A Bioengineered Tooth Grows in Place, Resembling a Natural one in Look and Feel

Dental implants may resemble real teeth, but they aren’t true replacements in terms of structure or function. Now, researchers have created a groundbreaking new implant that integrates with the gum tissue and connects with existing nerves, closely imitating a natural tooth’s appearance and performance. Even better, the procedure is simpler and less invasive—no bone drilling is necessary.

Researchers from Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine have created a so-called “smart” implant—an artificial tooth with a biodegradable outer coating that holds stem cells and a specialized protein designed to prompt those cells to develop into nerve tissue.

Lack of Sensory Feedback Sets Implants Apart from Natural Teeth

“Soft tissue filled with nerves connects natural teeth to the jawbone, allowing us to sense pressure and texture and helping us regulate chewing and speaking,” explained senior author Jake Jinkun Chen, professor of periodontology at the School of Dental Medicine. “Traditional implants don’t provide that kind of sensory feedback.”

Conventional implants consist of ceramic crowns attached to titanium screw-like posts embedded in the jawbone. Although designed for long-term tooth replacement, the procedure can cause localized trauma—such as nerve damage—and the implants will always feel artificial compared to real teeth.

This new technology also avoids the complex surgical process typical of traditional implants. Initially smaller than the tooth it’s replacing, the implant features a coating of rubber nanofibers that expand as the material breaks down, anchoring the implant within the soft tissue of the socket rather than the bone. Over time, it grows to fully occupy the space.

Soft Tissue Integration Marks a Shift from Traditional Bone Fusion

“Imaging showed a clear gap between the implant and the bone, indicating that integration occurred through soft tissue rather than the usual bone fusion,” noted Chen.

As the body heals, the implant actively reconnects with nearby nerves, restoring the mouth-to-brain signaling typically lost after the removal of a natural tooth. This allows the artificial tooth to mimic real ones, detecting sensations such as texture and temperature and contributing to speech.

A Breakthrough with Potential Beyond Dentistry

“This new implant, used with a minimally invasive procedure, actively reestablishes nerve connections, allowing it to ‘communicate’ with the brain much like a natural tooth,” said Chen. “This advancement could also revolutionize other types of bone implants, including those used in hip replacements or fracture repairs.”

Although still in early development, the implant has been successfully tested in rodents, where it proved biocompatible and functioned like a natural tooth six weeks post-surgery. The next step for researchers is to study the rodents’ brain activity to determine how effectively the implant’s new nerve connections integrate with existing neural pathways.

Future phases will involve testing the implant on larger animal models, followed by clinical trials in humans.

Despite some progress in bone regeneration—particularly in Japan—scientists have yet to find a way for humans to naturally regrow lost or extracted teeth.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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