Imagine going to the dentist and, instead of getting a filling or an implant, you receive a brand-new, natural tooth grown from your own cells.
This may sound like science fiction, but researchers in the UK are bringing it closer to reality.
Scientists at King’s College London, working with experts from Imperial College London, have made a breakthrough that could one day allow adults to grow their own replacement teeth.
This exciting discovery offers hope for a more natural, longer-lasting alternative to dental treatments like fillings or implants.
Right now, when a tooth is damaged, dentists typically use fillings or implants. While useful, these methods have downsides. Fillings can weaken the tooth over time and don’t last forever. Implants, while more durable, require surgery and don’t function exactly like real teeth. Both are artificial fixes that don’t grow or heal on their own.
That’s why the idea of growing real teeth from a person’s own cells is so powerful. These lab-grown teeth, also called tooth organoids, would be made from living tissue and could integrate with a person’s jawbone, just like natural teeth. They would also grow and respond to the body’s needs, potentially lasting a lifetime without needing replacement.
In the new study, published in ACS Macro Letters, the scientists created a special 3D environment to help cells “talk” to one another—just like they do during normal tooth development in the body.
This communication between cells is essential. In earlier attempts, scientists tried to grow teeth by flooding cells with all the necessary signals at once. But this didn’t work well because it didn’t match the slow and steady way that teeth naturally form.
This time, the researchers used a soft, gel-like material that released signals gradually. This mimicked the natural process and allowed the cells to organize themselves and begin forming structures similar to real teeth. The team used tooth-forming cells from mouse embryos and successfully created early-stage 3D tooth models, called organoids.
Lead researcher Xuechen Zhang explained that this new material acts like the body’s natural surroundings—called the “matrix”—and helps guide cells through the early stages of tooth development. The ability to control this environment is a key step toward growing full-sized, functional teeth.
The next challenge is how to go from a lab-grown organoid to a working tooth inside a person’s mouth. The team has two ideas: one is to grow the tooth cells in the lab and then transplant them into the space where a tooth is missing, allowing it to continue growing inside the mouth.
The other option is to grow the entire tooth outside the body first and then insert it surgically. Both options require a deep understanding of how early teeth develop and how to manage that process safely.
This research is part of a broader field called regenerative medicine, which focuses on using living cells and biological materials to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. Instead of using metal, plastic, or ceramic parts, scientists aim to use the body’s own cells to heal itself. Growing natural teeth is just one exciting example of this approach.
Dr. Ana Angelova Volponi, one of the senior researchers on the project, said this kind of research could completely change how we treat dental problems. Rather than patching up damage, dentists might one day help people regrow their teeth. This would not only restore appearance and function but also reduce the need for repeated dental procedures later in life.
In summary, scientists have made a big leap toward making lab-grown human teeth a reality. While it may still take years before this becomes a standard dental treatment, the groundwork has been laid.
If successful, this innovation could replace fillings, reduce the need for implants, and provide a more natural, long-lasting solution for tooth loss—helping people keep their smiles healthy for life.
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.
The research findings can be found in ACS Macro Letters.
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