Children practice brushing their teeth at a school health education event in Vienna (Austria) December 2023
Unlike reptiles and fish, which replace their teeth in regular cycles, humans and most mammals only have two teething cycles. However, dentist Katsu Takahashi, head of the oral surgery department of Kitano Hospital of the Institute of Medical Research in Osaka (Japan), points out that underneath our gums is hiding a third set of teeth.
The team he led conducted clinical experiments at Kyoto University Hospital in October, observing that a drug could help grow long-hidden tooth roots, in other words. is a teething medicine, according to AFP today, December 13.
Dentist Takahashi affirmed that this is unprecedented technology in the world.
Currently, treatments using artificial teeth to replace teeth that are decayed or broken due to trauma are often expensive and require invasive surgery.
Therefore, promoting teeth growth naturally brings advantages to people, according to Mr. Takahashi.
Tests on mice and ferrets showed that blocking a protein called USAG-1 could “unlock” a third set of teeth, and researchers have published photographs documenting cases of tooth regrowth in animals. objects in the laboratory.
In the latest research phase, the team of experts prioritizes “prompting” tooth growth in patients who have lost 5 or more permanent teeth due to genetics.
An estimated 0.1% of the world’s population is affected by hereditary tooth loss, causing them severe difficulty chewing.
Japanese people with the above condition are often forced to wear masks to cover their incomplete mouths.
Therefore, the new drug, if successfully tested, will provide a “game-changing” solution for those affected.
Researchers aim to bring the drug to market as early as 2030 and prioritize treatment for children.
