Scientists have successfully developed teeth in a laboratory that they say they could pave the way for patients to get lost teeth in the future.
Researchers at King’s College London say the discovery could offer an alternative to fills or dental implants.
The group developed a material that mimics the environment required for the growth of the teeth, allowing cells to send signals and begin to form a tooth.
Dr. Ana Angelova-Volponi, director of regenerative dentistry at King’s College London, said the research has the opportunity to “revolutionize dental care”.
The study says that some animals such as sharks and elephants have the ability to cultivate new teeth, but people only have one set of adulthood.
The ability to regenerate the teeth would therefore be a major leap forward for dentistry, the researchers suggest.
Unlike implants and fillings, which are stable and cannot be adapted over time, the study describes how a laboratory tooth from a patient’s cells could be incorporated into the jaw and repaired as a natural tooth.
Research, in collaboration with Imperial College London, has been over a decade in production.
Dr. Angelova-Volponi added: “We have developed an environment using new materials that will allow cells to communicate effectively with each other and start forming teeth on a plate.
“This environment can be better adapted to promote the process of making teeth. With it, we may be a step closer to the cultivation of human teeth in a laboratory in the near future.”
Xuechen Zhang, a researcher at the School of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, said: “fills are not the best solution for tooth repair.
“Implants require invasive surgery and a good combination of implants and cellular bones. Both solutions are artificial and do not fully restore the physical function of the teeth, possibly leading to long -term complications.
“Laboratory teeth will naturally be regenerated, incorporating into the jaw as real teeth, would be stronger, longer and free from dangers of rejection, offering a more durable and biologically compatible solution than fillings or implants.”
Previous efforts to rebuild this process in the laboratory failed, as cells were unable to communicate effectively.
Researchers are now investigating two possible approaches: cultivating an entire tooth in the laboratory before implantation or by placing early stage teeth cells directly in the patient’s jaw where they could continue to develop.
Mr. Zhang added: “We have different ideas to put the teeth in the mouth.
“Alternatively, we could create the whole tooth in the laboratory before placing it in the patient’s mouth. For both options, we must start the very early tooth development process in the laboratory.”
Dr. Angelova Volponi added: “As the field evolves, the integration of such innovative techniques has the ability to revolutionize dental care, offering sustainable and effective solutions to repair and regenerate tooth.”
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