In the future, if you lose a tooth, it might be possible to regenerate it with a natural structure grown in a laboratory. Scientists are already working on transplanting a real, biological tooth into the mouth instead of artificial material. Such a tooth would fully integrate with its environment and be a better fit for the person.
The research, published in ACS Macro Letters, describes how British and American scientists created an innovative hydrogel. This biomaterial brings together dissociated tooth cells and reforms them into a single, living structure.
Experiments revealed that in the right environment, embryonic cells exchange information and form a miniature, tooth-like “organoid.” This viable structure could be used in the future to restore lost teeth. According to the scientists, lab-grown teeth may eventually completely replace implants, filling empty sockets with living tissue. The hydrogels are currently being tested on animals, with human clinical trials being the next step.
Specialists hope that soon, losing a tooth will no longer be a problem. This will be achieved by a biological structure that functions similarly to the body’s natural regeneration process.
Reference:
Zhang, X., Contessi Negrini, N., Correia, R., Sharpe, P. T., Celiz, A. D., & Volponi, A. A. (2024). Generating Tooth Organoids Using Defined Bioorthogonally Cross-Linked Hydrogels. ACS Macro Letters, 13(7), 1620–1626.
