Future of dentistry: Japanese scientists develop drug to regrow teeth

The story of a drug that can produce astonishing results by enabling teeth to regrow sounds like a fantasy. However, Japanese scientists believe it could soon become a reality. Researchers from Kyoto University Hospital and the University of Fukui are working on the drug.

The drug, which could be revolutionary in the dental industry, might be available by 2030. However, one crucial element remains before the testing phase is complete - trials on humans.

They discovered that an antibody for one gene - the uterine sensitization associated gene-1 or USAG-1 gene - can stimulate tooth growth in mice suffering from tooth agenesis, a congenital disease. An article on this subject was published in Science Advances.

The Japanese scientists were inspired by the dental anomalies that occasionally occur in nature. Sometimes, people are born with extra teeth or experience a sudden growth of unexpected teeth. The Japanese researchers studied the genetic causes of cases involving too many teeth.

According to Katsu Takahashi, one of the study's lead authors and a senior lecturer at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Medicine, the fundamental molecules responsible for tooth development have been identified. Several of these molecules modulate the growth of various organs and tissues during foetal development.

"Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans ... antibodies on other animals such as pigs and dogs," explains Takahashi.

The intravenous drug, meant to stimulate tooth regrowth, will now undergo another crucial testing phase. It's possible that the first research group, composed of 30 men aged 30 to 64 who have lost at least one molar, will start treatment later this year.

Source: science.org