Altering tooth eruption by blocking bone resorption--the local delivery of bafilomycin A1.

Tooth eruption is a complicated process requiring a coordination of bone resorption and bone formation by a variety of factors in and around the dental follicle proper and bone resorption is the rate-limiting step early in the process. We have recently described a method to deliver to the crypt of erupting dog premolars a reversible blocker of bone resorption, bafilomycin A1, and shown that its delivery for two week blocks bone resorption and eruption during this period without effect on adjacent teeth or on bone formation. In this study we show that delivery of 10(-6) M bafilomycin A1 via a cannulated osmotic minipump for two weeks early in the eruption of premolars delayed the eruption of these teeth for eight weeks. Similar delivery of the vehicle to the contralateral premolar had no effect on eruption. These data are the first clinical application of this potent drug and show that a short term local delivery is reversible and that blocking resorption for two weeks causes a fourfold delay in tooth eruption. Modifications of this approach may have clinical applications in dentistry.