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For a child, losing a tooth often means a visit from the tooth fairy, coins under the pillow, and a brand-new tooth growing in its place. A loose tooth becomes a celebration of growing up and a means of building joyful childhood memories.
This is not the case for adults who have missing or lost teeth. Japanese scientists, according to Popular Mechanics, are pioneering a treatment that could allow people of all ages to regrow teeth.
Searching for an Antibody
There are several biological compounds associated with tooth development in mammals. One of these molecules is called BMP or bone morphogenetic protein. Another is USAG-1 or uterine-sensitization associate gene-1. The interaction between these two compounds disrupts tooth growth.
A press release from Kyoto University explained how scientists leveraged this natural biochemical interaction to find a cure for lost and missing teeth. The team didn’t want to target BMP’s efficacy, because it plays an important role in developing other critical tissues and organs in the body. Instead, they focused their efforts on finding a way to disrupt the interaction between BMP and the less-influential compound USAG-1.
After much trial and error, the scientists discovered an antibody that suppressed USAG-1 without affecting other critical biochemical components.
Katsu Takahashi, a lead scientist on the project said in the press release that his team didn’t know whether suppressing USAG-1 would be sufficient to facilitate tooth regrowth. “We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough.”
However, the team was pleased to discover that, when tested on rodents who were missing teeth from birth, a single dose of the antibody could spur the growth of an entire tooth.
Clinical Trials
The next step, The Mainichi reported, was to test the drug on people. The team enrolled 30 adults with congenital tooth deficiencies, including those with oligodontia, a condition characterized by lacking six or more teeth.
Once this phase is completed, the team plans to trial theantibody on children, ages two to seven, who are missing teeth from birth. Both phases are expected to be completed by 2030, at which point, if the treatment is shown to be safe and effective it can be approved for use within the general population.
Although the clinical trials currently focus on people with congenital tooth deficiencies, the team is optimistic that this drug may also be able to help regrow teeth lost to injuries or cavities.
Takahashi told The Mainichi that, “We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence. While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people's expectations for tooth growth are high.”
If successful, this breakthrough could change dentistry forever. One day, losing a tooth might not mean a trip to the dentist for an implant, but rather the chance to grow a brand-new tooth.
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