Researchers successfully grow teeth in laboratory

Researchers from King’s College London have said the breakthrough could lead the way to adults growing their own replacement teeth instead of having fillings in the future.

Unlike implants and fillings, which are fixed and cannot adapt over time, a lab-grown tooth made from a patient’s own cells could integrate seamlessly into the jaw and repair itself like a natural tooth.

Xuechen Zhang, from the faculty of dentistry, oral and craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London, said, “Fillings aren’t the best solution for repairing teeth. Over time, they will weaken tooth structure, have a limited lifespan, and can lead to further decay or sensitivity. Implants require invasive surgery and good combination of implants and alveolar bone. Both solutions are artificial and don’t fully restore natural tooth function, potentially leading to long-term complications.