>New research has led to teeth being grown in a laboratory for the first time. This landmark moment could have a big impact on dentistry and potentially offer a new treatment for those with missing teeth. While further research is needed, this is a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to find a way to get teeth to repair and regenerate themselves.
Our teeth are one of the most important parts of our body. Unfortunately, for numerous reasons, teeth can fall out or be extracted. Currently, for those missing teeth options are limited.
However, this may soon change, as in an exciting announcement, scientists from the United Kingdom have announced that they have grown human teeth in a lab for the first time [1].
This is an incredible finding, which could have wide-ranging implications for the future of oral health. It could result in lab-grown teeth being able to replace natural human teeth.
Background
Adults typically have 32 teeth. Teeth have a wide variety of roles, as well as obviously helping us eat, they help us to talk and even breathe.
Unfortunately, it is rather common for adults to lose one or more teeth. This could be due to extensive tooth decay, advanced gum disease, or trauma.
In fact, research shows that in the United States, the average number of natural teeth left by the time someone makes it to the age of 64 is 23.4 [2]. Therefore, tooth loss affects a range of people.
Dental implants and dentures have offered solutions in the past. While they are effective, they can also be costly, which stops some people from accessing this treatment.
Therefore, having other alternatives is desirable. Scientists have been trying for a long time to grow teeth in a laboratory. Now, there appears to have been a development.
The Research
The research was carried out by King’s College London in the United Kingdom. Their findings were published in the ACS Macro Letters journal [1].
Scientists at King’s College London have been exploring the potential of lab-grown teeth for over a decade [1]. They were finally able to make a breakthrough recently.
Currently, when a tooth becomes decayed, a filling is used. However, fillings weaken tooth structure over time and rarely last forever [1]. Implants can be used when whole teeth are missing, but they do not restore natural tooth function either.
Therefore, the aim has always been to get teeth to repair and regenerate themselves naturally [1].
But finding the exact environment and conditions needed to grow teeth in a lab has proven challenging. This has now seemingly changed.
The researchers have been able to introduce a special type of material that enables cells to communicate between each other [1]. Therefore, this means that one cell can ‘tell’ another cell to start differentiating into a tooth cell [1].
Incredibly, this means that the environment of growing teeth is mimicked. Therefore, scientists can recreate the process of tooth development in a laboratory [1].
The new material releases the signals that the cells use to communicate with each other slowly over time, rather than all at once [1]. This has proven to be a key reason for the success of this research, as this replicates what happens naturally.
The material takes the form of a hydrogel. In this study, the researchers prepared the hydrogel by mixing gelatin precursors that had been modified either with tetrazine or norbornene moieties [1].
The researchers were able to conclude that lab-grown teeth made from a patient’s own cells could integrate seamlessly into the mouth and repair themselves like a natural tooth [1].
Summary
This advancement marks the outcome of considerable research. It is a very important update and has the potential to have a big impact on dentistry.
It effectively means that in the future, humans may be able to replace lost teeth with a natural tooth using their own cells. This would be very positive and help those with missing teeth.
Xuechen Zhang of the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences of King’s College London, was the lead researcher. He commented on the findings [3].
Zhang said “lab-grown teeth would naturally regenerate, integrating into the jaw as real teeth. They would be stronger, longer lasting, and free from rejection risks, offering a more durable and biologically compatible solution than fillings or implants” [3].
The researchers pointed out that the next big challenge will be to work out how to get teeth from the laboratory to the mouth of patients [1]. But the good news is that the research suggests that teeth can integrate well into mouths.
Xuechen spoke about this challenge and said that the team “have different ideas to put the teeth inside the mouth,” which includes “transplanting the young tooth cells at the location of the missing tooth and let them grow inside [the] mouth” [3].
Furthermore, Xuechen said “alternatively, we could create the whole tooth in the lab before placing it in the patient’s mouth,” though he noted that “for both options, we need to start the very early tooth development process in the lab” [3].
While further research is needed, this is an exciting development and underlines the potential that research into regenerative dentistry can yield.
Thinking points…
1) This is a very exciting update and underlines the great work that scientists are producing. However, if you look after your teeth, hopefully you won’t need to worry about lab-grown teeth! A good way of aiding your oral health is to attend regular dental check-ups. At a check-up, a dentist can take a thorough look at your oral health, provide advice, and suggest treatment if necessary. We recommend that you book an appointment right away!
2) While we wait for further progress on lab-grown teeth, there is a useful and effective alternative available for missing teeth – dental implants. Dental implants are artificial teeth that look and act like a real tooth. They look natural, are easy to fit, and tend to last many years. Here at Savanna Dental, we offer a free dental implant consultation for our patients. To find out more and to book an appointment, please see our website – https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Zhang, X., Negrini, N. C., Correia, R., et al. (2024). Generating Tooth Organoids Using Defined Bioorthogonally Cross-Linked Hydrogels. ACS Macro Letters. 13 (12): p1620-1626. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00520.
[2] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2022). Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64). Available: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/tooth-loss/adults. Last accessed: 17th April 2025.
[3] Volponi, A. A. (2025). Lab-grown teeth might become an alternative to fillings following research breakthrough. Available: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/lab-grown-teeth-might-become-an-alternative-to-fillings-following-research-breakthrough. Last accessed: 17th April 2025.
