It can be frightening to lose your teeth as an adult. However, it is something that many people have to deal with. Around 25% of adults lose their teeth before the age of 74. Although dental implants are a great option, they can also cause discomfort as they don’t adjust to the body over time. A new technique may allow people to get new teeth in as little as nine weeks by using their adult stem cells.
Fatmasnow is always looking for breakthroughs in science and health that could help us one day.
Columbia University Medical Center in New York hopes to be able to use stem cells from patients to create anatomically correct teeth. The new tooth can be pulled out of a patient’s socket and will grow with the surrounding gum tissue. Although they have already demonstrated the ability to grow teeth, it has not been proven in humans.
The Journal of Dental Research reports that the experiment was conducted using 22 rats. The growth factors were placed in the mouths of the rats. New bone material was regenerated and integrated within nine weeks. Researchers claim that this is the first time teeth-like structures can regenerate in a living being.
The new treatment could have many benefits if it proves to be successful in humans. The tooth is grown in its socket, where it will remain. This means that there is no need to extract stem cells from outside or create an environment outside for them to grow. This will make it more affordable for patients who cannot afford dental implants. The tooth will also grow right inside the mouth, so there will be less recovery time. Also, it is less likely that teeth will fail.
Dental implants are currently the best option to replace missing teeth. Implants can be painful and take a long time to heal. They also don’t adapt well to older mouths which could lead to the implant failing. This new technology could be a reality very soon, however. Columbia University already has patent applications filed for this technology. They are also exploring commercialization options.
Are you positive that this new method will help a lot more people? Are you optimistic that this technology will be available soon? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.
