Will Regrowth of enamal/tooth ever be possable

Yourbigpalal83 · #1 30th December 2006, 16:00

I was wondering, since we all grow enamal as infants, would stem cell research one day in the future,possably be able to re grow enamal? I mean, we all start out not having any teeth, and they grow, so, wouldent there be a way to duplicate that process in an adult. Like, in the future, you'd go to a dentist, and instead of a filling, they would put a sort of past or jell on the tooth and it would stimulate regrowth?

Im just wondering. What would it be like to see a dentist in the future, say in 50 to 100 years from now? I know fillings have been used for centuries, but still, could that one day be obsolite? Will one day we will be able to just re grow things? I have read so much about cloning and steem cell research, and i know all sorts of things are possable. If you think about it, we have the genetic code and data in every single drop of our blood to completly rebuild ourselves. Shouldent regrowth of small portions of teeth be possable one day?

My theory is, you'd use a portion of your dna, recode and replicate it, and simply use it in a form of gel, and place it on were the damage is, and the body would respond and repair itself. I mean, i just dont get why we humans, can only repair ourselves to a certain extent? Sharks re grow teeth thousands of times in there life, other animals regrow entire limbs, etc, yet us humans, we seem stuck with the inability to repair minor/major wounds like teeth and limbs.

Just think of the benifits of this. Not just for dental work.

Parsnip · #2 30th December 2006, 17:19

I'll have a pint of whatever you're drinking!

Human teeth are a bit of a design fault I reckon - Blame yer god for that (whoever she is).
Problem with teeth is their crystalline neture - and allowing repair to occur which will mirror the growth patterns in the natural tooth. Restorative materials seek to match the properties of human tooth tissue as closely as possible, but are fairly far from ideal. We were better off when sugar wasn't so cheap.

Prevention is better than cure.

Pars

Yourbigpalal83 · #3 30th December 2006, 22:20

Ya i know.

Honestly though i was more of a diet soda junkie then a candy junkie, and ive completly given that up. Also i never brushed on a constant bases. Now, i know for sure my teeth arent too bad, but need work, its just, idk, im so frighten, its driving me insane.

Parsnip · #4 30th December 2006, 23:04

Hey BigPal
[smiley=grouphug.gif]

You have pm...

Pars

McGonicle · #5 18th January 2007, 17:42

Hi, I know I'm late to the debate, but actually, it has been known for whole teeth and other body parts to grow within tumours. I can't see them ever grafting material from these structures onto teeth, but I would not count out the mechanics behind this quirk being exploited some time in the future to construct more advanced dentures.

Parsnip · #6 18th January 2007, 20:02

These tumours are known as Teratomas (If I remember correctly) and it's to do with differentiation of stem cells. Usually inappropriately in this case. But if this could be harnessed then it would indeed be possible. However, teeth seem to come down the line a bit when considered in relation to such conditions as Motor Neurone Disease. Perhaps if the boffins find a cure for that awful condition they can start looking at toothy-pegs..

Pars

AmberUK · #7 12th February 2007, 18:52

If you use ozone to kill off the bacteria the tooth can be allowed to remineralise. Or at least it will not continue to decay (unless the baceria re-establish) and it does not need drilling as you normally do.