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Research led by Professor Paul Sharpe1 of King's College London has demonstrated the use of gingival cells to generate bioengineered teeth. By isolating human gingival tissue and combining epithelial cells with embryonic tooth mesenchymal cells from mice, researchers were able to grow hybrid teeth containing dentine and enamel with developing roots. This hybrid tooth potentially offers advantages over current implant-based methods of replacing teeth, which can result in jaw bone resorption since a lack of natural root structure leaves implants vulnerable to the non-buffered forces of chewing.

Meanwhile researchers at the University of Michigan are preparing for the first known human trial to use very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells collected from adults to grow bone. With VSEL stem cells derived from adults instead of foetuses this new method could provide a minimally invasive way to accelerate painful bone regeneration for dental patients. VSEL stem cells are harvested from test patients in need of extraction and dental implantation pre-exodontia. Pure populations of VSEL stem cells are then inserted back into test patients in between extraction and implant placement to see if VSEL stem cells can reduce healing time and produce better quality bone. When new bone grows, researchers remove a small portion to study and replace it with an implant. This trial will test how concentrated quantities of VSEL stem cells can be developed to treat a wide range of diseases.