Humans may be able to grow new teeth within just 6 years. Japanese researchers are advancing a promising tooth-regrowing medicine into human trials. - eviltoast
  • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Ok, so how does it work? Does it regrow a single tooth if it’s missing, or do you have to pull them all out, and it regrows the whole set?

    • cynar@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      It’s likely an injection into the jaw. We already have the pathways to grow new teeth, and where. It’s what kicks out milk teeth. It’s likely a case of triggering it.

      Worst case, your old teeth fall out.

      • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        In the previous comment, the one I replied to, it says the drug is administered intravenously. I thought, like you did, it would be some sort of gel or cream or injection into an old tooth socket or something like that. However, it seems that the drug is administered intravenously and works systemically.

        I find this all very fascinating

        • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
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          1 month ago

          Yeah, so what if you’re like me and you’ve had a tooth pulled and replaced with an implant? There’s a titanium drywall anchor embedded in my skull with a fake tooth bolted to it. What happens if I take this drug? Does it push the bone graft out?

          • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Yeah, I’m in the same boat with a couple of teeth. I really wanna know what would happen in that case, lol.

            Perhaps they would have to remove any dental implants before proceeding with the therapy.