Imagine regrowing a missing tooth using your own natural cells. That vision is edging closer to reality, thanks to groundbreaking work by scientists at King’s College London and Imperial College London.

The London-based research team has developed a specialised biological material that mimics the body’s natural tooth-growing environment. This material enables cells to communicate with one another, sending gradual signals that prompt them to begin transforming into tooth cells, mechanically similar to the slow, structured process seen in early tooth development.

“Previous attempts had failed as all the signals were sent in one go,” said Xuechen Zhang from King’s College London. “This new material releases signals slowly over time, replicating what happens in the body.”

This advance brings scientists a step closer to growing fully functioning teeth in the lab. If successful, these bioengineered teeth could replace traditional dental treatments like fillings and implants. These solutions often come with drawbacks such as structural weakness, limited lifespan and the risk of complications later on.

Looking ahead, two key strategies have been highlighted for further exploration: transplanting early-stage tooth cells directly into the mouth to grow in place, or developing complete teeth in the lab for later implantation.

This work is part of the wider field of regenerative medicine, which aims to repair the body using its biology. The promise of self-regenerating, biologically integrated teeth offers a revolutionary shift in dental care, ultimately one that could render artificial replacements obsolete within a decade.