Tooth regeneration
{{Short description|Bioengineering technique to regenerate teeth}}
File:Orthopantomogram̠ showing supernumerary teeth.jpg
Tooth regeneration is a stem cell based regenerative medicine procedure in the field of tissue engineering and stem cell biology to replace damaged or lost teeth by regrowing them from autologous stem cells.{{cite journal |last1=Otsu |first1=Keishi |last2=Kumakami-Sakano |first2=Mika |last3=Fujiwara |first3=Naoki |last4=Kikuchi |first4=Kazuko |last5=Keller |first5=Laetitia |last6=Lesot |first6=Hervé |last7=Harada |first7=Hidemitsu |title=Stem cell sources for tooth regeneration: current status and future prospects |journal=Frontiers in Physiology |date=2014 |volume=5 |page=36 |doi=10.3389/fphys.2014.00036 |pmid=24550845 |doi-access=free |pmc=3912331 }}
As a source of the new bioengineered teeth, somatic stem cells are collected and reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells which can be placed in the dental lamina directly or placed in a reabsorbable biopolymer{{cite book |doi=10.1385/1-59259-428-X:1 |chapter=Processing of Resorbable Poly-α-Hydroxy Acids for Use as Tissue-Engineering Scaffolds |title=Biopolymer Methods in Tissue Engineering |date=2003 |last1=Kellomäki |first1=Minna |last2=Törmälä |first2=Pertti |volume=238 |pages=1–10 |isbn=978-1-59259-428-3 }} in the shape of the new tooth.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=David J. |title=Toothless No More - Researchers Using Stem Cells to Grow New Teeth |url=https://singularityhub.com/2012/05/10/toothless-no-more-researchers-using-stem-cells-to-grow-new-teeth/ |work=Singularity Hub |date=10 May 2012 }}
History
Young et al first demonstrated in 2002 that teeth could be regenerated from cells.{{cite journal |last1=Young |first1=C.S. |last2=Terada |first2=S. |last3=Vacanti |first3=J.P. |last4=Honda |first4=M. |last5=Bartlett |first5=J.D. |last6=Yelick |first6=P.C. |title=Tissue Engineering of Complex Tooth Structures on Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds |journal=Journal of Dental Research |date=October 2002 |volume=81 |issue=10 |pages=695–700 |doi=10.1177/154405910208101008 |pmid=12351668 }}
The first clinical trial on tooth regeneration started in 2023 in Japan, for a medicine stimulating tooth regrowth by inhibition of USAG-1.{{cite web |date=12 June 2023 |title=World's 1st 'tooth regrowth' medicine moves toward clinical trials in Japan. |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230609/p2a/00m/0sc/026000c |work=Mainichi}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Murashima-Suginami A, Kiso H, Tokita Y, Mihara E, Nambu Y, Uozumi R, Tabata Y, Bessho K, Takagi J, Sugai M, Takahashi K |date=February 2021 |title=Anti-USAG-1 therapy for tooth regeneration through enhanced BMP signaling |journal=Science Advances |volume=7 |issue=7 |pages= |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abf1798 |pmc=7880588 |pmid=33579703}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Ravi V, Murashima-Suginami A, Kiso H, Tokita Y, Huang CL, Bessho K, Takagi J, Sugai M, Tabata Y, Takahashi K |date=March 2023 |title=Advances in tooth agenesis and tooth regeneration |journal=Regenerative Therapy |volume=22 |issue= |pages=160–168 |doi=10.1016/j.reth.2023.01.004 |pmc=9931762 |pmid=36819612}}
In April 2025, researchers in the UK successfully grew human teeth in a lab, offering a potential alternative to dental implants and fillings.{{cite news |title=Scientists grow human teeth in a lab, and it may change dentistry forever |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/scientists-grow-human-teeth-in-a-lab-and-it-may-change-dentistry-forever/articleshow/120289432.cms |work=The Times of India |date=April 15, 2025 |access-date=April 23, 2025}}
Challenges
The majority of stem cell studies have stopped at the stage of animal studies and have not proceeded to clinical trials due to numerous safety and ethical concerns. The potential risks of undesired tissue formation, tumourigenesis, and metastasis have not yet been resolved.{{cite journal |last1=Thalakiriyawa |first1=Dineshi Sewvandi |last2=Dissanayaka |first2=Waruna Lakmal |title=Advances in Regenerative Dentistry Approaches: An Update |journal=International Dental Journal |date=February 2024 |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=25–34 |doi=10.1016/j.identj.2023.07.008 |pmid=37541918 |pmc=10829373 }}