While we are used to the idea of teeth only growing twice, a new drug could make it possible to grow a third set.
Scientists are making significant strides in the development of a groundbreaking drug that could potentially enable the regrowth of teeth.
Clinical trials are scheduled to commence in July next year. They hope it will be available for dentists to use by 2030.
Tooth anomalies at birth are common in humans, affecting one per cent of people worldwide. But a drug to make teeth regrow would be a world first.
The research, led by the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, Japan, aims to bring “a therapeutic drug for patients who lack a full set of adult teeth due to congenital factors” – related to genetic or developmental influences that occurred before birth.
“People with anodontia [the medical term for a complete absence of teeth] don’t have natural teeth because they never developed them. The condition often appears alongside other genetic conditions, such as ectodermal dysplasia [defects of the hair, nails, teeth, skin and glands]. Common treatments include dentures and dental implants,” according to information on Cleveland Clinic’s website.
The condition – also known as tooth agenesis – hinders basic abilities like chewing, swallowing and speaking from a young age, which can negatively impact development.