Throughout life many of us will lose teeth, with one of the best replacement methods being dental implants. But what if we could grow new teeth made from our own stem cells?
In the past, the main reason why teeth haven’t been made from stem cells is because researchers have not been able to find a marker that enables them to find a match between cells. But recently researchers have found a specific marker that matched stem cells with regular tooth cells. They discovered that a certain transcription factor is expressed in stem cells that exist in the front teeth, and it is these particular stem cells that provide building blocks for the production of new cells.
As of recent, it was reported that researchers are working on developing a way to record the separation and specification of these cells in order to give rise to cell lineages including enamel-forming ameloblasts. In the future, to grow these teeth, stem cells will be multiplied in a lab and then grown into 3-D scaffolds made out of dissolvable sutures in the shape of teeth.
Even with this new advancement on the horizon, it should be noted that dental implants remain an effective option for those who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or due to another reason.
Please contact my Los Angeles office for all of your dental needs. I am here to help you achieve a healthy-looking, A-list smile! As an experienced Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist I will evaluate which procedure will give you the most beneficial results. Please feel free to schedule your consultation today.