and gap junction to promote osteoblast differentiation.
- Iwamoto T, Nakamura T, Doyle A, Ishikawa M, de Vega S, Fukumoto S, Yamada Y. Pannexin 3 regulates intracellular ATP/cAMP levels and promotes chondrocyte differentiation. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jun 11;285(24):18948-58.
- Sonoda A, Iwamoto T, Nakamura T, Fukumoto E, Yoshizaki K, Yamada A, Arakaki M, Harada H, Nonaka K, Nakamura S, Yamada Y, Fukumoto S. Critical role of heparin binding domains of ameloblastin for dental epithelium cell adhesion and ameloblastoma proliferation. J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 2;284(40):27176-84.