It has been a growing phase in the world of Dentistry, where newer methods and ways of replacing the missing teeth by a best replacement have been tried out all the time, but growing a natural tooth again in the same place was something not heard of earlier. The day a new “biotooth” can be grown in the gap left by a missing tooth as an alternative to having a false one implanted came a step closer recently when UK researchers revealed how they have developed a way to bioengineer new teeth from a person’s own gum cells.
Although it would take a lot of time before the procedure would be practically available for the Dental practitioners to perform in their Dental office, the research gives a hope for one of the best replacement options for the missing natural teeth in the mouth. According to Dr. Paul Sharpe, a professor at King’s College London and his colleagues, the implants do not respond to all types of pressure and the lack of a natural root structure would cause slow loss of jaw bone around the implant with the years passing by, but a bioengineered living tooth would preserve the health of the surrounding tissue, and thus there would be no loss of the jaw bone around the natural roots.
Human Gum Cells Realistic Source for Engineering Human Bioteeth
The main aim of the scientists was to culture the cells of the tissues with the mouse embryonic tooth mesenchyme cells. They extracted the gum tissue from the patients at the Dental college, and then transplanted that into the mice and this successfully resulted in the formation of hybrid human-mouse teeth with the various parts like Dentin, Enamel and the Roots.
Sharpe says the study shows that in the lab at least, epithelial cells from adult human tissue are able to respond to the tooth-producing signals from the mouse embryonic tooth mesenchyme cells “in an appropriate way to contribute to tooth crown and root formation and give rise to relevant differentiated cell types”.
“These easily accessible epithelial cells are thus a realistic source for consideration in human biotooth formation,” he concludes.
If this way of tooth replacement comes out of the lab tests into the reality with a possibility of making human-human teeth, then it could be a boon for the coming generations, which can replace the various other conventional methods, although Dental Implants won’t lose its potential in the present Dental world due to the concentration on the particular area of the missing tooth, and not involving the present adjacent teeth.
Source: MNT
This is incredible! Not too long ago, a story broke about Japanese researchers finding stem cells in wisdom teeth that were thought to be capable of also producing teeth.
We’ve come a long way from wooden teeth! Can you imagine if we really could grow new teeth just like that? Hopefully next we’ll figure out how to make more enamel!
A bio-engineered tooth sounds brilliant. The time and cost could be prohibitive. And I doubt it will be viable in my lifetime. But then again, 20 years ago, who knew we would be carrying powerful computers in our pockets as phones?
Thanks for posting, Dr. Chetan! It is truly amazing some of the improvements the Dental community has made over the years.
-Gasper
Nice to come this post. Nice to read this post. This is really good treatment to grow missing teeth.
This is absolutely crazy. It’s so weird how quickly science is overtaking medicine. Just earlier today I was reading a Facebook page about science, and it’s crazy how advanced the techniques are becoming. They can grow ears, and now they can grow teeth. It’s amazing.
Science is getting ridiculous. It’s insane to think that within the near future, we could grow teeth.
Just recently I saw some scientists growing ears with the correct electric implants to make them functional as well. I love science!