A Glimpse of the Breakthrough
- For the first time, bioorthogonally cross-linked hydrogels were used to grow a human tooth in vitro
- To grow a human tooth under lab conditions, the natural tooth development process needs to be mimicked
- For successful 3D tooth organoid formation, biomaterials whose properties are tuned to imitate the natural process of tooth development are essential
- Gelatin precursors were combined to create hydrogels that were modified with tetrazine (Tz) and norbornene (Nb) moieties.
Tooth loss and its effects
According to a study published online in November 2024 in ACS Publications1, tooth loss is a common oral condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be caused by dental decay, gum disease, dental injury, or systemic diseases.
Tooth loss affects functions like chewing and speaking and has certain psychological and aesthetic implications for the patient.
Current treatment options available to the patient include removable and fixed dentures and dental implants. Since both these options offer man-made solutions, they fail to supplement natural tooth form and function.
As a result, research is now focused on natural tooth replacement, with tissue engineering showing promising results. This method involves the use of cells, biomaterials and growth factors that create tooth structures with similar features and functions to natural teeth.
At Dental Creations, we actively support innovations that move dentistry toward biologically inspired solutions, reinforcing our commitment to advancing patient care through science-backed breakthroughs.
Aim of the experiment
Studies show that adult cells can be derived from bone marrow or gum cells, and they can be paired with embryonic cells to grow teeth in the lab. It is thus concluded that the cells, when combined with the 3D materials under optimum lab conditions, can yield natural teeth.
“This breakthrough marks a new chapter in dental science. The ability to bioengineer a natural human tooth in the lab opens the door to possibilities we could only imagine until now. While still in early stages, it lays the foundation for future treatments that are more organic, restorative, and patient-friendly.”
— Dr. Amol Pradhan, Dental Surgeon
Significance of this breakthrough
The successful growth of a natural tooth in a lab has many implications for treatment planning and options available to patients with missing teeth. They are:
Giving the patient a choice of a natural tooth instead of an artificial implant or bridge
An exciting future filled with unlimited prospects lays ahead in the field of dentistry, where we can grow our own teeth in a lab at will.
- Zhang X, Contessi Negrini N, Correia R, Sharpe PT, Celiz AD, Angelova Volponi A. Generating Tooth Organoids Using Defined Bioorthogonally Cross-Linked Hydrogels. ACS Macro Lett. 2024 Dec 17;13(12):1620-1626. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00520. Epub 2024 Nov 12. PMID: 39532305; PMCID: PMC11656705.