Scientists have successfully grown human-like replacement teeth in a lab setting and implanted them into the mouths of miniature pigs.
Human and porcine tooth cells were combined and grown into tooth-like structures inside samples of pig tooth. This approach was taken because pigs grow many sets of teeth throughout their lifetime.
Once mostly grown, the teeth were implanted into the jaws of pigs for two months and then removed. The researchers found that the finished teeth had developed hard layers of dentin and cementum.
Pamela Yelick is lead investigator on the project and runs the tissue bioengineering lab at Tufts University, Massachusetts. Speaking to Tech Review, she said: ‘It’s very difficult to replace an implant, because first you have to rebuild all the bone that has been absorbed over time that’s gone away. We’re working on trying to create functional replacement teeth.’
‘One day we will be able to create a functional biological tooth substitute’
In earlier stages of the research, the pig-human hybrid teeth were grown on biodegradable scaffolds which were implanted into the stomachs of rats. Dr Yelick said this ‘doesn’t bother the rats’.
The researchers said they had not yet created ‘beautifully formed teeth’. However they hope that this new development will one day be used to replace human teeth that have been lost. Dr Yelick continued: ‘We’re optimistic that one day we will be able to create a functional biological tooth substitute that can get into people who need tooth replacement.’
The study highlights the advantages of natural teeth over dental implants. It says: ‘The direct transmission of mechanical forces of chewing from the implant to the supporting jaw bone can result in bone resorption over time and implant failure. In contrast, natural teeth are tethered to the jawbone via periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues, which absorb and modulate the forces of mastication, thereby promoting healthy bone maintenance.’
Porcine hybrids vs stem cells
Previous studies have concluded that regrowing teeth through various methods is ‘a realistic aim’. One mechanism that has been explored is tooth regeneration using stem cells.
However the Tufts study says that ‘human embryonic tissues are difficult if not impossible to obtain’. It therefore suggests they are ‘not a viable tissue source for applications in regenerative medicine’.
This is one advantage of bioengineered tooth replacements grown in a lab over those made from stem cells.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
