New Drug Could Regrow Human Teeth, Testing Soon Underway
This could prove to be a major scientific breakthrough in the world of dentistry. Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind drug that they believe can completely regrow teeth, and will soon start testing it on humans later this year.
Development Of The Tooth-Regrowing Drug
Researchers in Kyoto, Japan began developing the drug in early 2021. It wasn’t until the summer of 2023 that the drug had finally been developed.
In theory, the medicine works by counteracting the molecules responsible for inhibiting bone growth. The researchers saw promising results of the drug in animals that share many of the same mouth molecules as humans, such as dogs, ferrets and mice. The testing revealed promising tooth growth in the animals’ mouths with no noticeable side effects.
In an interview with The Mainichi, the team’s lead researcher Katsu Takahashi explained the importance of such a breakthrough. “We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,” said Takahashi. “While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people’s expectations for tooth growth are high.”
Trial Testing On Humans
With the ongoing success of the animal testing phase, the team of scientists developing the drug are planning to start human testing in September of this year. According to the drug developer’s website (which can be translated to English on Google Chrome), the first phase of human testing will be on young patients who suffer from a congenital tooth deficiency.
If testing continues to prove fruitful, the trials will move on to adults missing up to five teeth due to environmental factors. If it all works out, researchers predict that the drug will be available for mass consumption by 2030.
Long-Term Impact
It’s still relatively early in the development process, but if the results stay positive through human testing, this could majorly impact the world of dentistry and oral care as we know it. The CDC reports that over 25% of Americans age 20-44 have decaying or lost teeth. That percentage is more or less equal across older age ranges as well.
The success of this drug could mean a whole new world of tooth restoration for many across the country and the world at large. Time will tell what the future holds for this groundbreaking dental drug, but as of now it looks like a gift that society can really sink its teeth into.
