!!How to grow a tooth

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!!How to grow a tooth
May 5, 2004
Kings College London
New advances in stem cell biology and tissue engineering are leading to the development of cutting edge approaches to dentistry both in the repair and replacement of teeth.
The term ǃÚRegenerative Dentistryǃ٠has been used by Professor Paul Sharpe of the Dental Institute, KingǃÙs College London to describe his improvements in the field that look set to revolutionise dentistry.
He tells the AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle* that by understanding the genetic control of the key processes that form teeth in the embryo, the development of a tooth could be recreated in the mouth of an adult patient.
Results obtained from mice populations show that tooth rudiments can be formed from in vitro cultures of non-dental stem cell populations and complete teeth and associated bone can be obtained when these rudiments are transferred to adults.
Professor Paul Sharpe, Head of the Department of Craniofacial Development, KingǃÙs College London, says: ǃÚWe are proud to be part of this radical step forward in dental research. The results we are unveiling today provide evidence that understanding and controlling the processes that form teeth is leading to a whole new approach to dentistry, which we refer to as Regenerative Dentistry.ǃÙ
The Dental Institute at KingǃÙs College London (the largest dental research centre in the UK) has been at the forefront of the development of new biological approaches in dental treatment, which are set to revolutionise dentistry. Until now, despite massive improvements in the delivery of dental treatment, much of the technology currently used still involves techniques that were first practised by the Romans.
A commercial spin out company, Odontis Ltd, was set up last year to develop this new technology www.odontis.co.uk and the Dental Institute, KingǃÙs College London are to create a dedicated Centre for Regenerative Dentistry to explore this and other research aimed at developing biological approaches to dental treatment