The potential for regenerating natural teeth has been a growing area of research in recent years. While no method is yet available to regrow lost or damaged teeth, scientific advancements suggest that this may be achievable in the future. In this review, we examine the latest studies on tooth regrowth and explore how and when it could become a reality.
The World Health Organization reports that 7% of people aged 20 and older experience complete tooth loss, with the figure rising to 23% among those over 60. In the UK, approximately 5% of adults over 16 have no natural teeth remaining. At present, common solutions for tooth loss include dental implants, bridges, and dentures, all of which offer artificial replacements rather than promoting natural tooth regeneration.
Despite the lack of available methods for regrowing teeth, several studies have investigated various techniques to regenerate or replace damaged teeth. These studies have explored the use of RNA, stem cells, and mineral regeneration as potential approaches to stimulate tooth repair.
One promising breakthrough came in July 2023 from researchers at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, Japan. The team announced the development of a new medicine aimed at stimulating tooth regrowth. This medication uses RNA to administer antibodies against a molecule known as USAG-1, which inhibits proteins that promote bone growth. The medicine, which took eight years to develop, shows promise in encouraging tooth regeneration.
The research, led by Katsu Takahashi, head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at Kitano Hospital, is grounded in the idea that humans originally grew a third set of teeth after the milk and adult dentition phases. Over time, this ability was lost, but humans still retain ‘buds’ from which these teeth could develop. USAG-1 plays a role in preventing the formation of these tooth germs into full teeth by regulating the number of teeth adults develop. By suppressing USAG-1, researchers believe they can stimulate the growth of new teeth from these vestigial buds.
While these findings represent an exciting step forward, it will take further research to determine when tooth regrowth will become a viable treatment for tooth loss. However, the potential for natural tooth regeneration offers hope for those who have lost their teeth and are seeking a more permanent, biological solution.
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