The latest work I've seen reactivates the genes to start growing any existing teeth that had stopped. It's for early development problems in children, not for adults. But of course the media seized on the "regrow teeth" part and ran with it. Unless there's a way to implant new teeth seeds and then get them going, adults are still out of luck.
Comment on Why do teeth don't regenerate?
themeatbridge@lemmy.world 2 weeks agoI could be wrong, but I don’t think that’s how the drugs in development work. They cause the existing teeth to produce more enamel or something.
Rhaedas@fedia.io 2 weeks ago
5wim@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
The trial, which will take place at Kyoto University Hospital from September to August 2025, will treat 30 males aged 30-64 who are missing at least one molar.
Slotos@feddit.nl 2 weeks ago
Teeth cannot produce enamel. Enamel is not a living tissue and it was produced by cells outside of the tooth in a coral-like manner. In order to grow a new tooth, you need it to be fully surrounded by specialized living tissue for the whole growth cycle.
PS: I honestly expected something like this to come out of bioelectric computation research, but progress seems slower there. Or rather knowledge and techniques in other fields is reaching critical mass, giving us these advances.
themeatbridge@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Maybe “grow” isn’t the right word, but I was thinking of these lozenges that made headlines a few years ago.
originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 2 weeks ago
you are wrong. all their tests are on subjects missing teeth, not with reduced enamel. this is literally growing replacement teeth.
https://newatlas.com/medical/tooth-regrowing-human-trial/
themeatbridge@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I stand corrected. Thanks!
I was thinking of this:
…washington.edu/trials-begin-on-lozenge-that-rebu…
But your link is far more exciting.
Rhaedas@fedia.io 2 weeks ago
Hopefully that's what it ends up being, as the idea of growing new teeth has been around in science and media for a long time.