Emerging Science Might Someday “Grow” Dental Implants

Dr. Jeremy Mao at Columbia University Medical Center is working on a dental procedure whereby stem cells from human teeth are placed into a scaffolding or mold type device that allows the cells to grow and essentially regenerate into an anatomically correct tooth.

According to a study published in the Journal of Dental Research, in years to come, the procedure may enable people to simply regrow a new set of teeth as opposed to undergoing treatment with dentures or dental implants.

By using a procedure developed in the university's Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Dr. Mao can direct the body's own stem cells toward the scaffold, which is made of natural materials. Once the stem cells have colonized the scaffold, a tooth can grow in the socket and then merge with the surrounding tissue.

Dr. Mao's technique not only eliminates the need to grow teeth in a Petri dish, but it is the first to achieve regeneration of anatomically correct teeth by using the body's own resources. Factor in that a complete tooth can be regenerated in as fast as nine weeks and the future technology becomes very appealing.

Although the procedure has not yet been attempted on humans, Columbia University has filed for patents on the technology and will likely seek to commercialize it in the future. In the meantime, we at the Ferber Dental Group will keep a close eye on this emerging science while continuing to use the newest in denture and dental-implant technology to restore the smile of your youth.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.