The medication is primarily intended for individuals who have congenital factors resulting in an incomplete set of adult teeth. Anodontia, a condition where fewer than a full set of teeth develop, affects approximately 1% of the population. Among those with anodontia, about one-tenth have oligodontia, which means they are missing six or more teeth. These conditions, also known as tooth agenesis, are primarily caused by genetic factors. People with tooth agenesis face challenges in basic functions like chewing, swallowing, and speaking from a young age, which can negatively impact their overall development.
The lead researcher of this project is Katsu Takahashi, who
heads the dentistry and oral surgery department at the Medical Research
Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka. He has been devoted to this research since
his time as a graduate student and has been confident in his ability to make
tooth regrowth a reality.
Around 2005, after returning to Japan, Takahashi's research at
Kyoto University took a significant turn. They discovered that mice lacking a
specific gene exhibited an increased number of teeth. This gene was responsible
for synthesizing a protein called USAG-1, which limited tooth growth. By
blocking the function of this protein, they found that more teeth could grow.
With this newfound knowledge, Takahashi's team focused on
developing a neutralizing antibody medicine capable of blocking the action of
USAG-1. In 2018, they conducted experiments on mice with a congenital low tooth
count, administering the medicine, and observed the growth of new teeth. The
research findings were published in a scientific paper in the United States in
2021, garnering attention as the initial steps toward the world's first tooth
regeneration medicine.
If successful, a tooth regeneration drug could be a game-changer
in the field of dentistry. While it has been commonly believed that humans only
grow two sets of teeth in their lifetime, evidence suggests that we possess the
potential for a "third set" of teeth. Some animals, such as sharks
and certain reptile species, continuously regrow their teeth. Takahashi's
team's research revealed that in cases of hyperdontia, a condition where
individuals have more teeth than normal, one in three cases involves the growth
of a third set of teeth. Takahashi believes that most humans lost the ability
to grow a third set over time.
The researchers applied the drug to ferrets and observed the
growth of an additional seventh front tooth. As these new teeth grew between
the existing front teeth and exhibited the same shape, it is believed that the
medicine induced the generation of third-set teeth in the animals.
The ability to regrow teeth through groundbreaking medication
holds the potential to revolutionize the field of dentistry. With clinical
trials set to begin soon and a timeline for general use in the near future, the
prospect of a third set of teeth could become a reality for individuals who
have long relied on dentures and implants. As the Japanese research team pushes
the boundaries of tooth regeneration, we stand on the cusp of a new era, where
smiles can be renewed, oral health can be restored, and the dream of growing
new teeth can become a remarkable achievement of modern medicine.
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