It looks like scientists have found a way for humans to possibly regenerate their teeth long after they grow out of believing in the Tooth Fairy. A new study has revealed that it might be possible to grow multiple teeth from a sole root — meaning that it might be possible for humans to regrow fully functional teeth.
Published on Dec. 17 in the scientific journal Nature, scientists at Tokyo Medical and Dental University and the Riken Center for Developmental Biology detailed their process and findings, which stated that their "tooth regenerative technology [is] based on split tooth germs and the re-regionalization of the tooth-forming field by artificial mechanical force."
In layman's terms, this means that their conclusion relies on manipulating the function of a "tooth germ" (or a tiny plumule located in the root that transmits info via protein signals, which clue in cells to group and form into teeth), paired with a little human intervention.
For their experiment, the researchers extracted these tooth germs from mice and split them using a simple nylon thread to control exactly how the teeth regenerated. The scientists were able to correctly regrow these split germs into a collection of healthy teeth "through the re-regionalization of the tooth-forming field, which is regulated by reaction-diffusion waves in response to mechanical force."
Another catch? To be fully functional, a given regenerated tooth had to be able to develop a tooth germ all on its own — which they were able to do if the initial germ was vivisected at 14.5 days of development.
While the team's successful results have only been derived from animal testing, their findings are still a hopeful step for humans, in an effort that might revolutionize the dental industry and medical field as we know it.
Via: Gizmodo
Photo: CircaSassy | Flickr
