Any Day Now
with thanks to AARP Bulletin 9-04
When today’s baby boomers’ children reach their senior years, dentures may have become a thing of the past. Scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research are working on “regrowing” teeth. Using human adult stem cells which they harvest from extracted molars, they have been able to “grow” tooth buds which have been implanted into the jaws of animals. These buds then continue to grow and develop into new teeth.
Another team of researchers has “regrown” new teeth in mice, but they have used non-dental stem cells. Their plan is to continue these experiments with human cells. Their estimate is that this technology will not be available to the public for at least five years. The possibility of replacing adult teeth that have become diseased with new teeth, is truly exciting.
