A medicine to grow new teeth is set to enter clinical trials in July next year after being developed in Japan.
Following the clinical trials, the research team plans to have the medicine ready for general use in 2030.
If successful, they believe the tooth regrowth medicine could be a ‘game changer’ for dentistry.
The medicine will allow people to grow new teeth and is intended for those missing a full set of permanent teeth due to congenital reasons. For example, the medicine is aimed at children aged two to six with anodontia, a congenital condition that causes the complete absence of teeth.
The research team are working to get the drug ready for human use once they have confirmed it is safe and doesn’t cause harm.
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‘Every dentist’s dream’
Katsu Takahashi is lead researcher and head of the dentistry and oral surgery department at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, Japan. He said: ‘The idea of growing new teeth is every dentist’s dream.
‘I’ve been working on this since I was a graduate student. I was confident I’d be able to make it happen.’
He also added: ‘In any case, we’re hoping to see a time when tooth regrowth medicine is a third choice alongside dentures and implants.’
Click here to read more about the development of the medicine.
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