Humans Have a Third Set of Teeth. New Medicine May Help Them Grow.
They could be ready by 2030.BY TIM NEWCOMB
PUBLISHED: SEP 4, 2023
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- A 2021 study out of Japan showed how targeting genes can regrow teeth in animals. Now, the team has turned to a human clinical trial.
- By targeting the USAG-1 gene, researchers believe that they can help people without a full set of teeth regrow teeth.
- The team says that humans have a third set of teeth available as buds, ready to grow as needed.
A sliver of what makes sharks so intriguing comes with their ability to regrow teeth. And while a group of Japanese researchers aren’t claiming that we should be trying to be the most shark-like possible, they’d like for us to maybe, someday, share that same ability.
Following up on a 2021 study (published in Scientific Reports) that showed how medicine targeting the protein synthesized by the USAG-1 gene could impact the number of teeth grown in animals, the team has turned its attention to humans. They’ve announced a 2024 clinical trial of the medicine, which they in turn hope to have ready for general use in 2030.