This week, I’ve been delving into an exciting advancement in dental science—lab-grown, bioengineered teeth. These aren’t your average artificial teeth, but rather, they’re made from a mix of human and pig tooth cells, cultivated within the jaws of living mini pigs.
These bioengineered toothlike structures could soon provide an alternative to traditional dental implants, offering a potential breakthrough in tooth replacement. According to Pamela Yelick of Tufts University, one of the lead researchers, the goal is to create fully functional replacement teeth that could replace titanium implants, which are commonly used today.
Current dental implants work well but don’t quite replicate the functionality of natural teeth. They don’t bond with bones and gums the way real teeth do, and around 20% of implant recipients experience peri-implantitis, an infection that can result in bone loss. This is due to the complex community of microbes that reside in our mouths, which, when disrupted, can lead to infection.
The oral microbiome, first identified by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1670, plays a vital role in this process. Using a homemade microscope, van Leeuwenhoek noticed “animalcules” in his mouth, which we now recognize as various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses. The oral microbiome is home to hundreds of bacterial species, all of which interact with each other and with our immune systems in complex ways.
These microbes can either promote or inhibit the growth of other species depending on their diet and metabolic products. Disruptions in this delicate balance, known as “dysbiosis,” can lead to a range of oral diseases, including tooth decay and oral cancers. But the consequences of an imbalanced oral microbiome may extend far beyond the mouth.
Research has linked oral bacteria to several systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Of particular concern is the growing evidence of a connection between oral microbes and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. A bacterium, P. gingivalis, which contributes to chronic periodontitis, has been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Studies suggest that individuals infected with P. gingivalis may also experience cognitive decline over time.
Scientists are still investigating how these microbes travel from the mouth to other parts of the body. Some may be swallowed, traveling through the digestive tract to reach the heart and other organs, while others may hitch a ride on immune cells, traveling through the bloodstream as part of the “Trojan horse hypothesis.” One bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, is believed to do this by hiding within white blood cells.
Despite the challenges, the emerging links between oral health and overall well-being serve as a reminder of the importance of good oral hygiene. While we wait for lab-grown teeth to become a reality, the health of our natural teeth and their microbial ecosystem remains a crucial aspect of our overall health.
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