KC//CRIMSON
8/11/2009, 01:36 PM
Grow your own teeth: Breakthrough in the lab may spell the end of dentures
Scientists have made teeth from stem cells in a world first that could make
dentures a thing of the past.
They looked like normal teeth, were sensitive to pain and chewed food easily.
While the experiments were on mice, they pave the way for people to 'grow their
own teeth' as required.
The technique could also be adapted to other organs, allowing hearts, lungs and
kidneys to be grown inside the body to replace parts worn by age or damaged by disease.
The Japanese study focused on stem cells - 'master cells' with the ability to turn
into other cell types.
The researchers from the Tokyo University of Science identified two types of stem
cell, which together contain all the instructions for a fully grown tooth.
The cells were grown in the laboratory for five days until they formed a tiny tooth 'bud'.
This was then transplanted deep into the jawbone of a mouse that had had a tooth
removed.
Five weeks later, the tip of the tooth broke through the gum. And after seven
weeks, it was fully-grown, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences reports.
http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd91/Taun_photos/tooth.jpg
The researchers, who repeated the experiment many times, also showed that the
new, bioengineered teeth were fully-functional.
Dr Kazuhisa Nakao said: 'Every bio- engineered tooth erupted through the gum and
had every tooth component such as dentine, enamel, pulp, blood vessels, nerve
fibres, crown and root.'
Importantly, the rodent recipients had no trouble eating.
The cells used were take from mouse embryos, but the researchers believe it
should be possible to make teeth from other types of cell as well.
They are now looking for suitable cells in people. Possibilities include skin cells and
cells from the pulp inside teeth.
They also have to work out how to control the size of the bio-engineered teeth, as
those grown in the experiments were slightly smaller than usual.
The process would also have to be speeded up if it was to be used on people as human teeth take years to form.
However, the pioneering technology could one day allow those with teeth missing
to fill the gaps in their smile without having to resort to false teeth, bridges or synthetic implants.
Experts believe that using 'living' teeth rather than artificial ones would be better
for oral health and may also provide a more natural 'bite'. Bio- engineered teeth are
likely to cost around £2,000 each - a similar price to the implants used at the
moment.
But Britain's 11 million denture wearers should not throw away their fixative creams
and gels quite yet.
The technology is still at a very early stage and the Japanese researchers believe
it will not be widely used by dentists for at least 15 years. Despite this, British
experts said it was an important landmark.
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute for
Medical Research in London, said the work was 'excellent' and highlighted the
promise of using bio-engineering to make complex structures.
But he cautioned that the researchers had yet to find cells suitable for use in
people.
Professor Damien Walmsley, of the British Dental Association, said: 'If you lose a
tooth at the moment, one of the options is a metal implant. If you could have a
natural replacement, that would be good.'
Natural-looking replacements-also have massive psychological benefits for self-
conscious patients.
The technique of creating cell 'buds' could be applied more widely to grow other
organs, such as hearts, kidneys and livers, inside the body.
Lead researcher Professor Takashi Tsuji said: 'The ultimate goal of regenerative
therapy is to develop fully-functioning bioengineered organs that can replace lost
or damaged organs following disease, injury or ageing.
'Our study makes a substantial contribution to the development of bio- engineering
technology for future organ replacement therapy.'
Scientists have made teeth from stem cells in a world first that could make
dentures a thing of the past.
They looked like normal teeth, were sensitive to pain and chewed food easily.
While the experiments were on mice, they pave the way for people to 'grow their
own teeth' as required.
The technique could also be adapted to other organs, allowing hearts, lungs and
kidneys to be grown inside the body to replace parts worn by age or damaged by disease.
The Japanese study focused on stem cells - 'master cells' with the ability to turn
into other cell types.
The researchers from the Tokyo University of Science identified two types of stem
cell, which together contain all the instructions for a fully grown tooth.
The cells were grown in the laboratory for five days until they formed a tiny tooth 'bud'.
This was then transplanted deep into the jawbone of a mouse that had had a tooth
removed.
Five weeks later, the tip of the tooth broke through the gum. And after seven
weeks, it was fully-grown, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences reports.
http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd91/Taun_photos/tooth.jpg
The researchers, who repeated the experiment many times, also showed that the
new, bioengineered teeth were fully-functional.
Dr Kazuhisa Nakao said: 'Every bio- engineered tooth erupted through the gum and
had every tooth component such as dentine, enamel, pulp, blood vessels, nerve
fibres, crown and root.'
Importantly, the rodent recipients had no trouble eating.
The cells used were take from mouse embryos, but the researchers believe it
should be possible to make teeth from other types of cell as well.
They are now looking for suitable cells in people. Possibilities include skin cells and
cells from the pulp inside teeth.
They also have to work out how to control the size of the bio-engineered teeth, as
those grown in the experiments were slightly smaller than usual.
The process would also have to be speeded up if it was to be used on people as human teeth take years to form.
However, the pioneering technology could one day allow those with teeth missing
to fill the gaps in their smile without having to resort to false teeth, bridges or synthetic implants.
Experts believe that using 'living' teeth rather than artificial ones would be better
for oral health and may also provide a more natural 'bite'. Bio- engineered teeth are
likely to cost around £2,000 each - a similar price to the implants used at the
moment.
But Britain's 11 million denture wearers should not throw away their fixative creams
and gels quite yet.
The technology is still at a very early stage and the Japanese researchers believe
it will not be widely used by dentists for at least 15 years. Despite this, British
experts said it was an important landmark.
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute for
Medical Research in London, said the work was 'excellent' and highlighted the
promise of using bio-engineering to make complex structures.
But he cautioned that the researchers had yet to find cells suitable for use in
people.
Professor Damien Walmsley, of the British Dental Association, said: 'If you lose a
tooth at the moment, one of the options is a metal implant. If you could have a
natural replacement, that would be good.'
Natural-looking replacements-also have massive psychological benefits for self-
conscious patients.
The technique of creating cell 'buds' could be applied more widely to grow other
organs, such as hearts, kidneys and livers, inside the body.
Lead researcher Professor Takashi Tsuji said: 'The ultimate goal of regenerative
therapy is to develop fully-functioning bioengineered organs that can replace lost
or damaged organs following disease, injury or ageing.
'Our study makes a substantial contribution to the development of bio- engineering
technology for future organ replacement therapy.'