Japanese researchers may have developed medicine that can regrow teeth
Japanese researchers claim to have developed a medicine that can stimulate tooth regrowth.
Unlike animals whose teeth grow back regularly, humans lack this ability, transitioning only from baby teeth to permanent teeth.
However, according to Katsu Takahashi, head of oral surgery at the Kitano Hospital Medical Research Institute in Osaka, there is a third set of teeth hidden beneath the gums.
Last October, Katsu Takahashi conducted a test on a patient who took the drug, which stimulates dormant teeth.
Currently, when one or more teeth are lost, they are typically replaced with dentures or implants, a costly procedure.
"Regrowing natural teeth undoubtedly offers significant advantages," the surgeon explained.
In a study published last year, Katsu Takahashi’s team reported that "antibody treatment in mice is effective for tooth regeneration and could represent a breakthrough in treating dental abnormalities in humans."
For now, the drug is reserved for urgent cases, but Katsu Takahashi hopes it can be mass-produced and made widely available by 2030.
(QG - Source: 20 Min CH / Picture: © Pixabay)