ORIENT | Science and Technology. Global dentistry is on the brink of a tectonic shift. Clinical trials of a unique drug capable of forcing the human body to regrow lost teeth have officially begun in Japan. Scientific headlines around the world are already predicting the imminent collapse of the dental prosthetics industry. But is this end really so near?

As is well known, a person only changes teeth once in a lifetime—from baby teeth to permanent teeth. A special protein, USAG-1, is responsible for this limitation. It functions in our body as a strict biological fuse: as soon as the permanent dentition has formed, the protein blocks further tooth growth.

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and the startup Toregem BioPharma took the opposite approach. They created a drug based on monoclonal antibodies that selectively disables this very same brake protein. As it turns out, most people have the rudiments of a "third generation" of teeth that remain dormant in their jaws throughout their lives. The drug simply tells them to "wake up."

Experiments on laboratory animals (mice and ferrets) were a complete success: they grew new, perfectly healthy teeth to replace lost ones without any side effects. Now, scientists have moved on to testing the technology on humans.

Phase one of the trials is focused solely on safety. It involves adult volunteers missing at least one molar. If safety is confirmed, the second phase will begin, involving children aged 2 to 7 years with congenital anodontia (a rare condition in which teeth fail to grow initially due to a genetic defect). The drug is planned for commercial release by 2030.

Following this scientific breakthrough, many popular media outlets have begun to spin the news in a highly fanciful, and sometimes downright distorted, manner. Aggregators are full of slogans like: "The end of the implant era!" or "Dentists will be out of work tomorrow."

Let's take off our rose-colored glasses and look at the real facts that the media prefers to omit for clicks:

Myth 1: "The technology is available now." Reality: Only the first phase of human trials is underway. The journey from testing to pharmacy shelves in regenerative medicine takes years. The developers' official and most optimistic forecast is 2030, and even then, primarily for children with severe congenital pathologies. The average adult patient will have to wait even longer.

Myth 2: "This will kill the implant market." Reality: It won't. For the drug to be effective, the "dormant" tooth bud must physically remain in the patient's jaw. But if a person lost a tooth many years ago, experienced bone thinning, had major jaw surgeries, or had titanium pins inserted into the area, the biological zone is damaged. In such cases, science is not yet capable of growing something naturally, and classical prosthetics will remain the only salvation.

Myth 3: "An injection will replace a visit to the dentist and save you money." Reality: Initially, one injection to grow a single tooth will cost approximately $10,000 to $11,000. This is a highly complex biotechnological product, and not everyone can afford it. It will take decades before the procedure becomes widespread and affordable.

Bottom line: Japanese scientists have truly revolutionized the field, and a future where teeth can be regrown is a reality, not a fantasy. But implantologists and dentists can rest easy: their work will be in demand for a long, long time.