A new drug that may allow new teeth to grow in humans

Some sharks shed a few new teeth every few weeks. Crocodiles also grow several thousand new teeth during their lifetime. However, the ability to replace an infinite number of teeth has not been seen in humans and mammals. The growth of 32 permanent teeth is the end of this process.

The said clinical trial is supposed to be conducted in July 2024 and the participants are people with tooth agenesis. It is a genetic disorder that leads to the congenital absence of one or more teeth.

Of course, researchers have decided to offer this treatment to the public by 2030.

Katsu Takahashi, the senior author of this study and head of the dental department at Kitano Hospital Medical Research Institute in Osaka, says: The idea of growing a new tooth is the dream of all dentists. I have been working on this project since graduation and I am sure it can be realized one day.

In a previous study, researchers focused on an antibody gene (USAG-1) that can stimulate tooth growth in mice with dental agenesis.

Basically, the researchers found that USAG-1 reacts with proteins that inhibit tooth growth. Stopping this reaction may lead to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling that stimulates new tooth growth.

After testing on mice in 2018, tests were conducted on ferrets and achieved similar success in new tooth growth. These animals had 7 new front teeth, which were similar in shape and size to the rest of their teeth.

Takahashi says: We hope to pave the way for the clinical use of the drug.

For 4 years now, researchers have been trying to find the genetic code that allows animals like sharks to constantly grind their teeth.