Stem cell clue brings tooth regrowth a step closer
A breakthrough in dental research has brought the dream of natural tooth regrowth closer to reality. Scientists from Yonsei University College of Dentistry have discovered that the location and behaviour of certain stem cells play a crucial role in tooth formation — a finding that could revolutionize regenerative dentistry.
Discovery of cellular self-organisation in tooth development
The study explored whether the physical location of tooth-forming cells inside the mouth influences their function. Researchers separated cells from the lingual (tongue) side and the buccal (cheek) side of mouse dentition and stimulated them to grow.
They found that lingual-side cells developed into dentin and other core tooth structures, while buccal-side cells were more involved in stem-cell activity and tissue repair. Remarkably, even when mixed together, the two types of cells were able to reorganize themselves into the correct pattern — a process known as cellular self-organisation.
First author Eun-Jung Kim explained, “We were curious to know if they could find their original place and reorganise when the fluorescently labelled lingual and buccal mesenchymal cells were mixed randomly — which they not only did, but the lingual cells grew into dentin to form the tooth as before.”
Pathway to stem cell-based tooth regeneration
Co-author Dr Jung said that these findings could “significantly impact our understanding of tooth development” and accelerate advances in stem cell-based tooth regeneration and biological dental restoration.
Previous studies have already hinted that growing new teeth from stem cells could become a realistic goal. In 2023, researchers at Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital in India concluded that regenerating functional teeth was scientifically achievable.
Earlier, a team from the University of Washington School of Dentistry developed stem-cell organoids that produced enamel-forming proteins — a key milestone toward creating a “living filling” that could regrow inside cavities. Project lead Hannele Ruohola-Baker described it as “a critical first step toward the century of living fillings and human regenerative dentistry.”
Future of regenerative dentistry
Experts say the latest findings from Yonsei University bring the world closer to a future where lost or damaged teeth could be naturally replaced — not with artificial implants, but with living tissue grown from a patient’s own cells.
If perfected, stem cell-driven tooth regrowth could transform dental repair, cavity treatment, and oral health care globally — marking a new era of precision regenerative medicine.
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