Scientists successfully re-grow damaged teeth using lasers

Scientists have successfully managed to re-grow damaged teeth using laser technology, says a report on BusinessInsider. The results of this study were published in the journal of Science Translational Medicine and the research was led by a team of Harvard scientists. According to the report on Business Insider, the researchers used “low-powered lasers to activate stem cells and stimulate the growth of teeth in rats and human dental tissue in a lab.” In a statement published on The Verge, David Mooney, the research team’s leader said, “Lasers are routinely used in medicine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low. It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them.” [caption id=“attachment_493417” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pic used for representational purposes only. Reuters[/caption] As part of the study, the researchers look at two molars, one that got the laser treatment, one that didn’t. The report points out that after “twelve weeks later, the researchers observed that the dent in in the molar that received treatment was growing again - the tooth was growing back.” It adds that this technique was also used on “various mammal cells under a microscope” and “each time, the laser light caused certain oxygen-containing molecules to appear.” The potential for this research is massive. This is will be seen as a big leap in dentistry and it soon be possible to regrow teeth instead of replacing them with substitutes. More importantly as the report on BI notes, “this same technique could potentially be used to heal wounds and regenerate bone, skin, and muscle.”