Scientists at King’s College London have grown human teeth in the laboratory for the first time. This discovery could lead to patients being able to regrow missing teeth in the future. informs Independent.
The research, which lasted more than ten years, was carried out in collaboration with Imperial College London. A team of scientists has created a material that reproduces the conditions necessary for tooth development. This allows the cells to interact with each other and start the process of forming a new tooth.
Dr. Ana Angelova-Volponi, head of regenerative dentistry at King’s College London, said the research has the potential to “revolutionize dental care.”
The paper points out that some animals, including sharks and elephants, are able to grow new teeth throughout their lives, while humans only have one permanent set as adults. According to scientists, the emergence of the possibility of tooth regeneration will be a breakthrough for the entire field of dentistry.
Unlike traditional implants and fillings, which remain fixed and cannot adapt to changes in the oral cavity, the research involves a tooth grown in a laboratory from the patient’s own cells. Such a tooth is able to be embedded in the jaw and function like a natural one – with the property of restoration.
