TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE TAKAHASHI TSUJI'S LABORATORY

Eruption of a bioengineered tooth

At 16 days after transplantation, eruption of the bioengineered tooth could not be observed. At 37 days after transplantation, exposure of the cusp tip occurred in the gingival area of transplantation, indicating an eruption of the bioengineered tooth. At 49 days and thereafter, this bioengineered tooth was observed to have erupted to reach the occlusal plane and was seen to achieve opposing tooth occlusion. Following the achievement of occlusion, there was no excessive increase in the tooth length at up to 120 days after transplantation. However, the crown width of the bioengineered tooth was smaller than that of other teeth, since at present we are not able to regulate the crown width and cusp position. We are now trying to develop a novel cell manipulation technology to regulate the tooth size and morphology.