Japanese researchers have developed a medication, currently in clinical trials, to regrow human teeth, which could be available to the public as early as 2030.
The experimental treatment, led by Japanese scientist Katsu Takahashi, represents a potential breakthrough in dental medicine, one that could eventually replace dentures and implants with a patient’s own natural teeth.
The USAG-1 protein
Takahashi, a dentist and researcher affiliated with Kyoto University and the Medical Research Institute at Kitano Hospital in Osaka, has spent years studying the genetic mechanisms that control tooth development. His work focuses on a key protein, USAG-1, which suppresses the growth of additional teeth in humans.
Humans typically grow two sets of teeth—baby teeth and permanent adult teeth. However, researchers have found that the body may retain dormant “tooth buds,” or early-stage tooth structures, that never fully develop. Takahashi’s research suggests these buds can be reactivated under the right conditions.
The drug under development works by targeting and blocking the USAG-1 protein. By inhibiting this protein, scientists aim to remove the biological “brake” that prevents additional teeth from forming. In animal studies involving mice and ferrets, this approach successfully stimulated the growth of new teeth without significant side effects.
Clinical trials are underway
Early-stage trials that began in late 2024 are continuing, with about 30 adult participants receiving the drug to evaluate its safety and determine dosage. The therapy, sometimes referred to as TRG-035, marks the first time researchers have tested tooth regrowth in humans after successful results in animal studies.
While the science remains promising, the treatment is still in its earliest phase, and broader use remains years away. Researchers plan to expand trials to children with congenital tooth loss if safety benchmarks are met, and regulatory discussions are already underway in Japan and the United States.
Even with steady progress, the projected timeline for public availability remains around 2030, with initial use likely limited to specific medical cases rather than general dental care.
In late 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Health granted the treatment “Orphan Drug” status for severe congenital tooth loss, which could potentially speed up the regulatory process.
Key questions—including whether regrown teeth will function normally and how well they integrate over time—will need to be answered in later trial phases before the drug can move toward approval.
Tooth loss affects millions
The implications could be significant. Tooth loss affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, and current solutions rely heavily on artificial replacements such as dentures and implants. A drug that enables natural tooth regrowth could offer a longer-lasting and more biologically compatible alternative.
Still, researchers caution that the treatment remains experimental. Clinical trials must demonstrate not only that the drug is safe but also that newly grown teeth function properly and integrate with surrounding tissue.
If successful, however, the therapy could mark a major shift in dentistry. For now, the prospect of regrowing teeth—once considered science fiction—is moving closer to reality, driven by advances in genetics and regenerative medicine.
