For the first time, scientists have grown human teeth in a lab in a scene straight out of a science fiction movie.
This groundbreaking achievement could pave the way for patients to regrow their teeth in the future and potentially replace fillings and dental implants.
To achieve this breakthrough, King’s College London researchers developed a material that mimics the conditions promoting tooth development. This environment enabled cells to deliver signals that drove tooth formation.
According to Dr. Ana Angelova-Volponi, director of regenerative dentistry at King’s College London, the research could “revolutionise dental care.”
The advancement could also provide advantages over implants and fillings, which cannot adapt over time. However, a lab-grown tooth using a patient’s own cells could theoretically integrate into one’s jaw and even repair itself like a real tooth.
“Fillings aren’t the best solution for repairing teeth. Over time, they will weaken tooth structure, have a limited lifespan, and can lead to further decay or sensitivity,” said Xuechen Zhang, researcher at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, per Independent.
Zhang also pointed to the invasive surgery that implants require and the fact that neither of the artificial solutions ever gives patients back full tooth function, which could result in complications over time.
“Lab-grown teeth would naturally regenerate, integrating into the jaw as real teeth. They would be stronger, longer lasting, and free from rejection risks, offering a more durable and biologically compatible solution than fillings or implants.”
The next step for the researchers is to determine which method of tooth growth is optimal. Zhang says they could potentially grow an entire tooth in a lab before transferring it to a patient’s mouth. Alternatively, they could try transplanting young tooth cells to the patient first, letting them grow and form directly inside their mouth.