Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the “+” to the right of each question to display the answer.

What does “Zero3® TBA” stand for?

Zero3® TBA stands for 3rd molar tooth bud ablation, the 60–90 second microsurgical treatment that TriAgenics® is developing to predictably block wisdom tooth formation in children generally age 6 to 12.

Is Zero3® TBA available for human use?

TriAgenics® is working to obtain FDA clearance for its Zero3 TBA product. Following FDA clearance, TriAgenics will enter the market.

What is the difference between a wisdom tooth and 3rd molar?

Nothing. These names refer to the same teeth! Dentists refer to wisdom teeth as 3rd molars because they are the 3rd and last permanent molars to form. First permanent molars (aka “6-year molars”) and 2nd permanent molars (aka “12-year molars”) form and erupt through the gums before wisdom teeth.

How does the Zero3® TBA treatment work?

The Zero3® TBA treatment is designed to block wisdom tooth formation by gently warming 3rd molar tooth bud tissue from the center of the tooth bud outward in a highly controlled fashion. In multiple animal trials, this gentle warming prevented the tooth bud from forming a tooth.

Does Zero3® TBA technology work?

TriAgenics® has worked hard to assure that all aspects of the Zero3® TBA procedure works predictably. In multiple animal trials, Zero3® TBA technology has demonstrated 100% success at clinically inducing complete molar agenesis.

Is there any residual scarring or long-term adverse side effects following Zero3® TBA?

Based on animal studies, we believe there will be no scaring or adverse side effects following Zero3® TBA treatment. During multiple animal trials, there was no visual evidence of the treatment just days after the procedure. Ablated tooth buds were no longer detectable on x-rays in just 4 weeks, because bone quickly grew into the treatment area.

Will dentists recommend Zero3® TBA over conventional wisdom tooth management approaches?

Based on market research, we expect dentists will strongly recommend Zero3® TBA over conventional wisdom tooth surgical extraction. Dentists know there are significant surgical risks and long-term adverse side effects associated with the prophylactic extraction of wisdom teeth in adolescents. Dentists also know that nearly all of those who do not have their wisdom teeth prophylactically extracted as adolescents will have a wide range of serious disease and complications as they age. Dentists have clearly stated that they want a better treatment option for their patients.

Will Zero3® TBA be less expensive than conventional management of wisdom teeth?

While we don’t have control over the price dentists charge, we expect the cost for Zero3® treatment will be approximately the same or less than conventional wisdom tooth extraction by an oral surgeon.

Prophylactic extraction often leads to losses in productivity for both parents and their kids. The monitor-and-treat approach to wisdom teeth care can result in days of missed work or school, in addition to unanticipated dental costs.

Recovery time following prophylactic wisdom tooth extraction is generally 3–5 days for adolescents. As a result, parents often miss work to nurse their children back to health. This loss of productivity costs U.S. families millions each year.

If adult wisdom teeth removal is recommended because active disease is present, this can make treatment significantly more expensive, and it often involves recovery times of 5–7 days.

Older patients who choose to retain their wisdom teeth often incur unanticipated dental costs through their lives because of these teeth. Wisdom teeth cause damage to adjacent teeth, gum disease, and other pathology, which all drive up costs and eventually lead to extraction to resolve chronic disease.

How fast is the Zero3® TBA treatment?

Zero3® TBA treatment is a two-appointment process. At the first appointment, dentists obtain dental impressions and x-rays. This takes about 10–15 minutes. At the second appointment (approximately 2 weeks later), patients receive Zero3® TBA treatment. At that time, patients are anesthetized just as they would be for the placement of a small, one-surface filling. Once the patient’s gum tissue is numb, the entire procedure takes just 60–90 seconds (based upon extensive animal testing). The dentist places a patient-specific surgical guide, triggers the 1-minute tooth bud warming process, and treatment is complete. Animal testing shows Zero3® TBA treatment to be much faster than placing a small, 1-surface filling in a child. For more information click 3TBA Treatment

Do wisdom teeth form in everyone?

While 75% of the population will form all 4 wisdom teeth, approximately 7% do not form a single wisdom tooth. We call those patients lucky dogs! Natural absence of wisdom tooth buds is largely hereditary and cannot be conclusively determined until age 14. Research shows that those who do not form wisdom teeth enjoy better oral health through their lives. The goal of Zero3® TBA is to provide all people with this same improved health profile.

What are post-operative recovery times like for Zero3® TBA compared to conventional surgical extraction?

Based on multiple Zero3® TBA animal trials, we expect there will be no recovery time following 3TBA treatment. The treatment is designed to be as non-invasive as placing a 1-surface filling. Several days following bilateral 3TBA in multiple animal studies, there was no trace that the procedure was ever performed. No evidence of the procedure was observable just days following treatment in multiple animal studies.

In sharp contrast, recovery from impacted wisdom teeth extractions is generally 3–5 days for teens and 5–7 days for adults because of the invasive nature of this surgery.

What does gum healing look like for 3TBA compared to conventional surgical extraction?

Based on extensive animal trials, 3TBA involves just a small puncture that causes no significant bleeding, gum tissue damage or need for stitches. As a result, there is no evidence of the 3TBA procedure just days following treatment.

In contrast, conventional surgical extraction is highly invasive. It creates a significant hole in the bone that is exposed to the oral cavity, resulting in extensive gum tissue damage and the need for stitches. Healing generally takes 4–6 weeks. If extensive bone removal is required to complete the surgical extraction, full healing can take up to 6 months at each extraction site.

What is the age when wisdom tooth buds are first identified for 3TBA treatment?

Wisdom tooth (aka 3rd molar) buds are the only tooth buds that start formation after birth. Tooth bud formation generally starts as early as age 4 or 5 and can be first identified between the ages of 6–12. The natural absence of wisdom tooth buds cannot be ruled out until age 14.

What screening is required for 3TBA?

It is normal for dentists to begin screening adolescents around age 14 for wisdom teeth development and to make a preliminary determination as to whether these teeth have the potential to erupt normally. In contrast, screening for 3TBA will require dentists to begin looking for wisdom tooth bud formation starting at age 6. There are new screening technologies, such as x-ray-free, ultra-sound imaging for dental use and ultra-low-dose x-rays, that will make routine screening for 3rd molar tooth buds safe for children.

Why is it so common for dentists to recommend removal of wisdom teeth in adolescents?

It is well known throughout the dental profession that wisdom teeth cause lots of trouble once they have completely formed. These teeth have a long-term disease rate requiring future treatment of nearly 99%! They are the most likely teeth to:

become impacted, fail to erupt normally and become acutely infected
become decayed
have gum disease form around their roots
form cysts and other pathology that require invasive surgical intervention
adversely affect the adjacent teeth which requires extraction of both 2nd molars and wisdom teeth.

Because of the predictably high rate of long-term pathology and likelihood of significant treatment costs later in life, dentists recommend early removal of wisdom teeth. Extraction is considered to be a safer and lower-cost alternative to waiting for wisdom teeth problems to develop. We expect Zero3® TBA to be even safer than prophylactic extraction or the “monitor-and-treat” approach. To appreciate the wide range of problems wisdom teeth routinely cause, click Wisdom Teeth Extraction Risks to see just how damaging these teeth can be!

What are the risks of having wisdom teeth prophylactically removed in adolescents?

Unfortunately, there are significant risks associated with surgically extracting wisdom teeth, and these risks increase dramatically with age. As a general rule, when wisdom teeth are prophylactically removed in adolescents the extraction procedure is less invasive, the surgical sites heal faster, and there are significantly fewer long-term adverse side effects compared to later-stage extraction in adults.

Zero3® TBA is a preventive-care treatment designed for an earlier stage in children’s lives — generally ages 6 to 12. Because of this, virtually all significant surgical risks and long-term adverse side effects are expected to be eliminated.

To learn more about the wide range of risks and adverse side effects possible when surgically extracting wisdom teeth, click
Wisdom Teeth Extraction Risks

What happens when wisdom teeth are allowed to fully form instead of being prophylactically removed early in life?

become impacted
fail to erupt normally and become acutely infected
become decayed
have gum disease form around their roots
form cysts and other pathology that require invasive surgical intervention
adversely affect the adjacent teeth which requires extraction of both 2nd molars and wisdom teeth.

Because of the high rate of long-term problems and likelihood of higher treatment costs later in life, dentists recommend early removal of wisdom teeth. Extraction is considered to be the safe and low-cost alternative to the “monitor-and-treat” method of wisdom teeth care. Based on animal trial data, we expect Zero3® TBA will be even safer than prophylactic extraction or treating wisdom teeth problems later in life. To appreciate the wide range of problems wisdom teeth routinely cause, click Wisdom Teeth Extraction Risks to see just how damaging these teeth can be!