This new experimental treatment could give people a way to grow back their missing teeth, providing early research on lab animals succeed.
In a study published on February 2021 in the journal Science Advances, scientists at Japan’s University of Fukui and Kyoto University developed a monoclonal antibody treatment that activates the body to grow new teeth. If upcoming experiments prove successful, it could eventually give us a way to regrow teeth lost in adulthood or those missing since childhood due to tooth agenesis, a congenital condition.
The process is quite a challenge. The genes responsible for tooth growth have far-reaching impacts on development throughout the body. Unfortunately, some of the first iterations of the treatment caused congenital disabilities and poor survival rates of the lab mice before the team got all the kinks ironed out.
However, eventually, the researchers discovered that blocking a gene called USAG-1 led to increased activity of BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein). This molecule determines how many teeth will grow, allowing adult mice to regrow any missing teeth. The results were equally promising on ferrets, which the researchers say is significant since their teeth are more human-like than mouse teeth.
Kyoto researcher Katsu Takahashi, the study’s lead author, explained:
Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans. Our next plan is to test the antibodies on other animals such as pigs and dogs.
While the researchers are far from human trials, continued success in these upcoming experiments will be a hopeful sign for a future of a treatment that naturally grows back our missing teeth. The study is the first to bring to light the benefits of monoclonal antibodies on tooth renewal. In addition, it provides a new therapeutic outline for a clinical problem that can only be resolved with implants and other artificial procedures.
For the teeth that we have left in our mouth, it’s vital to take care of them to prevent missing teeth. Enamel is the hard, mineralized substance that surrounds each tooth in your mouth. This protective coating is not made of living cells; so, once it’s gone, your body doesn’t replenish it.
Therefore, it’s crucial to protect, strengthen, and improve enamel – doing so will prevent tooth decay. With this in mind, scientists from the University of Washington developed a lozenge, similar to a breath mint, that could regrow your tooth enamel and strengthen your teeth.
