Growing Teeth Artificially in Mice and Rats
In the July issue of the Journal of Dental Research, two teams of researchers reported advances in artificially growing teeth in rats and mice.
In the case of mice, researchers at King’s College in London took stem cells from mice and got them to form tooth material. They then transplanted the proto-teeth into the mouths of mice where the teeth continued to grow.
Meanwhile, researchers at the Forsyth Institute in Boston started with cells taken from the early tooth structures in rats. They then transplanted the cells into a scaffolding in rats where the cells continued to grow and form tooth material.
Dr. Anthony J. Smith, editor of the Journal of Dental Research, wrote in an editorial accompanying the articles,
The future for regenerative and tissue-engineering applications to dentistry is one with immense potential, capable of bringing quantum advances in treatment for our patients. . . . These observations offer very exciting opportunities for replacement of natural teeth damaged through disease or trauma . . .
Source:
Research focuses on growing new teeth. Merritt McKinney, Reuters, July 5, 2004.
Tags: Mice