GabyAttempts to grow human teeth in the lab have been underway worldwide for decades. Recently, a team of British researchers announced a breakthrough in this field.
Researchers believe their success growing teeth in laboratory conditions could offer an alternative to fillings and implants.
What did the scientists report?
The research, conducted jointly by scientists from King’s College London and Imperial College London, took more than ten years.
The team developed a material that mimics the environment needed for tooth formation and growth.
Dr. Ana Angelova-Volponi, director of the Department of Regenerative Dentistry at King’s College London, said the research could “revolutionize dental care.”
In their report, the researchers pointed out that some animals, such as sharks and elephants, can regrow new teeth, while humans have only one permanent set. So the ability to regenerate teeth would be a major advance for dentistry.
The team described how a tooth grown in the lab from a patient’s own cells could be implanted into the jaw and would integrate and restore itself like a natural tooth.
Dr. Angelova-Volponi added, “We have developed an environment using new materials that will allow cells to communicate effectively with each other and form teeth.”
Syuichen Zhang, a research fellow at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, said, “Fillings are not the best solution for restoring teeth. Over time, they weaken the tooth structure, have a limited lifespan, and can lead to further decay or sensitivity. Implants require invasive surgery and good integration with the alveolar bone. Both solutions are artificial and do not fully restore the natural function of teeth, which can lead to long-term complications.”
He added that lab-grown teeth would naturally regenerate, integrate into the jaw like real teeth, and would be stronger, more durable, and less likely to be rejected.
Previous attempts to replicate this process in the lab were unsuccessful because the cells did not interact effectively.
The team is now exploring two possible approaches: growing an entire tooth in the lab before implantation, or placing early-stage tooth cells directly into a patient’s jaw so they can continue developing there.
