If Sharks Can Do It, Why Can’t We? GROWYOUR OWN TEETH
The Idea Behind It Sharks and snakes are constantly losing and regrowing teeth. These two animals first inspired scientists to investigate whether they could develop the technology to replicate this evolutionary benefit for humans. The ability to regrow teeth so quickly after an old one has fallen out or broken off is due to the genetics of these animals. To grow teeth properly, two types of cells are required: epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. One type of cell functions as a messenger to the other, instructing it to form tooth buds. For both cells to function, they must be given the correct mixture of growth hormones and nutrients, and they must be grown on a “scaffold,” an environment that closely mimics embryonic tissue.
Future Possibilities What’s catching the attention of the public is how quick and easy this method could potentially be. Instead of undergoing serious dental surgery, patients would only need a routine operation for the tooth bud to be placed. However, researchers and scientists still face several hurdles. For example, the epithelial cells seem to respond to gum tissue after this kind of surgery, but the mesenchymal cells don’t. Though it’s rumored that human trials will begin in 2019, it’s likely to be some time before this technology becomes common practice. Still, it’s interesting to imagine a future in which growing teeth would be as easy for humans as it is for some of our sharp-toothed animal friends.
The dental industry is teeming with new, exciting technologies that provide more realistic results when it comes to tooth implants. Perhaps the most exciting new development is the ability to grow teeth in a lab. When biology and dentistry combine, the possibilities are endless. HowCanYou GrowTeeth? Scientists have discovered a way to regrow teeth using stem cells taken from the pulp of a healthy adult tooth. The pulp is isolated and coaxed into forming new dentin and eventually a tooth bud, which can then grow into a mature tooth. PamYelick, a professor in the department of orthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and her team have spent years researching this new technology and continue to perfect it. Their goal is to create an implant that is nearly identical to a real tooth in function, feel, and appearance.
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