Imagine a denture-free world. Its closer than you may think. Researchers at Nova Southeastern University in Florida are using adult stem cells to grow replacement teeth.
Cloning teeth as a new solution in health care will benefit the 45 million Americans who have problems with their dentures.
According to a report in the Sun-Sentinel, A 2009 NSU survey of dentists around the nation revealed that more than half thought that they would be using stem cell and tissue engineering therapies on their patients within the next decade. An overwhelming 96 percent of dentists believe the ability to regenerate and replace teeth and dental tissues is the future of dentistry, according to the survey.
So far, stem cells have been used to successfully regenerate teeth in the lab and in animals. It is said that mainstream dental treatments using stem cells will not be available for another decade to 50 years.
At the same time, the introduction of dental stem cell therapies can be sped up if more funds are devoted to research, something that might now readily happen in this uncertain economy.
So smile, the future looks bright for stem cell dental care.