Scientists Grow Human-Like Teeth in Pigs: A New Frontier in Dentistry

Tooth-Like Structures Grown in Mini Pigs' Jaws: A Step Toward Bioengineered Human Teeth

The idea of growing teeth—human-like teeth, to be exact—in the jaws of pigs may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but groundbreaking research is turning this concept into reality. Researchers from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston have achieved a remarkable feat by growing tooth-like tissues composed of human and pig cells within the jaws of pigs. This development, which holds significant promise for the future of dental medicine, could eventually provide viable, biological alternatives to the synthetic implants commonly used to replace missing teeth today.

The Science Behind Growing Human-Like Teeth in Pigs

This ambitious project has the potential to change the landscape of dental care. To grow human-like teeth in pigs, the researchers used a combination of human and pig cells. The process began with the extraction of cells from human dental pulp, which is the soft tissue inside human teeth. These cells were then mixed with cells taken from the tooth buds of pigs. In simpler terms, tooth buds are the precursor cells in the early stages of tooth development.

Once the cells were harvested, they were cultivated and allowed to grow in the lab. The researchers used a scaffold—basically, a framework—constructed from pig teeth, which had been stripped of their cellular content, leaving only the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is a naturally occurring network of proteins that provide structural support to tissues. It is this matrix that provides a foundation for the new cells to grow and form a tooth-like structure.

After the cells were seeded onto the scaffold, the entire unit was placed into a bioreactor—a machine that mimics the conditions of the body—where it was kept for about a week. This allows the cells to grow and begin developing the structures that would eventually resemble teeth. Once this initial phase of growth was completed, the bioreactor-grown tissue was implanted into the jaws of several living pigs.

Growing the Teeth in Miniature Pigs

Over the course of two to four months, the implanted cells underwent further growth and transformation within the pigs' mouths. When the researchers removed the implants, they found something truly remarkable. The pigs had developed tooth-like tissues that were hard, with cementum and dentin layers similar to those found in human teeth. Cementum is the hard substance that covers the root of a tooth, while dentin is the tissue beneath the enamel that forms the bulk of the tooth structure.

This milestone provides exciting evidence that biologically grown, functional teeth could one day be used to replace damaged or missing teeth in humans. In particular, these lab-grown teeth could offer a living, biologically integrated alternative to the titanium dental implants currently used in dentistry.

Why This Research Matters: A Shift from Synthetic to Biological Implants

Dental implants, typically made from titanium, have been the standard solution for replacing lost or damaged teeth. These implants are incredibly successful in terms of their durability, typically lasting about 10 years. In fact, the global dental implant market was valued at USD 6.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 10.53 billion by 2029. However, despite their success, titanium implants have their drawbacks: they are expensive, require surgery to be placed, and do not fully mimic the natural biological process of tooth development.

In addition, titanium implants do not grow or self-repair. Once placed, they become permanent fixtures and must be replaced as they wear out or fail. This presents a challenge in maintaining long-term dental health, particularly in older adults who may experience complications like bone loss or gum disease, which can affect the longevity of these synthetic implants.

Researchers from Tufts University, led by Dr. Iannotti and his team, propose that bioengineered living teeth, complete with functional periodontal ligament tissues, could be a better long-term solution for tooth replacement. These living teeth would not only offer better integration with the natural tissue in a patient’s gums but would also grow and adapt over time, similar to how natural teeth function.

This innovation could revolutionize the dental field by providing patients with a biologically integrated and self-repairing solution, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming replacements. The idea is that these living teeth could potentially be implanted and then allowed to grow and mature inside a patient's mouth, offering a more natural and durable option than current synthetic implants.

Challenges and Limitations: Why This Technology Isn’t Ready for Humans Yet

Despite the exciting potential, there are still significant hurdles that need to be overcome before lab-grown teeth become a viable option for human patients. First, the size of the lab-grown teeth in pigs did not match the size of a typical adult human tooth. While these tooth-like structures are promising, they are currently too small to be used as functional replacements in adult human mouths.

Second, transferring this technique from pigs to humans presents another major challenge. The biological environment in pigs is different from that in humans, and there are numerous factors that must be considered before this method can be used in clinical settings. For example, the immune system’s response to implanted biological materials could differ between species, making it difficult to predict how well human patients would tolerate such implants.

Moreover, the research team has yet to fully optimize the growth process of the tooth-like structures. While the teeth grew hard tissue layers such as dentin and cementum, they did not develop enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. Enamel is vital for the durability and function of natural teeth, and without it, the bioengineered teeth would likely not withstand the forces of chewing and biting.

Study Reference: https://academic.oup.com/stcltm/advance-article/doi/10.1093/stcltm/szae076/7933795

A Look Ahead: The Future of Bioengineered Teeth

While there are still significant challenges to overcome, the work being done by Tufts University researchers opens up exciting possibilities for the future of dental implants. If further advancements can be made in growing teeth that are comparable in size, structure, and durability to human teeth, this research could lead to a new era of dental care.

Not only would bioengineered teeth offer an alternative to synthetic implants, but they could also contribute to a more sustainable and accessible solution for tooth replacement. As the world’s population ages, the demand for dental implants will only continue to grow, and bioengineered teeth could help meet this demand in a way that is both cost-effective and biologically superior.

The future of dentistry could be brighter than ever, with the promise of living, self-healing teeth replacing traditional implants and enhancing the quality of life for millions of people. However, it is essential to note that we are still in the early stages of this research, and many years of development and testing remain before this technology is ready for widespread clinical use.