The Ability to Regrow Teeth May Be Around the Corner

Yes, folks. 2019 may just be the year that dental technology sees a breakthrough from stem cells filling cavities to the ability to regrow teeth.


 
Welcome to the 21st century! You can regrow dead flowers, a bad haircut, and now, your teeth. 

While there are plenty of natural ways to care for your teeth and gums, cavities and decay affect 91% of Americans. But step aside dental implants and fillings, because soon we will be able to regrow teeth using stem cells and lasers.

Your pearly whites already have the power to heal themselves. But now scientists may be able to harness and control that power to stimulate tooth regeneration.

How Dentists Can Regrow Teeth
Deep within your teeth is a layer of dentin. This is durable tissue that is difficult to repair. Tooth decay and cavities tear away at your dentin.

Currently, the most effective way to repair dentin is by having a qualified dentist perform a filling. Fillings are usually fast and fairly painless.

But this could all change. Scientists have discovered that stem cells deep within your teeth's pulp are strong enough to generate new dentin.

Laser light systems may also have the ability to simulate tooth regeneration in the future. Scientists are still exploring its capabilities.

Stem Cells
The discovery of regrowing teeth actually stems from a new Alzheimer drug called Tideglusib. It triggers stem cells deep within a tooth's pulp, which is where your tooth's nerves and blood vessels are located. Tideglusib activates stem cells to create new dentin, which repairs cavities and tooth decay.

Teeth are always healing themselves naturally, but Tideglusib stimulates stem cells so our pearly whites regenerate at a much faster rate.

Scientists observed how the drug triggered stem cells to redevelop tissue without the need of a dentist. The new cells integrated themselves within the teeth, so there was no risk of them falling out.

Tideglusib has only been tested on rats thus far, but human trials are expected to begin within the year. 

Laser Light
While stem cells are industry leaders in regrowing teeth, researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York have been experimenting with laser tooth regeneration.

Dentists currently use lasers to cut teeth and perform dental procedures. Scientists believe that strong lasers can stimulate tissue within our teeth and spur dentin growth. 

Small doses of light stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are chemically reactive molecules full of oxygen. ROS signals stem cell growth and tissue regeneration.

A laser tooth regeneration procedure could produce dentine and prevent the need for root canals. They could be done using current dental lasers. All dentists would need to do is adjust the wavelength and power settings.

The risk of laser tooth regeneration is high doses of ROS can cause cancer and increase aging. But in low doses, it's completely healthy for our bodies.

The North American Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy is still researching and performing tests to determine if teeth regrowing through laser treatments is a viable and safe option for humans.

Stay in the Loop on New Technology Trends
Thanks to careful research and the power of science, the ability to regrow teeth might be closer than we think. Stem cells and laser treatments show promising results when it comes to tooth regeneration.

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