Growing New Teeth With Stem Cells - Odontis

In 2004 scientists at King's College London set up a company called Odontis. They have been working on developing human teeth from stem cells. This biological replacement tooth has been trademarked as BioTooth.

The idea is to take adult stem cells, treat them in a cell culture so they would be programmed to develop into teeth and then transplanted into the patients jaw where the gap is. Then a replacement tooth grows just as happens when humans grow their original adult teeth. It is thought it would then take two to three months for the tooth to fully develop. The cost should not be more than existing treatments making it an attractive alternative to other technologies such as implants and dentures.

By 2007 Dr. Paul Sharpe and his team had learned to control the type of tooth formed and control the basic shapes, i.e. molar, incisor. Tooth development involves a network of thousands of genes. It's not necessary to understand what all the genes are doing to get the ball rolling, Sharpe says. Rather, by watching when a few key genes are turned on and off, the researchers have learned which are most important in the control of size and shape. Some genes only work in the upper jaw, others only where molars grow. In one experiment, Sharpe's team took early tooth buds from growing embryos and switched on a gene known to be active in growing molars. They implanted the buds in the front of the jaws of mice, where incisors would normally grow. The rodents emerged with molars in front and back.

The teeth are grown in mice kidney capsules because they provide a convenient site for prolonged growth due to the bountiful blood supply to the developing tooth. Dr. Sharpe’s aim was never to grow teeth in kidneys. This is just his experimental test system. In the future its likely that the teeth will be grown in some sort of artificial bio-reactor which itself is still in development.

The technology to grow replacement teeth could mean the end of dentures. Living teeth would be much better than dentures because they can respond to a persons bite. They move and in doing so they maintain the health of the surrounding gums and teeth. Dr. Sharpe has patented the technique and hopes to begin human trials in a few years once they perfect their techniques.

Predicting a release date to market is difficult as its still in development but according to their website they are expecting it to be available in "several years".

Source: Odontis.com

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Posted: 6 months, 1 week ago by angry #770

No news?

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by blindwilly #673

look this:

pkukmweb.ukm.my/FPerg/wp-content/uploads...11brochure-final.pdf

and this:

worldental.org/dental-news/blood-vessels...ls-study-shows/4315/

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Josh #669

Looks like they're mainly working with Recaldent which remineralises teeth on application.

Dental decay, or caries, start when bacteria in plaque produces an organic acid which dissolves the tooth enamel, breaking down the calcium and phosphate in tooth enamel.
Recaldent™ works by delivering calcium and phosphate ions into the tooth, repairing and strengthening areas of enamel previously damaged by the action of bacteria.

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by djossla #668

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&a...3RuPtouvxrzZsvovRwaA

Do anyone know what is this about

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Greg #667

So. When will scientist regrow teeth? How long need waiting jet?

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Chad #665

I hope this growing new teeth happens soon. When I was 12 I caught a pop fly baseball that I lost in the sun and it knocked all my teeth loose. After that my teeth started to loose there enamel and I have lost teeth to decay and breaks, have tons of fillings. At the age of 40 would love a new smile of nice white teeth again.

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by luis raposo #661

Im pretty sure the Bio tooth will be available soon , i look forward for enamel regeneration tecnology , i need to get rid of my veeners-crowns that i did for comestic they bother me soo much

lets get together and make it happen , something huge is coming on the conference in april

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Anonymous #660

something huge is coming inn this conference in april:)

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Mihaela #657

I think we should get togheter and do something.Nothing is impossible in this world.
Everybody who wants to talk to me can find me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Posted: 1 year, 1 month ago by Dr. Jack Purswani #655

Instead of a mouse kidney capsule if the stem cells could be grown in a lab it would be much faster & viable. Also could cells from the nerve (pulp chamber) of the extracted tooth be useful in any way to hasten the process

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