Scientists Develop Lab-Grown Teeth as Future Alternative to Dental Implants

Losing a tooth is challenging, isn’t it?

When we lose the tiny structures that let us chew, we must rely on other options such as expensive dentures or implants. Above all that, there’s the social stigma that comes with losing teeth. Most people also feel embarrassed about tooth loss. ^[1]

Today, losing a tooth means relying on titanium implants or dentures. But scientists are working on a breakthrough; poorly aligned implants can transmit uneven forces to the jawbone during biting, which can cause damage to the underlying structures. Bacteria can also accumulate on the implant, sometimes leading to peri-implantitis, an inflammatory reaction around the implants that can later lead to bone loss.

Pamela Yelick and Weibo Zhang from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston have successfully grown a mix of pig and human tooth cells inside pig tooth fragments, creating bioengineered structures that look like real human teeth. ^[1]

Pamela Yelick, the lead researcher and a professor at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, noted that pigs are unique because they can grow five or six sets of teeth over their lives. The researchers worked with six two-year-old mini pigs, extracting specific teeth to implant bioengineered tooth structures. They chose mini pigs because their jaw size and anatomy are comparable to those of humans.

After monitoring the pigs for two and four months, they found evidence of successful tooth growth in approximately 50% of the cases.

Yelick highlights that the research aims to understand pig tooth growth and then adapt it for humans. This could lead to better dental repair and replacement methods, resulting in teeth that are stronger and last longer.

They claim that these bioengineered teeth exhibit key properties of natural teeth that are missing in titanium implants. Yelick admits that the teeth they’ve created aren’t perfectly formed yet, but she remains hopeful. She believes that one day they’ll be able to develop a fully functional, natural tooth replacement for people who need it.

According to researchers, these tooth-shaped designs are a step forward in developing lab-made alternatives to traditional dental implants.

References:

1. "In Vivo Bioengineered Tooth Formation Using Decellularized Tooth Bud Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds." Stem Cells Translational Medicine, December 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/stcltm/szae076.

2. Technology Review. "Humanlike Teeth Grown in Mini Pigs." MIT Technology Review, February 6, 2025. https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/06/1111178/humanlike-teeth-grown-in-mini-pigs/.

‌(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr.Noureen/NC)