Regrowing teeth might be possible

[jtr1962]

I've long thought how great it would be if there were a way to stimulate a new tooth to grow to replace a damaged one. No more expensive root canals, crowns, implants, etc. No more sitting through hours of torture in the dentist's chair. Turns out it might actually be possible:

Humans Have a Third Set of Teeth. New Medicine May Help Them Grow.

• A 2021 study out of Japan showed how targeting genes can regrow teeth in animals. Now, the team has turned to a human clinical trial.
• By targeting the USAG-1 gene, researchers believe that they can help people without a full set of teeth regrow teeth.
• The team says that humans have a third set of teeth available as buds, ready to grow as needed.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Interesting. I wonder if it's possible to target an individual missing tooth, or if it's going to be an all-or-nothing situation where an entire new set of teeth will replace the old ones like children's teeth.

 

[jtr1962]

Sounds like it can be used for individual teeth. We'll know for sure around 2030 when it's supposedly going to be available.

 

[ampdude]

I have a chipped tooth, and I've been reading into this for over fifteen years, since they've been talking about it for even longer. I haven't seen anything that has some substance to it in all that time. Just "research". I'm sure it will eventually happen, but I don't hold out hope in the near future. We'll see I guess. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[jtr1962]

I have 3 molars on top that lost their fillings during the pandemic and pretty much crumbled. I'm probably looking at $5K to $10K which I don't have just for that. Can't really do multiple dental appointments anyway so long as my mother is alive. All I can do for now is try to keep everything clean so I don't get an infection.

 

[ampdude]

I have 3 molars on top that lost their fillings during the pandemic and pretty much crumbled. I'm probably looking at $5K to $10K which I don't have just for that. Can't really do multiple dental appointments anyway so long as my mother is alive. All I can do for now is try to keep everything clean so I don't get an infection.

Yea, that's kinda all you can do I guess. I have some fillings from the mid-90's in my molars that have still held up. Aside from my chipped tooth, I also have a bit of a hole in the back of one of my fronts. I think it came from accidentally banging a glass against it over a year ago. One of these days I need to go in too. So far I don't have any dead or totally missing teeth, so that's good.

 

[jtr1962]

So far I don't have any dead or totally missing teeth, so that's good.

29 out of 32 teeth still in my mouth in various forms. Some without any fillings, others with root canals and crowns. Two of the missing teeth are wisdom teeth. The other is a molar which was replaced with a bridge (the adjacent teeth needed crowns anyway, so no good teeth were compromised for the bridge).

Unfortunately I have a penchant for sweets, or I might have needed less work over the years.

 

[Monocrom]

If it were possible, every single dental insurance company would lobby Congress to ban whatever procedure is involved in making it happen. Along with buying out or intimidating anyone who patented the process. Most likely the former, and then simply burying the process involved away from human eyes for the rest of eternity.

 

[jtr1962]

If it were possible, every single dental insurance company would lobby Congress to ban whatever procedure is involved in making it happen. Along with buying out or intimidating anyone who patented the process. Most likely the former, and then simply burying the process involved away from human eyes for the rest of eternity.

It may well be true but a well-meaning individual could just post the secrets of something they invented online. Once it's out there, there's no putting it back. I know I'd do that. I'm an idealist at heart. If I came out with something world-changing, I'd let the world have it for free. I don't need to become a billionaire. I'm sure I'm far from the only one who thinks this way.

Along the same lines some say a cure for cancer exists but it's being kept under wraps because cancer is big business.

I'm dubious though for one reason. Every other first world country except the US has single payer health care. If you have government paying for health care, it's in government's interest to find cheap cures, or better yet preventions, as it means lower taxes to fund the health care system. There would be no incentive to keep cancer cures, or the ability to regrow teeth, under wraps.

That said, I recall in the EV1 era that the AMA came out against electric cars because they would reduce cancer rates. I don't know if that's still their official position now. I doubt it. It would be a public relations disaster in this day and age.

 

[ampdude]

If it were possible, every single dental insurance company would lobby Congress to ban whatever procedure is involved in making it happen. Along with buying out or intimidating anyone who patented the process. Most likely the former, and then simply burying the process involved away from human eyes for the rest of eternity.

That's basically what I thought about the whole situation. I know people whose dental implants have caused them a lot of pain.

 

[ampdude]

It may well be true but a well-meaning individual could just post the secrets of something they invented online.

Not a lot of people out there are like that and also want an early death.

 

[ghostguy6]

I have a chipped tooth, and I've been reading into this for over fifteen years, since they've been talking about it for even longer. I haven't seen anything that has some substance to it in all that time. Just "research". I'm sure it will eventually happen, but I don't hold out hope in the near future. We'll see I guess. Hope I'm wrong.

That's how scientific research works. You come up with an idea that is plausible, you get a research grant then you claim it was much more complicated to acquire the tools needed to test your theory. You get a second grant. Then you claim you need more time because of a lack of qualified personnel. You get a third grant to hire new people. You come up with another excuse but this time you produce some promising results to entice another grant then you restart the process over and over again. Eventually the investors are so heavily invested into the project they have no choice but to finish out the project. Its the same way construction contractors bid on jobs then extend the project over years.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

Teeth and fingernails were designed to regenerate. Fingernails continually. Teeth only once. 😁