Lab-grown teeth for alternative natural, self-repairing dental treatment
Photo from King’s College London
Scientists at King’s College London (KCL) are developing a groundbreaking method to regenerate human teeth using a patient’s own cells.
Unlike traditional restorations, which are artificial and often degrade over time, lab-grown teeth have the potential to integrate with the jawbone and function like natural teeth. This approach could eliminate many long-term complications associated with current dental treatments, such as structural weakening, limited lifespan, or invasive surgical procedures.
The team, led by KCL’s Director of regenerative dentistry, Dr Ana Angelova-Volponi. and Xuechen Zhang from the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, in collaboration with Imperial College London, engineered a material that mimics the body’s natural cellular environment, allowing cells to communicate and trigger the tooth formation process gradually, thus mirroring how teeth grow in the body.
Progressing from earlier unsuccessful attempts where cell signaling was poorly timed, the new method ensures that signals are released in stages, allowing for controlled development of tooth cells.
Researchers are now working on ways to translate this lab success into clinical use. Potential strategies include transplanting developing tooth cells directly into the mouth or growing full teeth in the lab for later implantation.
Source: KCL
