People with missing teeth may be able to grow new ones, say Japanese dentists testing a pioneering drug they hope will offer an alternative to dentures and implants.
  • Omega@discuss.onlineEnglish
    24·
    5 months ago

    This is fucking AWESOME!!!

    I’ve been taking care of my teeth because of an irrational (rational?) fear of losing them, but any accident could cause a couple of lost teeth and that’s just fucked, permanent too

    • other_cat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      5 months ago

      Yep. I lost a tooth to dropping a cell phone on my face while laying on the couch. The edge hit my lower teeth.

  • Canonical_Warlock@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    15·
    5 months ago

    I’m kind of curious if this would work if you already have implants. With those being screwed into the bone would it do enough damage to prevent growing a tooth in that location?

      • ThoGot@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        Do you really need the original tissue with the bud, or is possible to encourage ordinary gum or bone cells at a location to turn into a bud that this technology then works on?

        I think in the latter case the risk of developing cancer may be higher than if there are already cells in your jaw that can develop into teeth

  • zabadoh@ani.socialEnglish
    13·
    5 months ago

    That will be really wild, if they can get it to work.

    I can’t imagine that the tooth growing process will be very fast though. I’d guess months to a year, or even longer if they want to be careful about it.

    • rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com
      12·
      5 months ago

      It would be worth the wait, though! One thing (among others) that makes this sounds so great is that it wouldn’t put others out. If I was 90, and wanted the chance at some teeth, and survived another five years, what a great boost in quality of life without keeping a younger candidate on a list. Same as for that 10 year old I imagine, great confidence boost and probably improved of diet.

  • njm1314@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    5 months ago

    It’s going to be really awesome when we can all see first hand how teeth will be the new way to distinguish between rich and poor. Cuz even if this works most of us won’t be able to afford it

    • palordrolap@fedia.io
      3·
      5 months ago

      This has already been a thing, but with one important twist: When sugar was first imported to Europe, only rich people could afford it, and as such, their teeth went rotten far more quickly than those of poor people.

      Having black or rotten teeth was a status symbol for quite a while.

  • ToyDork@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    4·
    5 months ago

    Welcome to the Genetic Age. Hopefully someone’s researching the Ecotopian or Digital Democracy civics, it’s almost Turn 2025 AD for Sid Meier’s sake!