Missing A Tooth? Scientists Develop New Drug that Regrows Teeth
If you’re one of the millions of people who have a gaping space in your gums where a tooth used to be, there’s reason to hope you might not have to spend the rest of your days with an uneven smile or fake teeth.
Scientists in Japan have announced that they are moving forward with a drug that is capable of regrowing human teeth, Popular Mechanics reports.
The drug works by suppressing an antibody called uterine sensitization–associated gene-1 (USAG-1). In ferrets and mice, this protein is shown to inhibit the growth of teeth, according to Dentistry Today.
In a press release, Dr. Katsu Takahashi, a lead author of a study from Kyoto University and the University of Fukui, said, "We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough.”
He adds, "Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans.”
An article from Dentistry Today reports that researchers found that the “USAG-1 protein could limit the growth of teeth in mice.” And that suppressing the protein would “potentially invite their teeth to grow.”
Trials conducted on mice were successful.
Even more exciting, Dentistry Today reports, is that Takahashi’s previous research shows that humans have a third row of teeth in their mouths. Those teeth are available as buds, and Takahashi believes they can be activated.
The human trial for regrowing teeth is expected to last about 11 months, according to Popular Mechanics.
Originally, it will consist of 30 men between the ages of 30 and 64. A qualification is that they each must be missing a tooth, an article in New Atlas reports.
The article also states that if the trial is proven safe and effective, plans are to open the trial to patients between the ages of 2 to 7, who are missing at least four teeth.
Researchers hope to have the drug available by the year 2030, Popular Mechanics states.
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