A groundbreaking medication is currently being developed by a team of Japanese researchers that could potentially allow humans to regrow lost teeth, revolutionizing dental care[2][4]. The research team, led by Katsu Takahashi, head of the dentistry and oral surgery department at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, Japan, has been working on this project since around 2005[2]. The clinical trial for this medication is slated for July 2024, with the goal of making it available for public use by 2030[2][11].
The innovative medicine aims to treat people who don’t have a full set of adult teeth due to congenital factors[2]. The research began with gene studies on mice, where Takahashi and his team discovered that a particular gene affected the growth of their teeth[2]. By turning off the gene that codes for the production of a protein called USAG-1, mice were able to freely regrow their teeth[3]. The researchers believe that humans possess dormant “buds” for a third set of teeth, and that they can be prompted to develop this third-generation dentition[4].
The new treatment being developed in Japan could allow people to regrow their lost teeth, similar to how children sprout new teeth after their milk teeth fall out[3]. This “third-generation” tooth regeneration therapy could potentially replace the need for dentures and implants, offering a more natural and effective solution for tooth loss[2][3].
The research team is optimistic about the potential of this medication, with Takahashi stating, “The idea of growing new teeth is every dentist’s dream. I’ve been working on this since I was a graduate student. I was confident I’d be able to make it happen”[4]. If the clinical trials are successful, this groundbreaking tooth regrowth medicine could change the landscape of dental care and provide a new, more effective solution for those suffering from tooth loss.
In addition to the Japanese research, other studies have shown promising results in regrowing teeth using stem cells. For example, scientists have grown tooth pulp in dogs, which could potentially lead to preventing tooth loss or regrowing teeth lost to decay or accidents in humans[6]. However, this research is still in its early stages, and it may be years or even decades before these breakthroughs can be applied to human teeth[6].
Citations:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26545754/
[2] https://nypost.com/2023/07/06/groundbreaking-tooth-regrowing-drug-is-in-the-works/
[3] https://www.iflscience.com/tooth-regrowing-drug-therapy-set-for-human-clinical-trials-next-year-69685
[4] https://www.revyuh.com/news/science-and-research/scientific-research/regenerative-dentistry-breakthrough-japanese-researchers-find-a-new-way-to-re-grow-teeth/
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/tooth-regeneration
[6] https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/regrowing-teeth
[7] https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/research-news/2021-03-31
[8] https://news.yahoo.com/japanese-scientists-discover-way-help-232858270.html
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_regeneration
[10] https://www.iflscience.com/can-scientists-regrow-teeth-yet-68941
[11] https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/tooth-problems-you-will-soon-be-able-to-regrow-your-teeth-japanese-scientists-run-clinical-trials-article-101536765
[12] https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/new-treatment-makes-teeth-grow-back/ar-AA1bq6bl
[13] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/ten.tec.2022.0022
[14] https://www.ismile.com/blog/stem-cell-dental-implants
[15] https://www.romak.co.uk/japanese-scientists-regrow-teeth/
[16] https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/700751
[17] https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/11/4031
[18] https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-visits/can-dentists-use-stem-cells-to-grow-teeth-exploring-the-future-possibilities
[19] https://www.yahoo.com/video/japanese-scientists-discover-way-help-232858270.html
[20] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/odi.12703
[21] https://www.trucaredentistry.com/blog/is-it-possible-to-regrow-natural-teeth-with-medicines-or-oral-hygiene-products/
[22] https://futurism.com/neoscope/treatment-makes-teeth-grow-back
[23] https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/periodontal-disease-guided-tissue-regeneration-gtr
[24] https://smile2impress.com/us/blog/regrow-teeth
[25] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-teeth-mice/japanese-scientists-grow-teeth-from-single-cells-idUSN1834654020070220
[26] https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/advances-in-tooth-regeneration-techniques-2161-1122.1000e105.pdf
[27] https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230609/p2a/00m/0sc/026000c
[28] https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12270313/Miracle-tooth-REGROWING-drug-begin-human-trials-year.html
