Can teeth be regrown?

Researchers at Kyoto University Hospital in Japan have already regrown teeth in the mouths of mice and ferrets, prompting experts to prepare for human testing later this year.

The intravenous treatment works by suppressing activation of the uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1) protein, which inhibits tooth growth.

From September 2024 through August 2025, scientists will test the drug on 30 human males between the ages of 30 to 64 and then move on to testing the drug on humans between the ages of 2 and 7 as long as no side effects present themselves.

Finally, they will test it on patients with partial edentulism.

"We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence," lead researcher Dr. Katsu Takahashi, head of dentistry and oral surgery at Kitano Hospital, said. "While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people's expectations for tooth growth are high." 

Full story: New Atlas

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