New research shows that scientists have grown human teeth in the lab for the first time.
Researchers at King’s College London say the breakthrough could allow patients to regrow future lost teeth and provide alternatives to fillings and dental implants.
The team has developed materials that mimic the environment needed for tooth development and allow cells to send signals to begin forming teeth.
Dr. Ana Angelva Volponi, director of Regenerative Dentistry at King’s College London, said the study could “revolutionize dental care.”
The study states that while some animals, such as sharks and elephants, have the ability to raise new teeth, humans have only one set since adulthood.
Therefore, researchers suggest that the ability to regenerate teeth will be a major leap for dentistry.
Unlike implants and fillings that are fixed and cannot be adapted over time, this study outlines how lab-grown teeth, made from the patients’ own cells, can be integrated into the jaw and repair themselves like natural teeth.
This research has been conducted for over a decade in collaboration with Imperial College London.
Xuechen Zhang, a researcher in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at the Faculty of Dentistry, said, “Fillings are not the best solution for repairing teeth. Over time, they can weaken the structure of teeth, limit their lifespan, and lead to further collapse or sensitivity.
“Implants require an invasive surgery and a good combination of implants and alveolar bodies. Both solutions are artificial and do not fully restore natural tooth function, which can potentially lead to long-term complications.
“Teeth grown in the lab naturally regenerates and integrates into the jaw as real teeth. They provide a solution that is stronger, longer lasting, no risk of rejection, and more durable and biologically compatible than fillings and implants.”
Previous efforts to replicate this process in the lab failed because the cells were unable to communicate effectively.
Researchers are currently investigating two possible approaches. Before growing the entire teeth in the lab, stepped tooth cells can be placed directly into the patient’s jaw, where development can continue.
Zhang added: “There are various ideas for placing teeth in the mouth. We were able to implant young tooth cells in the missing tooth position and grow them in the mouth.
“Or alternatively, you can create an entire tooth in the lab before it is put into the patient’s mouth. For both options, you need to start a very quick dental development process in the lab.”
Dr. Angelova Volponi added: “As the field progresses, the integration of such innovative technologies has the potential to revolutionize dental care and provides sustainable and effective solutions for dental repair and regeneration.”
