Japanese Researchers Make Astonishing Progress Toward Lab-Grown Teeth

Researchers at Kyoto University and the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital have begun clinical trials on a groundbreaking antibody drug that can stimulate the regrowth of teeth. The treatment targets a protein called USAG-1 that normally inhibits tooth development, and by blocking it, allows dormant tooth buds — which most adults still carry — to activate and grow.

In animal trials, the drug successfully grew new teeth in mice and ferrets with no significant side effects. The human clinical trials, which began in late 2025, focus first on patients with anodontia (a genetic condition causing missing teeth), with broader applications planned for people who have lost teeth due to decay or injury. Researchers estimate the treatment could be available to the general public by 2030, potentially revolutionizing dentistry and eliminating the need for dentures and implants for many patients.

“The treatment targets a protein called USAG-1 that normally inhibits tooth development, and by blocking it, allows dormant tooth buds — which most adults still carry — to activate and grow.”