Remember the strange feeling the first time you saw grandma without dentures? Well, those days may be behind us.
A new drug, the first of its kind in the world, is preparing for human trials and promises the regrowth of teeth!
The revolutionary gospel:
Researchers have developed a unique drug that causes the regrowth of teeth in humans.
The drug works by blocking a protein (USAG-1) that suppresses the growth of teeth, thus actually "activating" the human body to grow new teeth!
The science behind the wonder:
Dr. Katsu Takahashi, the leader of the study, led a team of researchers for over 15 years with the goal of developing an innovative treatment for tooth loss.
Previous studies have shown that USAG-1 plays a central role in tooth development, and that blocking it can stimulate new growth.
Experimental successes are encouraging:
The good news is that the drug was able to grow new teeth in rats and ferrets without significant side effects.
The safety trials are very encouraging, as there is a 97% similarity in the activity of the USAG-1 protein between humans and these animals.
Stages in human experiments:
In the first phase of the trials, which will begin this September, the drug's effectiveness will be tested on adults who have lost at least one molar.
In the second step, children aged 2-7 who suffer from a congenital lack of at least four teeth will be treated.
And finally, in the third stage, the drug will be tested on adults who have lost permanent teeth due to environmental factors.
Optimistic expectations:
The researchers are so optimistic about the drug that they predict it will be available to the general public as early as 2030!
This means that in the future we will be able to eat sweets without thinking about toothaches or embarrassing dentures.
Far-reaching consequences:
This breakthrough development may cause a real revolution in the field of dentistry.
An effective solution to tooth loss will allow many people to improve their quality of life, both functionally and aesthetically.
Relation to previous studies:
It is important to note that this is not a scientific breakthrough born out of nowhere.
Dr. Takahashi has been researching this field since 2005, and this is the result of many years of research and development.
In addition, in recent years we have made progress in the field of dentistry with developments such as restorative dental fillings and stem cells for the restoration of tooth tissue in children.
References: https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/research-news/2021-03-31
