In a new groundbreaking medical development, Japan has introduced an experimental drug designed to regrow human teeth, a treatment that could revolutionize dentistry.
Early animal trials have already shown promising results, and human clinical trials are now underway.
The innovation centers on an antibody drug that inhibits a protein called USAG-1, which normally prevents the body from activating its latent ability to produce an additional set of teeth.
Scientists have long known that humans retain undeveloped “tooth buds” in the jaw, but these typically remain dormant after the formation of permanent teeth.
By blocking USAG-1, researchers were able to reactivate key developmental signaling pathways, such as BMP and Wnt, enabling the growth of fully functional teeth.
Unlike dentures, implants, or stem-cell approaches, the regrown teeth developed naturally with enamel, dentin, pulp, and roots that integrated seamlessly with the jawbone.
Preclinical tests on mice and ferrets demonstrated that the new teeth grew with normal structure and function, without significant side effects.
Encouraged by these results, Japanese researchers launched human clinical trials in September 2024. The first phase is focused on assessing safety in adult male patients who are missing molars.
Future phases will extend to children with congenital anodontia (a condition where some or all teeth never develop) and eventually to older adults suffering from tooth loss.
If successful, the therapy could provide a permanent, natural alternative to prosthetics and implants, addressing millions of cases of tooth loss worldwide.
Dental experts say the breakthrough could mark one of the most significant advances in oral healthcare in decades.
The trials are expected to progress over the next few years, raising hopes that a drug capable of regrowing human teeth could be available to patients before the end of the decades.
