Scientists in Japan are pushing the boundaries of medicine with an experimental treatment that could one day allow people to regrow lost teeth naturally — no implants, no dentures, no prosthetics. Research teams at Kitano Hospital in Osaka and Kyoto University have begun clinical trials of a drug that targets a gene called USAG-1, which normally inhibits tooth growth in humans. By blocking this gene’s activity, the drug has already sparked tooth development in animal studies, including ferrets, which have dental patterns similar to humans.

The first phase of human trials began in September 2024, involving 30 adult men aged 30 to 64 who are missing at least one tooth. Over the course of nearly a year, the treatment is being administered intravenously to test safety and effectiveness. If successful, the next phase will include children born without multiple teeth due to congenital conditions, with the ambition of making tooth regrowth widely available by around 2030.

This cutting-edge approach could transform dentistry globally, offering a permanent, biological solution to tooth loss — and it all stems from understanding the genetics behind how teeth develop. It’s a powerful example of science turning what once seemed like science fiction into a future possibility.