Reclaiming Lost Smiles: A New Tooth-Growth Drug Is On The Horizon

A Japanese pharmaceutical company, Toregem Biopharma, has been hard at work developing a potential game-changer for the dental industry. The company, funded by Kyoto University, hopes its new drug can help people grow or regrow missing teeth. While this advancement is still only in the trial stage, the news is extremely promising for those with genetic dental issues.

What is the New Tooth-growth Drug?

The new tooth-growth drug is currently unnamed but is an exciting development in the world of dentistry. Essentially, it is an antibody-drug that inhibits a protein in the mouth. The protein, known as USAG-1, suppresses tooth growth and prevents tooth buds from forming.

Many people have congenital dental problems that are basically caused by the USAG-1 protein. For sufferers of these conditions, teeth don’t grow, leading to other dental problems. For example, missing teeth often affect a child’s jawbone development. Until now, there has been no solution for these conditions aside from cosmetic or surgical procedures.

The new tooth-growth drug being developed in Japan hopes to change this, giving patients the chance to grow their own teeth, rather than relying on dentures or other cosmetic dental interventions.

What Testing Has Been Done?

The new drug has been tested on ferrets because they have teeth quite similar to humans. Results have been promising, so Toregem Biopharma wants to commence human trials in July 2024. The company also wants to initiate a second clinical trial, working with children who have been born without some or all of their teeth.

Initial Plans for the Tooth-growth Drug

The team at Toregem Biopharma is enthusiastic about the potential of the new drug. Initially, they hope to treat people who are missing teeth due to a genetic issue. So, it is hoped the drug can be helpful for people whose teeth never grow. Ideally, the drug could be administered to children if their teeth don’t grow. By inhibiting the USAG-1 protein, researchers hope that these children’s teeth can grow normally, allowing them to avoid many complications as they age.

Long-term Potential

In the future, there is reason to believe that this new drug could be used to treat a range of dental issues, both genetic and otherwise. People lose teeth for a number of reasons, such as decay, trauma and other oral health conditions. Lost teeth are typically treated cosmetically, but could this drug be the solution?

Toregem’s president, Honoka Kiso, certainly hopes so. As a teenager, she lost some teeth due to a bone disorder and has always wanted to know more about her condition. Perhaps a lofty goal back then, Kiso wanted to find a way for people to grow back their lost teeth.

So, while Toregem’s initial focus for the drug is to treat people whose teeth have never grown, there is certainly hope that it can treat a number of conditions in the future, specifically allowing patients to regrow their own teeth.

When Will it Be Available from your Maroubra Dentist?

We’d be jumping the gun to say that this medical intervention will be available soon. As it stands currently, Toregem Biopharma hopes to conduct its first human testing in July 2024. The intention is to see the product on the market by 2030 but that will require significant testing. There are also plenty of regulatory hoops to jump through before putting any type of medicine on the market, so it may be some time before we’re regrowing your teeth at a dental clinic in Maroubra.

However, the progress so far has been encouraging. Certainly, if clinical trials keep going well, there is no reason to think that we won’t be able to regrow missing, damaged or broken teeth at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Preventing Avoidable Tooth Loss

While we don’t currently have the technology to regrow teeth, there is certainly plenty that we can do to avoid tooth loss. Some conditions are genetic, but there are several human behaviours that can contribute to tooth loss. For example, tooth decay often leads to teeth being removed surgically or rotting away naturally. Trauma during contact sports can result in lost teeth. All types of periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, and you can do a few things to avoid this.

Brush Regularly

The most obvious advice, but always the best. Brushing your teeth regularly helps to remove food particles and bacteria from your mouth. Without brushing, plaque, tartar, food particles, and other bacteria can react with acids in your mouth, causing tooth decay. Brushing also helps to look after your gums. It doesn’t need to take long. Simply brush for a few minutes twice a day with a brush that suits your mouth.

Everything in Moderation

Sugar is a particularly damaging substance for your teeth and you’ll find it in so many things you eat and drink. Ideally, you should limit consumption of sugary drinks such as soft drinks, energy drinks and alcohol. Wine and coffee can stain your teeth too, so it’s important to limit the amount you consume.

Regular Dental Checks

Finally, the best thing you can do for your teeth is book regular appointments with your local Maroubra dentist. Dental checks and cleaning are important at any stage of life, and these appointments also help to identify minor issues before they become more painful and costly.

Need Dental in Maroubra?

If you’re looking for a dental clinic in Maroubra that can take care of your whole family, look no further. Dental Avenue Maroubra offers all types of family dental services, such as general dentistry, cosmetic dental services, implants and more. Our highly trained experts can treat a range of dental issues and also provide education about dental care. Don’t let small oral health problems become more serious. Contact your local Maroubra dentist today.

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