According to some scientists the use of dentures in patients is going be a thing of the past, replacing the artificial prosthesis are a group of cells which will be placed in the empty sockets where the teeth are missing and we can see growth of our own teeth within a span of few months even at the age of 50yrs.
Paul Sharpe, a specialist in the field of regenerative dentistry at the Dental Institute of King’s College, London, says the new procedure has distinct advantages over false teeth that require a metal post to be driven into the jaw before being capped with a porcelain or plastic tooth.
“The surgery today can be extensive and you need to have good solid bone in the jaw and that is a major problem for some people,” Professor Sharpe said.
The method could be used on far more patients because the ball of cells that grows into a tooth also produces bone that anchors to the jaw.
The choice of growing a new tooth is likely to appeal to patients. “Anyone who has lost teeth will tell you that, given the chance, they would rather have their own teeth than false ones,” said Prof Paul.
Procedure:
Doctors take stem cells from the patient. These are unique in their ability to form any of the tissues that make up the body. By carefully nurturing the stem cells in a laboratory, scientists can nudge the cells down a path that will make them grow into a tooth. After a couple of weeks, the ball of cells, known as a bud, is ready to be implanted. Tests reveal what type of tooth – for example, a molar or an incisor – the bud will form.
Using a local anesthetic, the tooth bud is inserted through a small incision into the gum. Within months, the cells will have matured into a fully-formed tooth, fused to the jawbone. As the tooth grows, it releases chemicals that encourage nerves and blood vessels to link up with it.
The most intresting part of this procedure is how the teeth are going be to distinguished from each other, they are saying that the molar and the incissor can be differentiated, How are the differentiated ???? is the big question.
Results:
These tests have been done on mice which have shown positive results, as the teeth have grown in weeks.
On this Prof. Paul says “There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work in humans, the principles are the same”
So this technology will bring a drastic change in the use of dentures where own teeth will be preferred much more than the artificial teeth.
I heard about this technology from 2005 or 2006 and it was quite a rage on the net. It was same Dr. Sharpe who proposed we can have new teeth in 5 years or so. But then, that was then and we did not hear from him for next few years and now that he’s once again in news, I sincerely hope and pray that this time he delivers his promise.
Well they can grow teeth now so why not start the trials asap, hundreds of millions of us now are waiting, like most of us we dont want metal implants in our jaw but real teeth.
I would gladly put myself forward as a guinea pig in any trials that they may do.
i too would gladly be a guinea pig, for any trials they may do..
i would be willing to try out growing my own teeth i have been watching this for 5 years
Yep, also waiting from 2006…hope to be with the first as I need them not only to eat but doing VO without them is a bit difficult unless you only have to do the pfffffffffusicay at Disney…LOL…
Please please let me be a guinea pig!!!
Great, when are these stem cell teeth coming out? I’ll be a guinea pig. Please.
Dr. Varun, Keep up the good work. I had a procedure on my front upper teeth that ended with 4 post inserted with a 6 point bridge in 1999 and am always afraid of infection and cracking out beneath my nose. A huge move in t-cells as I write.
Would love to have this done but i dont have the income for it and yes having heard of it was researching if i could do it to myself ha but if you are taking people to try it with no charge i am interested .