Scientists from the Kitano Medical Research Institute (Osaka Prefecture) and Kyoto University have created a medicine that will help people with hypodontia (congenital absence of one to five teeth) to grow teeth. They will start testing the invention in autumn 2024.
According to scientists, the medicine has an effect on tooth rudiments, which are able to grow into full teeth. However, in most cases, they eventually stop developing and disappear. The invention suppresses the action of the USAG-1 protein, which stops tooth development. In this way, the rudiments will replace unerupted or lost teeth.
During the first trial, experts will inject the medicine intravenously into 30 men who are missing at least one molar tooth. Their ages will range from 30 to 64 years old. In the second stage, they will test the medicine on patients with congenitally missing teeth. They plan to start using the medicine in six years. According to scientists, in the future the medicine will also help people who have lost a tooth due to caries to grow a tooth, writes The Mainichi Shimbu
