The tooth fairy is a welcome guest for any child who has lost a tooth. Not only will the fairy leave a small gift under the child’s pillow, but they be assured of a replacement tooth in a few months. Unfortunately, the scenario is quite different for adults grappling with a loss of teeth. Luckily, there may be some hope thanks to a new study performed by scientists at Kyoto University and the University of Fukui.
A dental breakthrough
While the typical adult mouth houses 32 teeth, approximately 1% of the population exhibits variations of them, either possessing more or fewer teeth due to congenital conditions. Researchers have delved into the genetic factors behind cases of excessive teeth, seeking valuable insights into the potential regeneration of teeth in adults. This study is the first to show that monoclonal antibodies can help regrow teeth. It suggests a new way to treat a dental problem that currently requires implants and other artificial solutions.
A bit of science
The research team disclosed that an antibody targeting a specific gene, known as uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1), can induce tooth development in mice affected by tooth agenesis, a congenital condition. The findings were published in the journal, Science Advances.
As per Katsu Takahashi, a senior lecturer at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and one of the principal contributors to the study, the essential molecules crucial for the development of teeth have already been pinpointed. “The morphogenesis of individual teeth depends on the interactions of several molecules including BMP, or bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signaling,” says Takahashi.
On April 13, 2021, the University of Kyoto posted its first pic of newly-grown teeth in mice.
BMP and Wnt are involved in more than just tooth development; they affect the growth of organs and tissues early in the body’s development. Because drugs affecting them directly might have broad side effects, scientists are cautious. To find a potentially safer method, researchers focused on the gene USAG-1, thinking that aiming at factors countering BMP and Wnt specifically in tooth development could be more precise.
“We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough,” added Takahashi.
The first results
Scientists looked at how different monoclonal antibodies affect USAG-1. Monoclonal antibodies are often used to treat things like cancer and arthritis and for making vaccines. Tests with this antibody showed that BMP signaling is crucial for deciding the number of teeth in mice. Also, just one treatment was enough to grow a whole tooth. Further tests confirmed these positive results in ferrets too.
“Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans. Our next plan is to test the antibodies on other animals, such as pigs and dogs,” explained Takahashi.
Fully regrown frontal teeth in ferrets
The next steps
Now, scientists are going to test the drug on healthy adults. If that goes well, the team plans to try it on kids aged 2 to 6 with a rare tooth problem called anodontia, a genetic disorder defined as the absence of all teeth. These kids will get one shot of the drug to see if it makes their teeth grow. If everything works out, the medicine might be approved by 2030.
Takahashi sees the new medicine as an additional choice for individuals who are missing some or all of their teeth.
“The idea of growing new teeth is every dentist’s dream,” Takahashi told the Japanese newspaper, The Mainichi in June this year. “I’ve been working on this since I was a graduate student. I was confident I’d be able to make it happen.”
So hopefully, by the year 2030, humans will get a chance to have their third generation of teeth grown and say goodbye to implants. Until then, make sure to keep your teeth strong and healthy — this article will help you with that.
Preview photo credit KyotoU_News / Twitter
My Best Friend Couldn’t Watch Our Prom Tape with Me and My Boyfriend But When I Saw What He Did, Everything Clicked — Story of the Day
Pam thought the reunion of high school friends would be a simple trip down memory lane. But when an old prom tape emerged her curiosity deepened. As the tape began to play, the grainy footage revealed something that left Pam questioning everything she thought she knew about those close to her.
Caleb and I stood at the front door, the crisp evening air brushing against my face.
My heart thudded with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I glanced at Caleb, whose expression screamed indifference.
His hands were stuffed into his jacket pockets, and his shoulders slouched like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“You could at least pretend to be excited,” I said, my voice tinged with irritation.
“Pam, not now,” Caleb muttered, rolling his eyes. “Can we not start this here? Just give me a couple of hours without the drama, okay?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Drama? Seriously?” I shot back, crossing my arms.
“I’m not asking for much. I just want you to care about something that’s important to me.”
“There you go again,” he sighed heavily.
“Look, I’m here, aren’t I? I could’ve been at the pub with the guys, but I came. That should count for something.”
“If hanging out at the pub means more to you than our little high school reunion, you might as well go,” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“School reunion? There would only be three of us!” Caleb retorted, his frustration bubbling over. “You always twist my words. It’s like you don’t even try to understand me.”
Before I could respond, the door creaked open, revealing Connor, his face lighting up with a warm smile.
“Pam! Caleb! You made it!” he said, his voice full of genuine enthusiasm. “Sorry for the delay. You know, last-minute prep.”
“Connor!” I beamed, wrapping him in a friendly hug. I reached into the bag I was holding and pulled out the cake I’d spent the afternoon baking.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Look, I brought a cake.”
Connor’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Oh wow! You baked this? That’s amazing, Pam!”
“Yep,” I said, feeling shy under his admiration. “It’s a special occasion.”
“Twenty years since we graduated… Crazy how time flies,” Connor said, examining the cake with a grin.
“Yeah, yeah. She baked a cake. Big deal,” Caleb interrupted with a groan.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Can we go inside now? I’m freezing out here.”
Connor chuckled, stepping aside. “Of course, come on in.” As I walked past, Connor gave me an encouraging smile, a silent but comforting acknowledgment.
Connor had always been my best friend, the kind of person who got me without needing explanations.
He had a way of making me feel seen, even when others didn’t.
As Caleb trudged ahead, his disinterest almost tangible, I couldn’t help but notice the contrast between the two.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Connor led us to the living room, his usual warm demeanor setting a welcoming tone.
Caleb, however, made a beeline for the couch, grabbed the remote, and started flipping through channels like he was in his own living room.
I stood there for a moment, hands on my hips, watching him settle on a sports network.
“Caleb, seriously?” I said, my voice laced with frustration.
“Can’t you watch that game later?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He didn’t respond, his eyes glued to the screen as if my words were background noise. It was one of his go-to moves—pretend I wasn’t upset, and eventually, I’d let it go. Annoyingly, it often worked.
Sighing, I let my attention wander to an open cabinet in the corner of the room.
Inside was a box overflowing with old items—photos, trinkets, and memories that seemed to be calling my name.
On top was a photo album. My curiosity got the better of me, and I knelt to pull it out.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Flipping through the pages, I felt a rush of nostalgia.
The photos captured moments from our high school days—laughing faces, awkward hairstyles, and the kind of carefree energy I hadn’t felt in years.
A bittersweet smile tugged at my lips, and I could feel tears threatening to form.
“Caleb, come here!” I called out, holding up a photo. “It’s us on that school trip! Remember?”
“Can you not? You’re interrupting,” Caleb said flatly, still glued to the TV.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Before I could snap back, Connor walked in carrying plates of cake. His eyes landed on the album in my hands, and his face lit up.
“You found the old photos,” he said, setting the plates down.
“My mom loved taking pictures. She was convinced we’d thank her someday.”
He straightened his posture and mimicked a stern voice.
“‘You’ll thank me when you’re older!’ she’d always say.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I laughed. “She sounds like she was a gem.”
As I flipped to another page, something caught my eye—a VHS tape sitting in the box beneath the album. Its label, scrawled in marker, read “PROM.”
“You have prom footage?” I asked, holding up the tape.
Connor hesitated. “Oh, that? It’s ancient. Probably doesn’t even work anymore. Besides, who has a VCR these days?”
“Right there,” I said, pointing to the dusty player next to the box.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Connor sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I forgot that was even there…”
“Caleb, we need the TV!” I called over my shoulder.
Caleb didn’t even glance up. “Touch this TV, and I’ll snap that tape in half,” he said, his tone low and firm.
“Fine!” I huffed, turning to Connor with determination. “You have a TV in your room, right? Let’s go.”
Connor looked uneasy, but he nodded, leading the way.
The promise of seeing that prom footage ignited a spark of excitement in me, even if Caleb couldn’t care less. Something told me this tape held more than just old memories—it held answers.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I rushed into Connor’s bedroom clutching the VHS tape like it was a treasure chest.
My heart was racing, not just from excitement but from a strange mix of nostalgia and curiosity. Connor followed behind me, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else.
“I’m telling you, Pam, this is a bad idea,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. His unease was written all over his face.
“Bad idea?” I repeated, scoffing as I crouched to plug the VCR into the small TV in his room.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Connor, this is the best idea I’ve had all night. Come on, don’t you want to relive prom? This is history, our history.”
Connor sighed heavily, crossing his arms. “I just think some things are better left in the past.”
“Not this,” I insisted, sliding the tape into the player. “This is gold. Ready? Here we go!”
As the tape whirred to life, the screen filled with the grainy, slightly distorted image of Connor’s mom holding a camcorder. Her voice came through loud and clear, cheerful and commanding.
“Connor, smile! It’s prom night!” she chirped from behind the camera.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Young Connor appeared on the screen, a boy trying to fit into a man’s suit.
His hair was slicked back with too much gel, and his bright red tie was slightly crooked. He looked like he wanted to disappear.
“Mom, stop filming,” he groaned, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.
“You’ll thank me when you’re older!” she shot back with a chuckle.
I burst out laughing. “Wow, she really said that! You weren’t kidding.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Connor didn’t share my amusement. “Pam, I’m serious. Let’s just stop this.”
Ignoring him, I leaned closer to the screen as the tape transitioned to a car ride. The camera jostled slightly, showing the interior of the vehicle and Connor in the passenger seat.
“Mom! Stop the car! Pull over!” young Connor suddenly shouted.
“What’s wrong?” his mom asked, the camera swinging to catch his panicked expression.
“It’s Pam,” he said, pointing out the window. “She’s crying.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The camera panned to a younger version of me, sitting on the porch of my house, my face buried in my hands. I remembered that night all too well.
Caleb had been late, and I’d convinced myself he wasn’t coming. I was heartbroken, ready to skip prom entirely.
“I’ll go ask her to prom, I’m ready to tell her about my feelings,” Connor said softly.
His mom’s voice was full of warmth. “My little prince. Go ahead.”
The footage showed Connor stepping out of the car, straightening his tie as he approached. But before he could reach me, another car pulled up.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Caleb stepped out, his dad giving him a light shove to hurry him along.
I looked up, my tear-streaked face breaking into a radiant smile when I saw Caleb. Without hesitation, I ran to him, leaving Connor standing alone in the driveway.
The camera caught every moment—my joy, Caleb’s smug grin, and Connor’s heart sinking as he watched from afar.
I hit the pause button, my hand trembling. “Connor… You were going to ask me to prom?.. Even more, you were going to tell me that you loved me..”
He didn’t meet my eyes. “It doesn’t matter now, Pam. It never did.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“But all these years…” My voice cracked. “You cared about me?”
Connor finally looked at me, his expression pained but resolute.
“Of course I did. But you were happy with Caleb, and that’s what mattered. That’s all that ever mattered.”
Tears streamed down my face as I tried to process what I’d just seen and heard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Connor shook his head, giving me a sad smile. “Because you were already where you wanted to be. And I couldn’t ruin that.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
The room felt heavy with unspoken words. I didn’t know what to say, and for once, Connor didn’t fill the silence.
We both stared at the frozen image on the screen, young Connor standing alone in the shadows while I walked away, blissfully unaware.
We returned to the living room, where Caleb was still glued to the TV, oblivious to everything. But something inside me had shifted.
I sat next to Connor, stealing glances at him as he pretended everything was fine. The memory of that night, of his quiet heartbreak, lingered in my mind.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Connor,” I whispered. “You’ve always been there for me. I see that now. You’ve always been more than a friend, haven’t you?”
“Pam, please,” he said, his voice breaking. “Let it go.”
I bit my lip, unsure of what to do. My heart was torn between the familiarity of Caleb and the quiet, unwavering love Connor had always shown me.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe in another life,” I said softly.
“Maybe,” Connor replied, his smile bittersweet.
That night, I lay awake, wondering what could’ve been. For the first time, I questioned everything I thought I knew about love—and what it meant to be truly seen.
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