Lab-grown human teeth offer a future beyond implants

This spring, UK scientists reported a breakthrough in regenerative dentistry: they successfully grew fully developed human teeth in the lab. Using stem cells and advanced tissue-engineering scaffolds, the team recreated both the enamel and dentin layers—two of the hardest tissues in the human body. The hope is that within the next decade, patients who lose teeth could receive a biologically grown replacement instead of an implant or bridge. With over 178 million Americans missing at least one tooth, and global dental implant sales projected to exceed $6 billion by 2030, the potential for natural replacements is enormous.