Science Translational Medicine has published Popular Mechanics conducted by a team of scientists from Harvard University, which shows that a quick blast with a low-powered laser could trigger the formation of dentin by the dental stem cells.
Gizmodo shared Sarah Zhang’s report that nowadays, dentists use only synthetic material to replace damaged dentin, and for instance when you get a root canal or filling.
However, with the help of this new method, dentists might soon be able to regrow our teeth.
You may find this hard to swallow as high-power lasers are known to have the capacity to destroy teeth, but, low-power lasers have long time been suggested that could stimulate hair or skin growth, and now this study has shown that the same method works for teeth.
How Is This Possible?
Zhang explains the first procedure for teeth regrowth, saying that a laser blast induces reactive oxygen species that are chemically active molecules that cause activation of growth factors to encourage the growth of dentin.
This initial procedure has been tested only on the teeth of rodents, but it is planned to be tested on humans too. The aim is one day to replace unpleasant and painful dental procedures.
Although the idea of laser pointed into one’s mouth might not be appealing, it sure beats a root canal.
