Scientists Successfully Produce Human Tooth in Laboratory for the First Time
Researchers in the UK have achieved the production of a human tooth in a laboratory setting for the first time.
Scientists from King’s College London in the UK have successfully produced a human tooth in a laboratory setting for the first time. This groundbreaking work, conducted in collaboration with Imperial College London for over a decade, opens the door to innovations in dental care by allowing lost teeth to regrow.
SELF-REPAIRING LIKE A NATURAL TOOTH
The research team developed a special material that mimics the necessary signals for tooth development, enabling cells to form a natural tooth. This method could lead to the production of biological teeth that can integrate with the jaw and self-repair like a natural tooth, instead of fixed structures like implants and fillings. Dr. Ana Angelova-Volponi, Director of Regenerative Dentistry at King’s College London, emphasized the potential of the study to “revolutionize dental care.” The research noted that animals like sharks and elephants can grow new teeth throughout their lives, while humans typically only have one set of teeth in adulthood. Therefore, the ability to regenerate teeth is considered a significant advancement in dentistry. Researcher Xuechen Zhang pointed out that fillings weaken teeth over time, while implants require invasive surgery. Zhang highlighted that laboratory-grown natural teeth would be longer-lasting, stronger, and biologically compatible.
WORKING ON TWO DIFFERENT METHODS
Researchers are currently testing two possible approaches: one involves producing the tooth entirely in the laboratory and then placing it in the patient’s jaw, while the other aims to transplant early-stage tooth cells directly into the jaw for them to grow. Dr. Angelova-Volponi stated that the integration of these innovative techniques could revolutionize dental care with sustainable and effective solutions, highlighting the future potential of the technology.
