Farewell To False Teeth
By Anne Pawsey
It may well cause the tooth fairy to file for bankruptcy but there is a potential revolution in dentistry on the horizon. Scientists have discovered a way to make mammals grow fresh teeth.
Humans in common with all mammals only have two sets of teeth, the milk teeth are lost at puberty, and the adult teeth are the final set of teeth. If any adult teeth are lost no further teeth will grow.
Experimenting with mice, researchers in Helsinki in collaboration with colleagues in Kyoto and Berlin have discovered a signalling pathway involved in cell communication and embryo development which when activated in mouse tissue causes the development of new teeth.
Activating this pathway caused a mouth molar to develop into dozens of new teeth complete with normal dentine, enamel and developing roots, the teeth were however cone shaped as opposed to the more complicated shape of normal mouse molars.
Most lower vertebrates such as reptiles and fish can grow a fresh tooth after they loose one. Sharks, for example, can go through a set of gnashers every week when they are young, and may grow over 20,000 teeth during their lifetime. Mammals have lost this ability during the course of evolution, however the potential to grow new teeth remains in mice, and it is possible that this might be transferable to humans. Dentists of the future may be able to grow a whole new set of teeth for their patients.
To find out more about Anne or read more of her articles click here.
Humans in common with all mammals only have two sets of teeth, the milk teeth are lost at puberty, and the adult teeth are the final set of teeth. If any adult teeth are lost no further teeth will grow.
Experimenting with mice, researchers in Helsinki in collaboration with colleagues in Kyoto and Berlin have discovered a signalling pathway involved in cell communication and embryo development which when activated in mouse tissue causes the development of new teeth.
Activating this pathway caused a mouth molar to develop into dozens of new teeth complete with normal dentine, enamel and developing roots, the teeth were however cone shaped as opposed to the more complicated shape of normal mouse molars.
Most lower vertebrates such as reptiles and fish can grow a fresh tooth after they loose one. Sharks, for example, can go through a set of gnashers every week when they are young, and may grow over 20,000 teeth during their lifetime. Mammals have lost this ability during the course of evolution, however the potential to grow new teeth remains in mice, and it is possible that this might be transferable to humans. Dentists of the future may be able to grow a whole new set of teeth for their patients.
To find out more about Anne or read more of her articles click here.
Image: Terri Heisele
Share this
