19/01/2025
Scientists Have Created a Method to Regrow Teeth:
Recent research suggests that a small dose of light may be enough to stimulate new tooth growth.
A team led by Dr. Arany shone low-power laser light on the tooth pulps of rats, which resulted in the formation of tertiary dentin, a bone-like substance. This finding points to the potential for tooth regeneration.
To better understand how light induces this growth, the researchers examined the biological mechanism and discovered that low-power laser light activates transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β). This activation triggers the production of reactive oxygen species, which in turn causes dental stem cells to differentiate into odontoblasts, the cells responsible for forming dentin.
The mechanism was further validated when mice lacking TGF-β or treated with a TGF-β inhibitor did not respond to the laser treatment, confirming its key role in the process.
Since lasers are already used in dentistry for other treatments, this discovery could pave the way for light-based therapies aimed at regenerating teeth in humans, potentially offering a new approach to dental care in the future.
Learn more: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/laser-therapy-prompts-regeneration-teeth
