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NEWS

SCIENTISTS EXTRACT GENETIC SECRETS FROM 4,000-YEAR-OLD TEETH

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have impact human health. The two Bronze Age
recovered remarkably preserved microbiomes teeth produced highly divergent strains of
from two teeth dating back 4,000 years, found Tannerella forsythia, a bacteria implicated
in an Irish limestone cave. Genetic analyses in gum disease. Over the last 750 years, a
of these microbiomes reveal major changes in single lineage of T. forsythia has become
the oral microenvironment from the Bronze dominant worldwide. This is the tell-tale sign
Age to today. The teeth both belonged to the of natural selection, where one strain rises
same male individual and also provided a rapidly in frequency due to some genetic
snapshot of his oral health. advantage it holds over the others. S. mutans
The study, was published in journal has also undergone recent lineage expansions
Molecular Biology and Evolution. The authors balance of the oral biofilm had been upset and changes in gene content related to
identified several bacteria linked to gum -- mutans had outcompeted the other pathogenicity. These coincide with humanity’s
disease and provided the first high-quality streptococci leading to the pre-disease state. mass consumption of sugar.
ancient genome of Streptococcus mutans, the The team also found evidence to support In effect, both these disease-causing
major culprit behind tooth decay. the “disappearing microbiome” hypothesis, bacteria have changed dramatically from the
The researchers also found that other which proposes modern microbiomes are Bronze Age to today, but it appears that very
streptococcal species were virtually absent less diverse than those of our ancestors. This recent cultural transitions in the industrial era
from the tooth. This indicates the natural is cause for concern, as biodiversity loss can have had a major impact.

KKR IN TALKS TO Amritsar-based dentist featured on Shark Tank India

ACQUIRE US DENTAL Dr Bikramjeet Singh who was featured
on a recent episode of Shark Tank
LABS CHAIN LEIXIR India impressed all five ‘sharks’ with his
passion, determination and confidence.
Dr. Singh pitched his dental care
Global investment firm KKR business, Singh Dental Care, with a
is in talks to acquire Leixir vision to provide transparent services to
Dental Laboratory Group from clients. He revealed that many doctors
Comvest Investment Partners struggle to scale their businesses as
at a valuation of $200-$250 they prefer to oversee every patient
million. personally. Dr. Singh shared his plan
Founded in 2013 by Harmeetpal to open 100 clinics across North India.
Singh Bindra and Mangesh Seeking Rs. 1 crore for 5% equity, he
Sholapure, Leixir caters to both valued his company at Rs 20 crore.
independent dentists and dental Dr. Singh currently manages eight
service organisations, as well as clinics in Amritsar and aims to expand
technology and distribution firms. to Mohali, Ludhiana, and eventually
It operates a network of full- the Delhi-NCR region. His goal is
service dental laboratories offering to standardize prices across regions,
products such as crowns and offering more affordable services compared to competitors like Clove.
bridges, implants, surgical guides One of the judges, Vineeta Singh, however, raised concerns about the business’s profitability,
and dentures. highlighting the challenge of achieving payback without hiring consultants. Dr. Singh responded that
The company runs six dental consultants often create conflicts by taking a share of profits and not aligning with the company’s ethos.
laboratories in the US in addition to When asked why dental care is so expensive in cities like Mumbai, Dr. Singh attributed it to demand
a digital design and manufacturing and supply dynamics, explaining that clients insist on being treated by top doctors, leading to higher
facility in Gurugram. fees.
The global dental market is Despite the inspiring pitch, the judges, including Vineeta Singh, Kunal Bahl, Ritesh Agarwal, and
projected to reach $90 billion in Namita Thapar decided not to invest, citing concerns about the scalability and profitability of the
the next decade, as per reports, business. However, Anupam Mittal encouraged Dr. Singh to focus on expanding in two cities and
which valued the market size at achieving Rs 2 crore revenue per cluster per year to gain clarity on his model’s potential. Though Dr.
about $50 billion as of 2023. Singh left without a deal, he won the hearts of all five judges.

78 Dental Practice I March-April 2025 I Vol 21 No 2