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Home News Say goodbye to dental implants: the pill that regrows and repairs teeth<br>Say goodbye to dental implants: the pill that regrows and repairs teeth
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Health
May 25, 2026
3 min
The drug would therefore be primarily intended for children, and researchers hope to make it available as early as 2030. © Edwin Tan, Getty Images
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Futura Team
Pia Gray
Humans naturally grow two sets of teeth during a lifetime. A pioneering clinical trial in Japan is currently testing whether a new medicine can unlock a hidden third set. If successful, the treatment could completely change modern dental care.
Kyoto University Hospital launched the first human trial of an experimental drug named TRG-035. The initial safety study enrolled 30 adult males who were each missing at least one tooth. Developed by biotech startup Toregem BioPharma , the drug blocks a specific protein that acts as the body’s molecular off-switch for tooth development.
Reactivating dormant buds
The targeted protein normally stops extra teeth from forming after your adult set arrives. By neutralizing this biological barrier, the drug reactivates dormant tooth buds using the body’s natural signaling pathways. Humans have these tiny, residual buds, but the body keeps them permanently off.
Researchers first discovered this genetic mechanism when they engineered mice lacking the specific gene. The engineered mice grew extra teeth. Later testing on mice and ferrets showed that a single antibody injection grew fully functional teeth without causing serious safety issues.
The current trial
The ongoing Phase I trial focuses purely on human safety. The study began in late 2024 and wrapped up its initial 11 month tracking window. While final results are pending, researchers note that actual tooth regrowth in these adult participants is unlikely. These volunteers establish safety profiles before testing expands.
If the safety data is supported, the next phase will target children aged 2 to 7 with congenital tooth loss . Missing six or more teeth from birth affects roughly one in one thousand people. The condition causes severe chewing difficulties and significant social stigma, leading some affected teenagers to wear face masks.
Treatment priority will be given to "urgent" cases of patients missing six or more teeth at birth. © uwimages, Adobe Stock<br>Expert observations
Independent global experts are watching the trial closely. Dr. Angray Kang from Queen Mary University of London noted that a similar antibody treatment already treats osteoporosis safely. This existing medical context provides the tooth regrowth project with baseline safety data.
However, challenges remain. Dr. Chengfei Zhang from the University of Hong Kong questioned whether these newly grown teeth will align perfectly. Researchers counter that if a regenerated tooth grows out of alignment, standard orthodontics can easily reposition it within the jaw.
Looking to 2030
Toregem BioPharma aims for commercial availability by 2030 if clinical trials succeed. The treatment will initially serve children born with missing teeth . Eventually, the company hopes to expand the drug to adults who lost teeth to decay or injury.
The research carries profound implications for aging societies. Government data shows that over 90% of Japanese adults over 75 are missing at least one tooth. Replacing missing teeth could meaningfully improve systemic health, nutrition, and overall quality of life for seniors worldwide.
"There’s a strong hope that our technology could directly extend healthy life expectancy," Takahashi said.
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