Updated August 1, 2024. There are many news articles about a device that can supposedly regrow teeth. Reports started about 18 years ago in 2006. Below is an audio interview with Dr. Tarek El-Bialy, an update from 2014 the summary of which he says at the end is, “With LIPUS there is no way we can create new teeth right now. … It stimulates the root to grow, not the whole tooth. Maybe in the future using stem cells, (assisted by LIPUS) but you have to have to have the specific cells that create dentin, cementum and enamel.”
Broke a Tooth? Grow it Back..
EDMONTON – Long used as a test for pregnant women, ultrasound may soon have a new role — growing teeth.Long used as a test for pregnant women, ultrasound may soon have a new role — growing teeth. The idea originated with Dr. Tarek El-Bialy, an Egyptian-born orthodontist who joined the university’s faculty of dentistry a year ago. El-Bialy has shown in earlier research that ultrasound waves, the high frequency sound waves normally used for diagnostic imaging, help bones heal and tooth material grow.
“I was using ultrasound to stimulate bone formation after lower-jaw lengthening in rabbits,” El-Bialy said in an interview Tuesday. To his surprise, not only did he help heal the rabbits’ jaws after the surgery, but their teeth started to grow as well.
He later did a human study to see if ultrasound could prevent damage to the roots of teeth when people wear braces. Braces force the teeth to move, and that can cause root damage. That study, published in 2004, showed that a tooth getting a daily shot of ultrasound was protected from damage, and in fact had more dental tissue than before …
http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=305b49c4-e413-4bf8-a2de-4fabbc165581
The Edmonton Journal June 28, 2006
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Smile! A New Canadian Tool Can Regrow Teeth Say Inventors
Snaggle-toothed hockey players and sugar lovers may soon rejoice as Canadian scientists said they have created the first device able to re-grow teeth and bones. The researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton filed patents earlier this month in the United States for the tool based on low-intensity pulsed ultrasound technology after testing it on a dozen dental patients in Canada.
“Right now, we plan to use it to fix fractured or diseased teeth, as well as asymmetric jawbones, but it may also help hockey players or children who had their tooth knocked out,” Jie Chen, an engineering professor and nano-circuit design expert, told AFP.
Chen helped create the tiny ultrasound machine that gently massages gums and stimulates tooth growth from the root once inserted into a person’s mouth, mounted on braces or a removable plastic crown. The wireless device, smaller than a pea, must be activated for 20 minutes each day for four months to stimulate growth, he said. It can also stimulate jawbone growth to fix a person’s crooked smile and may eventually allow people to grow taller by stimulating bone growth, Chen said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/28/060628204537.2422eofv.html
28 June 2006—
Dentist, Engineer Team up to Regrow Teeth
CBC News
A tiny ultrasound device could help people regrow teeth, researchers at the University of Alberta say. The prototype device offers a way to reform human dental tissue for the first time, the team said Wednesday. Everyone from hockey players to children who knock out a tooth could benefit. The treatment, called low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, massages the gums to stimulate jaws, encourage growth in the roots of teeth and aid healing in dental tissue.
“If the root is broken, it can now be fixed,” said Dr. Tarak El-Bialy of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. “And because we can regrow the teeth root, a patient could have his own tooth rather than foreign objects in his mouth.”
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/06/28/teeth-grow.html
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EDMONTON – Long used as a test for pregnant women, ultrasound may soon have a new role — growing teeth. A team of University of Alberta researchers is seeking a U.S. patent on a tiny device that will sit inside the mouth and beam ultrasound waves at teeth. The device won’t help Ryan Smyth, the Edmonton Oiler who lost three teeth in the hockey playoffs, but it may prevent tooth damage that can occur from wearing braces. … El-Bialy also has work to do. So far, he has been able to stimulate growth of the inner part of teeth, but not the enamel. That’s why he can’t regrow Ryan Smyth’s teeth. He’s starting new research to try to use ultrasound to repair cracked or broken teeth. The researchers estimate their LIPUS device will be ready for public use within two years.
sruttan@thejournal.canwest.com // © The Edmonton Journal 2006
Susan Ruttan, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Wednesday, June 28, 2006
I have not seen a single tooth re-growing device appear for the public since this article came out. Bring that new tooth grower out for us, it’s time!
Yes, it is possible to repair and even regrow your teeth using a completely natural method that is actually based on science. A team of Alberta researchers applied for a patent that claims they created a miniature device that will stimulate the jaw bones and gums around the affected tooth. Using the low intensity ultrasound technology, they claim they were able to regrow the root of a tooth and stimulate tooth grow and repair.
Although the technology is not going to be in your local dental office for a few years, I believe we don’t have to wait for it and apply the common sense to do the whole process ourselves. First, we need a low frequency ultrasound source and from all the legally (you can’t buy a real ultrasound machine unless you are a doctor) available sources two come to mind.
First is a Novasonic Massager that can generate a sound vibration of 20,000 Hertz. It is not your regular massager and all you have to do is slightly touch the skin and you can feel the sound waves go deep within your body. I have one myself and love using it.
Second device is more sophisticated and you can find them selling on Ebay. The link searches for the Ebay results for “ultrasound massager” and you will see a bunch of them selling from $100 to $150. They are much more powerful then a Novasonic model and can generate up to 3-5 mHz frequency, so be very careful when using one. You should get one that generates only 1-2 mHz, as 3-5 mHz vibrations don’t go very far – about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch deep.
So, what I do is I apply the sound waves from the device to my teeth and gums for a few minutes every day and get a gentle but thorough massage this way.
via How to regrow or repair bad teeth naturally.
I have a tooth I’d like to regrow. Has this worked for anyone? I want to do this so if any doctors know of cancer risks from ultrasounding your tooth roots and jaw, speak up. Or if the people in Alberta have any tips based on their research, let us know. This from Science Daily:
ScienceDaily (June 28, 2006) — Hockey players, rejoice! A team of University of Alberta researchers has created technology to regrow teeth – the first time scientists have been able to reform human dental tissue. … Using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), Dr. Tarak El-Bialy from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Drs. Jie Chen and Ying Tsui from the Faculty of Engineering have created a miniaturized system-on-a-chip that offers a non-invasive and novel way to stimulate jaw growth and dental tissue healing.
“It’s very exciting because we have shown the results and actually have something you can touch and feel that will impact the health of people in Canada and throughout the world,” said Chen, who works out of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the National Institute for Nanotechnology.
The wireless design of the ultrasound transducer means the miniscule device will be able to fit comfortably inside a patient’s mouth while packed in biocompatible materials. The unit will be easily mounted on an orthodontic or “braces” bracket or even a plastic removable crown. The team also designed an energy sensor that will ensure the LIPUS power is reaching the target area of the teeth roots within the bone. TEC Edmonton, the U of A’s exclusive tech transfer service provider, filed the first patent recently in the U.S. Currently, the research team is finishing the system-on-a-chip and hopes to complete the miniaturized device by next year.
“If the root is broken, it can now be fixed,” said El-Bialy. “And because we can regrow the teeth root, a patient could have his own tooth rather than foreign objects in his mouth.” – ScienceDaily
I started writing this many years ago but gave up on regrowing a tooth myself. Dr. El-Bialy said you need a minimum of 20 minutes per day and also mentioned that in his research he’s seen a proliferation of cancer cells, so LIPUS is not recommended for people who had per-existing cancer.
Here is Dr. El-Bialy’s profile including his current work. Here is the patent application for the ultrasound device that can regrow teeth.
Ultrasound works to regrow teeth according to this site which does not seem to have been recently updated:
This is about our eighteen month test of using LIPUS to regrow pulp and dentin at an accelerated rate for mature and senior people. The process invigorates the inside of our teeth for increased healthier tissue. The added growth of dentin bolsters the enamel as it was when you were a younger person. In addition to the above an increase of density in mandible bone and upper tooth support solidifies tooth roots. Our experience shows a solid bite equal to that in our teenage years. The ringing of teeth when biting down hard, which we had forgotten entirely, was back again. Professor Paul Sharpe, Head of the Department of Craniofacial Development, King’s College London stated: “A key medical advantage of this new technology is that a living tooth can preserve the health of the surrounding tissues much better than artificial prosthesis. Teeth are living, and they are able to respond to a person’s bite. They move, and in doing so they maintain the health of the surrounding gums and teeth.”
At the present time our technology is at the stage where regrowing teeth is limited to teeth with live roots. The inner part of the tooth, dentin is alive and in regrowing will expand into its initial, youthful proportions. The dentin thereby puts equal pressure on the Enamel part of the tooth as in the younger person. This naturally recurring rejuvenation has a propensity to expel such parts of the tooth enamel which have previously been broken, which may result in its loss. Our experience is based on our use of this methodology and equipment and is now in its third year. Any person planning to use this Canadian LIPUS technique can inquire with questions to our test section. – hopp , lipus.org
This is an update from 2014, including an audio interview that said they were in clinical trials and the technology should be available in a few years. It sounds like the only use at first will be to keep tooth roots from shortening as they are moved by dental braces.
A few days ago we got a comment by someone calling themselves Pete who linked to an interview given where the Canadian Dr. Tarek El-Bialy was being interviewed on his Ultrasound Device & technology to use to regrow teeth, but stimulating the root of the teeth. … Originally we had written about the technology in a very old post “Teeth Regrowth Using Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound, LIPUS“. The researcher we mentioned in that article was a Dr. Jie Chen, also in Canada who claimed that they could use Ultrasound to not just make bones heal fractures but make people grow taller, which was something that was edited into the Wikipedia article on LIPUS (Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound).
However, the technology of LIPUS on nerve tissue and teeth regeneration is much more promising. As Dr. El-Bialy (Associate Professor of Orthodontics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alberta, Canada) seems to suggest, LIPUS can regenerate damaged nerves and root pulp.
You can download the MP3 of that interview wth Dr. El-Bialy Available Here
(Source)
Dr. El-Bialy says in the audio interview in 2014 that LIPUS can regenerate damaged dentin and they are working on regeneration of pulp as well. It won’t bother a filling, he says, it only works in the roots, the part of the tooth that is inside the bone.
What about regrowing the crown, the hard part of the tooth that we see?!
That’s the big bad claim in 2006 that got everyone interested in this technology. Regrowing teeth does not mean just regrowing roots, it means regrowing whole teeth. Frustratingly, Dr. El-Bialy when asked in the 2014 interview about growing enamel, acts as if he didn’t know where enamel comes from back in 2006.
“The Crown material part is enamel, which is … tough, because once the enamel is … formed … the cells that form the enamel … very hard to regenerate. It’s not like odontoblasts, cementoblasts, exists ever in the teeth … so … it might happen in the future …”
Excuse my annoyance, but damn it. Yeah, we who follow this kind of science knew the origins of tooth enamel back in 2006. There were papers on these cells, ameloblasts, and enamel formation back in 1994. Didn’t Dr. El-Bialy supposedly regrow teeth, whole teeth, in rabbits? Well, if we go back and read closely, the only claim was that he regrew dental tissue, not whole teeth.
Dr. El-Bialy first discovered new dental tissue was being formed after using ultrasound on rabbits. In one study, published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, El Bialy used ultrasound on one rabbit incisor and left the other incisor alone. After seeing the surprising positive results, he moved onto humans and found similar results.
Argh. What did we think, that the ultrasound stimulated cells to make tooth enamel? Actually yes, that’s what we thought, that LIPUS somehow triggered new ameloblasts to make new enamel, as well as odontoblasts to make new dentin.
Ameloblasts are cells which secrete the enamel proteins enamelin and amelogenin which will later mineralize to form enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. (Source)
The formation of tooth enamel takes place before the tooth erupts in a confined extracellular environment between dentin and ameloblast cells (enamel-making cells). A series of physiological and chemical events including gene expression, protein secretion, protein folding and assembly, mineral growth, and protein degradation are involved in making enamel. Because mature enamel post-tooth eruption does not contain cells and does not remodel, synthetic enamel is necessary for enamel regeneration. (Source)
The cells that make enamel are sensitive to the environment, so it did not seem far fetched.
Ameloblasts are sensitive to environmental influences that perturb the requisite processes of amelogenesis. Over 100 environmental stressors can cause enamel defects (Suckling and Pearce, 1984). (Source)
And there was research that odontoblasts can make new dentin.
… Odontoblasts Secrete New Dentin after Superficial Tooth Injury (Source)
As it turns out the phrase “regrowing teeth” used in the media in 2006 should have rightly been “regrowing parts of teeth” not whole teeth. He sees regeneration in the dentin in the roots (the hidden longest parts of the tooth), but in the 2014 interview says he has not seen the regeneration of the dentin move up into the rest of the tooth, perhaps because the crown material may not be a good conductor of the sound to get at the dentin it surrounds. Crums.
Well, it could still repair broken teeth at the roots then, perhaps, by shaking up the structure of the tooth with sound. It makes sense to me that a little physical damage would trigger regrowth, but this is something you’d want the benefit of research in determining what works and what is safe. Here are the technical specs that seem best for regrowing teeth:
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a medical technology, generally using 1.5 MHz frequency pulses, with a pulse width of 200 źs, repeated at 1 kHz, at a spatial average and temporal average intensity of 30 mW/cm2, 20 minutes/day.
Applications of LIPUS include:
- Promoting bone-fracture healing.
- Treating orthodontically induced root resorption.
- Regrow missing teeth.
- Enhancing mandibular growth in children with hemifacial microsomia.
- Promoting healing in various soft tissues such as cartilage, inter vertebral disc.
- Improving muscle healing after laceration injury.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have used LIPUS to gently massage teeth roots and jawbones to cause growth or regrowth, and have grown new teeth in rabbits after lower jaw surgical lengthening (Distraction osteogenesis) (American Journal of Orthodontics, 2002). As of June 2006, a larger device has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada for use by orthopedic surgeons. A smaller device that fits on braces has also been developed but is still in the investigational stage and is not available to the public.
Here’s another site with a LIPUS device described, a bone healing device.
Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) is a medical technology generally using 1.5 MHZ (1.5 million cycles/sec) pulses with a pulse width of 200 μs, repeated at 1 kHz, at an intensity of 30 mw/cm2, 20 minutes/day. The LIPUS treatment characteristics correspond to a device, the Exogen 4000, manufactured by the Smith & Nephew Company, which is FDA approved to treat certain types of bone breaks which are slow to heal. The unit will set you back about $4k if you lack insurance. (Source)
Will a tooth regrowing device ever be available? I hope so, but after over ten years of waiting, I seriously doubt it from LIPUS tecnology. Here is something that looks and sounds more promising:
“A new technique pioneered at the Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Mao, Edward V. Zegarelli Professor of Dental Medicine, and a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University can orchestrate the body’s stem cells to migrate to three-dimensional scaffold that is infused with the growth factor. This can yield an anatomically correct tooth in as soon as nine weeks once implanted in the mouth.” (Dentistry iQ)
That is right. Scientists can help the body grow a new tooth in about two months. Gone will be the days of dentures and painful tooth implants.
(Source)
The work of Dr. Mao and his laboratory, however, holds manifold promise: a more natural process, faster recovery times, and a harnessing of the body’s potential to regrow tissue that will not give out and could ultimately last the patient’s lifetime.
By homing stem cells to a scaffold made of natural materials and integrated in surrounding tissue, there is no need to use harvested stem cell lines, or create a an environment outside of the body (e.g., a Petri dish) where the tooth is grown and then implanted once it has matured.
The tooth instead can be grown “orthotopically,” or in the socket where the tooth will integrate with surrounding tissue in ways that are impossible with hard metals or other materials.
“A key consideration in tooth regeneration is finding a cost-effective approach that can translate into therapies for patients who cannot afford or who aren’t good candidates for dental implants,” Dr. Mao said. “Cell-homing-based tooth regeneration may provide a tangible pathway toward clinical translation.”
This study is published in the Journal of Dental Research, a top journal in the field of dentistry.
The tooth is an organ, a rather complicated one at that. Some organs regenerate naturally if given the right conditions. The human liver is famous in this ability, but heart, kidneys, endometrium, vas deferens, fingers and toes have been observed to do some self-regeneration. Using a technique with a scaffold populated by stem cells, several human organs have been induced to regenerate successfully. These include:
So far, not teeth, however. I still find the idea and promise of regenerative medicine exciting, but there should be strong warnings for researchers against making any claims in the media like “a few years from now” when the truth may well be closer to a few decades or more.
Recap
The year 2023 2024 is here, but we still can’t re-grow complete human teeth.
The regrowth of human teeth involves several innovative technologies and techniques, including stem cell dental implants, laser stimulation, and groundbreaking tooth regrowing drugs.
Stem cell dental implants work towards regrowing missing teeth by inducing the body’s stem cells to build a tooth based on a three-dimensional scaffold, which consists of natural materials[6]. Additionally, lasers have been used to stimulate cells into regrowth, triggering human dental stem cells to help form the hard tissue called dentin[7][8]. Furthermore, researchers in Japan are working on a medication that could allow people to grow a new set of teeth, with a clinical trial slated for July 2024[9].
In summary, the specific technologies and techniques for regrowing human teeth include stem cell dental implants, laser stimulation, and the development of regrowing drugs. These advancements show promising potential for the future of dental care.
Teams of Scientists Are Working to Bring You New Teeth. Any Minute Now! Or Years from now. Or Decades from Now. Definitely someday. Probably.
Here is a research update done August 1 2024. I’ve started trying to get this organized by year of publication. For peer-reviewed journal articles, it is recommended to directly search academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, or specific dental and medical journals.
Search Terms Used
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – “Tooth Regeneration Research”, Science Daily – “Regrowing Teeth: Potential Future Treatment”, Nature.com – “Advances in Dental Stem Cell Research”, American Dental Association – “The Future of Tooth Regeneration”, Journal of Dental Research – “Progress in Tooth Bioengineering”, ScienceDirect – “Tooth Regeneration: Current State and Future Prospects”, Mayo Clinic – “Regenerative Medicine in Dentistry”, Colgate Professional – “Tooth Regeneration: What Dental Professionals Need to Know”, New Scientist – “Tooth regeneration: A future without fillings”, Medical News Today – “Scientists discover new method for regrowing teeth”, Popular Science – “The quest to regrow human teeth”, Dentistry Today – “Advances in Tooth Regeneration Technology”, Scientific American – “Will humans ever regrow teeth?”, The Guardian – “Scientists close to regrowing teeth in humans”, Dental Tribune – “Breakthrough in tooth regeneration research”, Smithsonian Magazine – “The Science Behind Regrowing Human Teeth”, WebMD – “Can We Regrow Teeth? The Future of Dental Care”, Royal Society of Chemistry – “Chemical approaches to tooth regeneration”, Eureka Alert – “Latest developments in tooth regeneration technology”
Chronological Update of Research on Growing New Teeth
2024 – Several news articles discuss the development of a groundbreaking medication in Japan that may allow people to regrow new teeth. The medication is intended for individuals who lack a full set of adult teeth due to congenital factors. Clinical trials for this potential tooth regrowth treatment are set to begin in July 2024, with the aim of making the treatment available for general use by 2030[2][3][4].
2024 – Researchers are exploring the regenerative properties of shark skin teeth and pufferfish beaks to develop safer and more controlled methods of tooth regeneration in humans. [47]
2024 – Japanese Human Trials: Japanese researchers are preparing to initiate human trials for a tooth-regrowing drug. This drug targets the Uterine sensitization–associated gene-1 (USAG-1), which inhibits tooth growth. By suppressing USAG-1, researchers have successfully promoted tooth growth in ferrets and mice. The human trials, starting in September, will involve 30 participants and aim to make the treatment available by 2030 if successful.[42]
2024 – A biotech startup in Japan, Toregem Biopharma, is pioneering tooth regrowth by targeting a type of protein to enable natural tooth formation. The concept of regrowing teeth revolves around an antibody drug developed by Toregem Biopharma, a Kyoto University-affiliated startup. The drug targets a specific protein, known as uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1), which normally stops tooth growth. By deactivating this protein, the drug essentially removes the brake on tooth formation, allowing new teeth to develop naturally. Phase 2 adontia trials are set for 2025.[44]
2023 – Organoids have now been created from stem cells to secrete the proteins that form dental enamel, the substance that protects teeth from damage and decay. Enamel is made during tooth formation by specialized cells called amelobasts. When tooth formation is complete, these cells die off. Using a technique called single-cell combinatorial indexing RNA sequencing (sci-RNA-seq), which reveals which genes are active at different stages of a cell’s development, researchers found cell types could be induced to form small, three-dimensional, multicellular mini-organs, called organoids. These organized themselves into structures similar to those seen in developing human teeth and secreted three essential enamel proteins: ameloblastin, amelogenin and enamelin. They hope to refine the process to make an enamel comparable in durability to that found in natural teeth and develop ways to use this enamel to restore damaged teeth. [17]
2023 – Tissue regeneration instead of root canals: Scientists are testing a novel technology using resolvins, specifically Resolvin E1 (RvE1), to promote dental pulp regeneration rather than performing traditional root canal therapy. This approach aims to regenerate the pulp tissue instead of filling the root canal with inert material.[13]
2023 – Resolvins have been shown to promote dental pulp regeneration. The purpose of this study was to explore further the cellular target of Resolvin E1 (RvE1) therapy in dental pulp regeneration and the impact of RvE1 in infected pulps. … Collectively, topical treatment with RvE1 facilitated dental pulp regenerative properties by promoting Axin2-expressing cell proliferation and differentiation. It also modulated the resolution of inflammation, reduced infection severity, and prevented apical periodontitis, presenting RvE1 as a novel therapeutic for treating endodontic diseases.[14]
2023 – Exploring New Advancements In Dental Stem Cells And Tissue Regeneration. Dental pulp, periodontal ligament, dental follicle, and root apical papilla stem cells are among the several dental sources of stem cells that have shown promise for tissue regeneration and repair. These stem cells are priceless resources in regenerative medicine because of their special abilities, which include the capacity for self-renewal, multipotent differentiation, and immunomodulatory qualities.[19]
2023 – Japanese scientists have developed an antibody-based drug that shows potential for regrowing human teeth. This drug targets the USAG-1 gene, which is involved in tooth development. Clinical trials for this drug are planned to begin in 2025, focusing initially on children with anodontia (congenital absence of teeth)[20][21]
2023 – Researchers at the ADA Forsyth Institute are developing a new dental treatment involving tissue regeneration that aims to replace root canal therapy. Traditional root canals involve removing the infected or inflamed dental pulp, cleaning the canal, and sealing it. However, this procedure can lead to complications such as infection or tooth fracture and does not regenerate the dental pulp.[56]
2023 – At the University of Washington, scientists have made advances in understanding enamel formation at the cellular level. They identified key stages in the development of ameloblasts, the cells responsible for enamel production. Using computer modeling and stem cell techniques, they were able to induce human stem cells to form ameloblasts and create organoids that secrete essential enamel proteins. This research could lead to new ways to repair damaged enamel or even regenerate entire teeth. Abstract: Tooth enamel secreted by ameloblasts (AMs) is the hardest material in the human body, acting as a shield to protect the teeth. However, the enamel is gradually damaged or partially lost in over 90% of adults and cannot be regenerated due to a lack of ameloblasts in erupted teeth. Here, we use single-cell combinatorial indexing RNA sequencing (sci-RNA-seq) to establish a spatiotemporal single-cell census for the developing human tooth and identify regulatory mechanisms controlling the differentiation process of human ameloblasts. We identify key signaling pathways involved between the support cells and ameloblasts during fetal development and recapitulate those findings in human ameloblast in vitro differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). … [54]
2023 – For dental professionals, it’s crucial to stay informed about these advancements as they may significantly impact future treatment options. While the ability to grow entirely new teeth using stem cells is still in the realm of future possibilities, research in this area is progressing.[40]
2023 – Organoids secreting tooth enamel proteins: Scientists have created organoids from stem cells that can secrete proteins forming dental enamel. This is seen as a critical first step towards developing stem cell-based treatments to repair damaged teeth and potentially regenerate lost ones.[17]
2022 – Microrobotic technology for precision dentistry: Researchers have developed microrobots that can be used for precise biofilm diagnostics and treatment in root canal procedures. These microrobots, controlled by magnetic fields, can navigate through the root canal, disrupting biofilms and delivering targeted therapeutics. This technology has the potential to revolutionize endodontic treatments and tissue regeneration.[58]
2022 – Biological dental enamel: Researchers have developed a 3D model using human dental stem cells that can turn into ameloblasts, which produce enamel components. This could potentially lead to using biological enamel as a natural filling material to repair damaged enamel instead of synthetic materials.[15]
2022 – Artificial enamel: Scientists have created an artificial enamel that is reportedly harder and more durable than natural tooth enamel. This new material features crystalline wires coated with zirconium oxide, making it highly resilient and capable of absorbing pressure and shock. While not yet ready for dental applications, this artificial enamel could have potential uses in protecting electronic components and developing earthquake-resistant building materials. Enamel is tricky to mimic because its structure has many nested modes of organization, like wool fibers spun into yarn and then knitted into a cable-knit sweater. Calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen atoms must come together in a complex, repeating pattern to form crystalline wires. Enamel-producing cells assemble a magnesium-rich coating around those wires, which then weave together to form a strong material, which is further organized into structures that resemble bunches and twists. Although the wires in natural enamel feature a magnesium-rich coating, the researchers upgraded to zirconium oxide, which is extremely strong and still nontoxic, Kotov says. The result was a chunk of enamel-like material that could be cut into shapes with a diamond-bladed saw. When they pitted artificial enamel against natural tooth enamel on these tests, they found the lab-grown version outperformed its natural counterpart in six different areas, including its elasticity and ability to absorb vibrations, the team reports today in Science.[59]
2021 – Small blood stem cell implant trial. This phase I study shows that treatment of SB cells for dental implantation is well tolerated with no major adverse effects. The use of SB cells for accelerating the osseointegration in high-risk dental implant patients warrants further phase II studies.[24]
2021 – Antibody therapy: Researchers at Kyoto University and the University of Fukui have discovered that suppressing the USAG-1 gene using its antibody can stimulate tooth growth. This method has shown success in mice and ferrets, potentially offering a new therapeutic approach for congenital tooth agenesis. Although normal adults have 32 teeth, about 1% of the population has more or fewer teeth due to congenital conditions. The morphogenesis of individual teeth depends on the interactions of several molecules including BMP, or bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signaling,” said lead author Katsu Takahashi, a senior lecturer at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. BMP and Wnt are involved in much more than tooth development, the researchers said. They also modulate the growth of multiple organs and tissues well before the human body is even the size of a raisin. Consequently, the researchers said, drugs that directly affect their activity are commonly avoided, since side effects could affect the entire body. Guessing that targeting the factors that antagonize BMP and Wnt specifically in tooth development could be safer, the researchers considered USAG-1. [48]
2021 – Cell homing approaches: Scientists are exploring methods to recruit endogenous stem cells to regenerate dental tissues using specific signaling cues.[35]
Scaffolds and 3D Printing: Some researchers have made progress using three-dimensional scaffolds to guide stem cell development and accelerate tooth regeneration. This approach has shown promise in animal models, with a whole tooth being regrown in about 9 weeks.[22]
2000 – Dental stem cells discovery: In 2000, NIH-supported studies identified dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which have become a crucial focus in tooth regeneration research. This discovery opened up new possibilities for regenerative dentistry.[11][12]
2020 – Synthetic enamel: Engineers have developed an artificial enamel material that mimics the properties of natural tooth enamel, being both strong and slightly elastic. This material could potentially be used to reinforce damaged teeth or create “smart teeth” with embedded sensors.[50]
2019 – Enhancing stem cell activation for tooth repair: A study identified a gene called Dlk1 that enhances stem cell activation and tissue regeneration during tooth healing. This discovery could pave the way for new tooth repair solutions, addressing issues such as tooth decay and trauma treatment.[16][43]
2019 – Fish Taste Buds and Tooth Regeneration: Researchers have drawn inspiration from Lake Malawi cichlids, a type of fish that can regenerate teeth from taste bud tissue. Scientists at King’s College London and Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that the same tissue responsible for developing taste buds can be manipulated to grow dental structures using substances called bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). This process has been successfully tested on mouse tongues, indicating potential for human application in the future.[41]
2019 – Enamel regeneration: Scientists have developed a method to “grow” tooth enamel using tiny clusters of calcium phosphate. This technique could potentially repair damaged enamel, though it currently only produces thin layers. [51]
2019 – article in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports discusses the spatial-temporal control of bioactive drug release for tooth regeneration. The article reviews the research progress on tooth development and the future of tooth regeneration in the context of spatial-temporal release of developmental factors[5].
2018 – Dental stem cells, particularly dental pulp stem cells, have been a focus area. Research has shown that dental stem cells can improve memory and reduce cell death, suggesting potential applications beyond just dental regeneration.[39]
2018 – Stimulating natural tooth regrowth: Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a way to stimulate tooth regrowth in mice by activating stem cells in the tooth pulp. They used drugs to stimulate Wnt signaling, which promoted dentin production and essentially repaired cavities. This technique showed complete repair in most cases, with new and old dentin seamlessly joining.[49]
2017 – Natural tooth repair enhancement: Researchers have found a way to enhance teeth’s natural ability to repair themselves using an Alzheimer’s drug called tideglusib. This method stimulates stem cells in the tooth to produce more dentine, potentially reducing the need for fillings.[52]
2016 – The Journal of Dental Research has published an article titled “Mesenchymal Cell Community Effect in Whole Tooth Bioengineering” which discusses progress in tooth bioengineering. This research, authored by L. Yang and others, explores the role of mesenchymal cells in the development of bioengineered teeth.[34]
2016 – Regenerative dental fillings: Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University developed therapeutic synthetic, light-curable biomaterials that can stimulate native dental stem cells to repair and regenerate dentin. This innovative approach won second prize in the materials category of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition 2016.[57]
2015 – Identification of multiple dental stem cell types: Researchers have isolated stem cells from various dental tissues, including dental pulp, exfoliated deciduous teeth, and periodontal ligament. Regenerative capacity of the dental pulp is well-known and has been recently attributed to function of dental stem cells. Dental stem cells offer a very promising therapeutic approach to restore structural defects and this concept is extensively explored by several researchers, which is evident by the rapidly growing literature in this field. Tissue engineering: Studies have demonstrated the ability to generate cartilage and adipose tissue using stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Teeth are the most natural, noninvasive source of stem cells. Dental stem cells, which are easy, convenient, and affordable to collect, hold promise for a range of very potential therapeutic applications.[18]
2014 – With a simple, low-power laser, Harvard University scientists have triggered naturally occurring dental stem cells to regrow teeth in rats. The work is a step toward developing a new form of dental therapy that could be used in people, but also represents a broader shift in thinking about how to trigger the body’s natural regenerative capacity.[23]
2014 – Dental pulp stem cells are being investigated for their potential in regenerating dental tissues, such as pulp, dentin, and periodontal ligaments[26]
2014 – Mimicking natural tooth development: Many regeneration strategies aim to replicate the natural process of tooth development by providing the necessary cellular and molecular signals. Stem cells are capable of renewing themselves through cell division and have the remarkable ability to differentiate into many different types of cells.
2013 – Bioengineered teeth: Scientists at King’s College London have grown hybrid teeth using a combination of human gum cells and mouse stem cells. While successful in mice, this technique is not yet applicable to humans[53]
2013 – Scientists are also studying animals with unique tooth regeneration abilities, such as alligators, which can regrow up to 4,000 teeth in their lifetime. Understanding the mechanisms behind alligator tooth regeneration could provide insights for human tooth regrowth.[46]
2013 – Humans still possess a remnant of the dental lamina, which sometimes incorrectly activates and forms toothy tumors. Scientists believe that if they can better understand the molecular signaling pathways behind alligator tooth replacement, they may be able to induce similar chemical instructions in humans to form new teeth[55] {Note: The dental lamina is a band of epithelial tissue involved in tooth development, and remnants of this tissue can indeed persist in the human jaw.}
2010 – Previous research on tooth regeneration has been focusing on harvesting stem cells directly on dental implants to improve osseointegration or outside the body where the tooth is grown under laboratory conditions and implanted once it has matured. Mao’s technique, which has been tested on animal-models, is moving the harvesting process directly into the socket where the tooth can be grown ‘orthotopically’. “A key consideration in tooth regeneration is finding a cost-effective approach that can translate into therapies for patients who cannot afford or who aren’t good candidates for dental implants,” Dr Mao told Dental Tribune Asia Pacific. “Our findings represent the first report of regeneration of anatomically shaped tooth-like structures in vivo.”[25]
2010 – A team at Columbia University has developed a growth factor-infused, three-dimensional scaffold that can potentially regenerate an anatomically correct tooth in just nine weeks. This technique directs the body’s own stem cells to colonize the scaffold and grow a new tooth that merges with surrounding tissue.[45]
2006 – To promote regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex, it is necessary to stimulate dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) residing within the pulp to divide and produce “daughter stem cells” destined for pulp regeneration, while remaining in place to maintain the stem cell niche. The newly formed daughter stem cells can then migrate away from the stem cell niche into the defect area and participate in new dental pulp and dentin bridge formation.[36]
2000 – The first adult stem cells isolated from dental tissues were dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)[38]
Citations / More Reading
[1] https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/08/05/a-drug-that-makes-teeth-regrow-scientists-move-closer-to-clinical-trials
[2] https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230609/p2a/00m/0sc/026000c
[3] https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a44786433/humans-have-third-set-teeth/
[4] https://www.sciencealert.com/a-drug-for-regrowing-teeth-could-be-available-within-the-next-decade
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6987083/
[6] https://www.ismile.com/blog/stem-cell-dental-implants
[7] https://leetrevinodental.com/growing-teeth-the-amazing-new-technology-in-dentistry/
[8] https://mexicodental.co/blog/scientists-just-discovered-how-regrow-full-teeth-using-lasers/amp/
[9] https://nypost.com/2023/07/06/groundbreaking-tooth-regrowing-drug-is-in-the-works/
[10] https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/regrowing-teeth
[11] https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6caf/c6e08a4d96ca0182c847a901d9d88a9f4408.pdf
[12] https://newsi8.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DentalStemCells.pdf
[13] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231201123734.htm
[14] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00220345231197156
[15] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421094131.htm
[16] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190809085736.htm
[17] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230814122258.htm
[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367063/
[19] https://newsi8.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RegenWithDentalStemCellsTissue.pdf
[20] https://www.docseducation.com/blog/it-possible-regrow-human-teeth
[21] Ravi, V., Murashima-Suginami, A., Kiso, H., Tokita, Y., Huang, C. L., Bessho, K., Takagi, J., Sugai, M., Tabata, Y. & Takahashi, K. 2023. Advances in tooth agenesis and tooth regeneration. Regenerative Therapy, 22, 160-168.
[22] https://www.iflscience.com/can-scientists-regrow-teeth-yet-68941
[23] https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/science/2014/05/28/laser-light-triggers-stem-cells-regrow-teeth/esb9dQxOWVsQQj27fGdEiP/story.html
[24] https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13287-021-02461-z
[25] https://us.dental-tribune.com/news/columbia-university-announces-break-through-in-tooth-regeneration/
[26] https://newsi8.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DentalPulStemCells2014.pdf
[27] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022034516682001?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.6
[28] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311498701_Mesenchymal_Cell_Community_Effect_in_Whole_Tooth_Bioengineering
[29] https://bme.umich.edu/2017/03/08/u-m-leads-major-new-regenerative-medicine-center-funded-by-nih/
[30] https://news.stonybrook.edu/alumni/nih-funds-bone-regeneration-technology-noninvasive-periodontal-disease-tool/
[31] https://dentistry.uiowa.edu/news/2023/06/iowa-dentistry-researchers-receive-nih-grant-investigate-genetic-causes-tooth
[32] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9931762/
[33] https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2018/quest-understand-dental-stem-cells
[34] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022034516682001?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.6
[35] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9907435/
[36] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16671993/
[37] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2014.00036/full
[38] https://newsi8.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DentalPulStemCells2014.pdf
[39] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323133132_Progress_in_the_use_of_dental_pulp_stem_cells_in_regenerative_medicine
[40] https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-visits/can-dentists-use-stem-cells-to-grow-teeth-exploring-the-future-possibilities
[41] https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/fish-taste-buds-could-teach-humans-to-regrow-teeth
[42] https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a60952102/tooth-regrowth-human-trials-japan/
[43] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190809085736.htm
[44] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/can-we-regrow-our-teeth-japanese-scientists-say-why-not/articleshow/110585725.cms
[45] https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-05/new-technique-uses-bodys-stem-cells-regenerate-teeth/
[46] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1213202110
[47] https://news.clas.ufl.edu/fish-reshape-dentistry/
[48] https://www.dentistrytoday.com/antibody-may-be-able-to-regenerate-missing-teeth/
[49] https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/843923
[50] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/synthetic-enamel-could-make-teeth-stronger-and-smarter/
[51] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aaw9569
[52] https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/09/decline-of-the-dentists-drill-drug-helps-rotten-teeth-regenerate-trial-shows
[53] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022034513481041
[54] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S153458072300360X?via%3Dihub
[55] https://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1213202110
[56] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00220345231197156
[57] https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2016/july/fillings-that-heal-your-teeth.aspx
[58] https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/961347
[59] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj3343
88 comments
Count me in!!!
Around the beginning of the century, I bought an infratonic vibrator machine from the Chi Institute in CA and it did none of the things it was purported to do and they would not refund my money. And this cost me hundreds of dollars, a lot of money for me. It was supposed to even remove scar tissue and help stop dental pain. Is this different from the machines you are mentioning here?
I’ve heard that they do stem cell teeth regrowing. I think in Alberta, Canada.
Could I use a fetal pocket doppler ultrasound to heal my jaw bone and teeth? It is frequency 2 Mhz, transducer 2 crystal narrow beam
The oil pulling can save a teeth lets talk abou a dead teeth can it be saved in any other besisdes rootcanal
The major obstacle is the USA is the dental lobby, the US pig lawyers backing them and not allowing the loss of the dental industry. The US stands in the way of all new medical advances, if their pockets are being filled.
Try powdered horsetail.