Revolutionary Breakthrough: Human-Like Teeth Successfully Grown in Pig’s Mouth – What It Means for Dental Science

For the last twenty years, scientists have been exploring exciting possibilities in bioengineering by growing human cells in unexpected places. We’ve seen human skin and ears developed on mice and recently, kidneys grown in pigs. This field is full of innovations, but it’s not without its challenges.

One key goal of this research is to use genetically modified animals to create spare organs for people who need transplants. A recent study in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine reveals a fascinating breakthrough: researchers have successfully cultivated human tooth cells inside a pig’s mouth. They believe this could lead to biological tooth substitutes, which might one day replace traditional dental implants.

In this study, dental researchers from Tufts University combined human tooth pulp cells with pig enamel cells. They placed the mixture on a scaffold and nurtured it in a bioreactor for a week to allow the cells to multiply. This hybrid tooth germ was then implanted into the jaws of several test pigs. Months later, the researchers found tooth-like tissues forming, with the pigs sporting a mix of their usual sharp canines alongside small, more human-like tooth nubs. This suggests that a similar method could potentially work in humans, where scientists could “plant” a tooth construct in gum tissue and allow it to grow into a fully formed tooth. However, there is a risk that endlessly growing tooth cells could become cancerous.

While today’s dental implants, usually made from titanium, are popular, they’re not without downsides. Misalignment can lead to jaw damage, and infections may occur with the presence of bacteria on the implants. Natural teeth are better anchored in the jaw with ligaments, which could decrease the risk of long-term damage. This is where the idea of growing teeth in pigs gains appeal.

In their experiment, researchers used six two-year-old mini pigs, whose jaw structures resemble those of humans. They removed two of the pigs’ teeth and placed the engineered tooth constructs into the holes. After two and four months, they saw successful tooth growth in about half of the pigs. This was a significant improvement from earlier tests on younger pigs, where the incoming adult teeth could disrupt the hybrids. Using older pigs, whose teeth were already fully formed, minimized this issue.

Despite this promising progress, we’re still a way off from having lab-grown teeth suitable for humans. The teeth in the pigs didn’t reach human size and likely wouldn’t withstand regular use. Additionally, implanting these lab-grown teeth in humans presents a new challenge. Yet, this research shows that creating bioengineered teeth is possible, paving the way for future alternatives to synthetic implants.

Public opinion seems to be shifting in favor of these advancements. A 2018 Pew Research survey indicated that more than half of U.S. adults support using biotechnology to grow organs in animals. As options become more available, future patients may prefer bioengineered alternatives over metal implants.

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