People who have lost teeth could grow new ones, according to Japanese dentists who are testing a pioneering drug that could replace dentures in the future.
Children practice brushing their teeth at a school healtheducation event in Vienna, Austria, December 2023.
Unlike reptiles and fish, which replace their teeth on a regular basis, humans and most mammals only grow two sets of teeth. However, dentist Katsu Takahashi, head of the department of oral surgery at the Kitano Hospital of the Institute of Medical Research in Osaka, Japan, points out that our gums hide a third set of teeth.
The team he led conducted clinical trials at Kyoto University Hospital in October, observing a drug that could help grow long-hidden tooth roots, or in other words, teething medicine, according to AFP today, December 13.
Dentist Takahashi asserts that this is an unprecedented technology in the world .
Currently, treatments using artificial teeth to replace decayed or broken teeth due to trauma are often expensive and require invasive surgery.
Therefore, stimulating natural tooth growth offers advantages to humans, according to Mr. Takahashi.
Tests in mice and ferrets showed that blocking a protein called USAG-1 could "unlock" the third set of teeth, and researchers have published images documenting cases of teeth growing back in lab animals.
In the latest research phase, the team of experts prioritized "promoting" tooth growth in patients who had lost five or more permanent teeth due to genetics.
An estimated 0.1% of the world's population is affected by hereditary tooth loss, which causes severe difficulty chewing.
Japanese people with the condition are often forced to wear masks to cover their incomplete mouths.
So the new drug, if successfully tested, could be a "game-changer" for those affected.
Researchers aim to bring the drug to market as early as 2030, prioritizing treatment for children.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhat-ban-thu-nghiem-thuoc-moc-rang-185241213102621305.htm
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