Tooth fairies rejoice: Regrowing teeth could become a reality [View all]
No one likes going to the dentist, but you only get one set of permanent teeth so you need to take care of and preserve them for a lifetime.
That situation may be about to change. New research in Japan has shown regrowing a tooth to replace a missing one may not be that far out in the future.
In humans, teeth are programed during development to a set number. After we lose our baby teeth, we grow 32 teeth as an adult. This includes four wisdom teeth that develop later. Some people don’t have all four wisdom teeth and, in rare cases, some people produce additional teeth, called supernumerary teeth.
Scientists have been looking into the genetic factors and molecular processes required to grow extra teeth. Research teams have found the formation of supernumerary teeth is prevented by a single gene called Usag-1, which stands for uterine sensitization-associated gene-1.
Read more: https://www.galvnews.com/health/free/article_a3f57fb3-602e-5821-942f-8d98318e3d00.html
(Galveston County Daily News)
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