Scientists have successfully grown human teeth in a laboratory for the first time. This is according to a new study.
Researchers at King's College London say this breakthrough could lead to the regrowth of lost teeth in patients in the future, offering an alternative to fillings or dental implants.
The team has developed a material that mimics the environment needed for tooth development, allowing cells to send signals and begin to form a tooth, the Independent reported.
Dr Anna Angelova-Volponi, director of regenerative dentistry at King's College London, said the research had the potential to "revolutionise dental care".
The study said some animals such as sharks and elephants have the ability to grow new teeth, but humans only have one set from adulthood.
The ability to regenerate teeth would therefore be a major leap forward in dentistry, the researchers believe.
Unlike implants and fillings, which are fixed and cannot adapt over time, the study describes how a lab-grown tooth made from a patient's own cells can integrate into the jaw and regenerate as a natural tooth.
The research, carried out in collaboration with Imperial College London, has been more than a decade in the making.
"Fillings are not the best solution to restore teeth. Over time, they weaken tooth structure, have a limited lifespan and can lead to further decay or sensitivity. Implants require invasive surgery and a good combination of implants and alveolar bone. Both of these solutions are artificial and do not fully restore the natural function of the tooth, which can lead to long-term complications," said Xuecheng Zhang, a researcher at the Faculty of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.
"Lab-grown teeth would regenerate naturally, integrating into the jaw like real teeth. They would be healthier, longer lasting and without risks of rejection, offering a more durable and biocompatible solution than fillings or implants," the scientist explained.
Previous attempts to recreate this process in the lab failed because the cells could not communicate effectively.
The researchers are now exploring two possible approaches: growing a whole tooth in the lab before implanting it, or placing early-stage tooth cells directly into the patient's jaw where they can continue to develop.
"We have different ideas for placing the teeth in the mouth. We can transplant young tooth cells in place of the missing tooth and let them grow in the mouth. Alternatively, we could create the entire tooth in the lab before placing it in the patient's mouth. With either option, we need to start the tooth development process very early in the lab," Zhang added.
"As the field advances, the integration of such innovative techniques has the potential to revolutionise dental care, offering sustainable and effective solutions for tooth restoration and regeneration," said Dr Angelova Volponi. | BGNES
