Scientists are getting closer to making it possible for adults to grow their own replacement teeth—offering a natural alternative to fillings and dental implants.
A new breakthrough from researchers at King’s College London could one day transform dental care by helping people regenerate real teeth, rather than relying on artificial fixes.
Currently, when a tooth is damaged or decayed, the most common treatments are fillings or implants.
But these solutions have limitations. Fillings can weaken a tooth over time and often need to be replaced.
Implants, while effective, involve surgery and can’t adjust or heal like real teeth. They’re artificial structures that don’t fully restore the natural function or feel of a tooth.
In contrast, lab-grown teeth would be created using a person’s own cells, which could then grow and develop into fully functioning teeth inside the mouth.
These new teeth could last longer, heal naturally, and reduce the chance of rejection or long-term complications.
The team at King’s College London, in partnership with Imperial College London, has spent over a decade exploring how to grow teeth in the lab.
In their latest study, published in ACS Macro Letters, they made a major breakthrough: developing a special material that mimics the natural environment where teeth grow in the body.
This material allows cells to send signals to one another slowly over time, just as they would during normal tooth development. Past efforts failed because all the necessary signals were released at once, which didn’t match how teeth form naturally.
By replicating the body’s timing and structure more closely, the researchers were able to create small, developing teeth in the lab—called tooth organoids.
Now, the challenge is figuring out how to take these lab-grown teeth and place them into a person’s mouth. One option could be to transplant early-stage tooth cells directly into the area where a tooth is missing and let them grow inside the mouth. Another option would be to grow a whole tooth in the lab and then place it into the jaw.
This research is part of a broader field called regenerative medicine, which aims to repair or replace damaged body parts using the body’s own biology. Instead of relying on artificial materials like metal or plastic, the goal is to grow real, living tissues—including teeth.
Dr. Ana Angelova Volponi, one of the lead researchers, says this technology could completely change how we treat tooth damage in the future. It could lead to longer-lasting, more natural dental care that supports overall oral health and well-being.
If you care about tooth health, please read studies about an important causes of tooth decay and gum disease, and common tooth disease that may increase risks of dementia.
For more health information, please see recent studies about mouthwash that may increase your tooth damage, and results showing this diet could help treat gum disease.
Source: King’s College London.
