If a patient has lost multiple teeth, whether from gum disease, a sports-related incident, or a car accident, severe trauma to the mouth can require lengthy and extremely costly procedures. The current treatment of choice-dental implants-is effective for even the most serious cases. However, sufferers may have an unprecedented option for recovery with stem cell therapy.
Stem cell research is developing in a new direction. Recent research shows that it’s possible for teeth to be regrown from the mouth’s own stem cells, making treatment much safer and quicker than ever before.
In the not-so-far-off future, stem cells already resident in the mouth can be used to repair and even regrow teeth. This ability to regenerate tooth tissue may even reduce or eliminate the need for root canals. Using local stem cells has the advantage of speeding up the process of recovery over using donor stem cells as well as minimizing the amount of pain experienced.
The beginning stages of this research brings doctors one step closer to creating a new option for tooth restoration and replacement.