this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2024
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Unlike reptiles and fish, which usually replace their fangs on a regular basis, it is widely accepted that humans and most other mammals only grow two sets of teeth.

But hidden underneath our gums are the dormant buds of a third generation, according to Katsu Takahashi, head of oral surgery at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka.

[…]

Tests on mice and ferrets suggest that blocking a protein called USAG-1 can awaken the third set, and the researchers have published lab photographs of regrown animal teeth.

In a study published last year, the team said their "antibody treatment in mice is effective for tooth regeneration and can be a breakthrough in treating tooth anomalies in humans".

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Waiting for a pharmaceutical company patenting the shit out of this and selling it $500,000 per tooth, and for insurance companies denying covering it because it is "experimental" or "unnecessary". Fun times in the USA.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It will be unnecessary as long as dentures are the cheaper option. If there is a drug that can regrow teeth then denture manufacturers will start jacking up their costs now to offset the decline in need. Eventually they will be equally priced, they will both be $1 million.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago

I don't like your take. It's not cynical or pessimistic enough

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Except that you can't really compare dentures and teeth. Not having teeth brings along a bunch of side effects like loss of bone structure in the jaw that wouldn't happen with teeth.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Still, there is the rest of the world to be considered where health insurance actually deals with pharmaceutical companies and makes them sell their products with realistic prices.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 month ago (1 children)

OK, so you’re not really regrowing teeth, you’re growing a hidden, third, backup tooth using some sort of gene therapy.

Cool

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's reactivating a tooth bud. They could do it 4th or 5th times but iirc the actual tooth formation gets funky the more teeth you grow

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago (1 children)

tooth formation gets funky the more teeth you grow

this sentence is quite cursed

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I don't know what you mean.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Lol AI generated teeth

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Babe, I can tell you haven't clipped your teeth in a while

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'd rather be chewing on bark like a rodent.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago

Can't wait to grow my teeth out

1000019910

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

And what you'll get:

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Babe wake up, Teeth, the movie is becoming a true story

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Can I have my current teeth removed and grow in a set that are less fucked up?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Granted, your existing teeth will fall out all at once the next time you are really nervous and your new set of teeth will finish growing in when you turn 98.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Does that mean I’m guaranteed to live until at least 98? Deal

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

almost 30 years ago I was hearing about a company that grew new teeth, I can't remember if in your jaw or for later implantation. I've been waiting for EVER!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I dunno if I'd like teeth like the ones in the pic. I mean sometimes they'd be fun, but not always.