Key points from article :
Scientists at King’s College London, with help from Imperial College, are developing lab-grown teeth. They aim to replace fillings and implants with natural, living teeth that can repair themselves. This research could help adults grow new teeth using their own cells, much like sharks and elephants do.
The team discovered how to create a special environment where cells can “talk” to each other. This step is crucial because proper communication helps cells turn into tooth-forming cells. Earlier methods failed because they released signals too quickly, unlike the body’s slow and steady process.
They built a new material that mimics the body’s natural cell environment. It allows the right signals to be sent at the right time, making it easier to start early tooth development in the lab. This approach recreates how teeth naturally grow during childhood.
Now, the challenge is how to safely place these new teeth into people’s mouths. One idea is to plant young tooth cells directly in the jaw. Another is to grow the entire tooth in the lab first, then insert it. Both methods start with cells in a controlled lab setting.
This research supports a bigger goal in regenerative medicine: to repair the body using its own biology. Instead of relying on artificial implants or fillings, scientists hope to grow real body parts, including teeth, from scratch.
The study is published in ACS Publications.
