[Seoul=Newsis] A new era is expected to open where a tooth made from a patient’s own cells can be implanted into their mouth. (Source=NDTV) 2025.04.15. [email protected] *Resale and database prohibited
[Seoul=Newsis] Intern Reporter Ha Da-im = It is anticipated that we will enter a time when teeth made from a patient’s own cells, rather than artificial prosthetics like implants or dentures, can be implanted into the mouth.
On the 13th (local time), the BBC reported that a joint research team from King’s College London and Imperial College London has successfully cultured human permanent teeth in a laboratory for the first time in the world. The research team hopes that this technology could become a groundbreaking solution to replace traditional fillings or implants.
Because humans do not regenerate teeth like sharks or elephants do, once permanent teeth are lost due to cavities or gum disease, artificial teeth like implants have been essentially the only alternative.
Human teeth are structurally supported by periodontal ligaments that wrap around the root of the tooth, but implants require invasive surgery to insert a titanium root into the alveolar bone (gum bone) where the tooth is missing. Over time, the stability can weaken, and complications such as infection or rejection reactions may occur.
To overcome these limitations, the research team developed special materials that mimic the environment where natural teeth develop. These materials can transmit signals between cells, allowing one cell to signal another to grow into a tooth. This makes it possible to replicate the environment for tooth growth even in a lab setting.
Shuchen Zhang, a doctoral researcher at King’s College, explained, “Implants require invasive procedures, but teeth cultured in the lab fuse with the jawbone just like real teeth,” adding, “They are stronger, last longer, and do not have rejection issues. They are a biologically more suitable alternative.”
Currently, the research team is devising methods to implant the cultured teeth into the patient’s oral cavity.
There are two approaches: one involves fully culturing the tooth in the lab before implantation, and the other involves implanting early-stage tooth cells directly into the jawbone to allow them to naturally grow within the mouth.
It seems that clinical application will take some time.
Dr. Saoirse O’Toole, a clinical lecturer in prosthetics at King’s College, stated, “This technology has the potential to change the landscape of dentistry,” adding, “While it may not become commercialized in my lifetime, it could very well become a reality for our children or grandchildren.”