ARTICLE B

Are bioteeth the future for dental implants?

Missing teeth could, in future, be replaced with bioengineered replicas made with a patients own gum
cells if research being carried out at King's College London comes to fruition. The team of scientists have
recently reported their progress in the Journal of Dental Research.
Standard methods of whole-tooth replacement involve implants, but are unable to recreate the root
structure of normal teeth. As a consequence, the friction produced by movement when eating and so on
can often result in loss of or damage to the jaw bone in the relevant area. The prospect of growing perfect
reproductions of the teeth in situ is therefore bound to be welcome news for those requiring single tooth
replacement or even dentures.
"They will be natural teeth, each including a natural root," said Professor Sharpe leader of the research
team. "Unlike metal implants which are directly connected to the bone a bioengineered natural tooth
will have all the normal soft tissue connections, such as a periodontal ligament."
Research has, in the past, focussed on the development of embryonic teeth primordia. These are immature
teeth akin to those found in an embryo, but they can be transformed into small pellets of cells which are
able to grow in the completely different conditions found inside an adults mouth.
In general, embryonic cells are thought to be an impractical source for embryonic teeth primordia to be
used on a larger scale. In their new work, Professor Sharpe and his colleagues channelled their efforts into
finding an alternative source of adult cells. They isolated adult human gum tissue from patients at the
Kings Dental Institute and grew more in the lab before combining it with teeth-forming cells from mice.
When this mixture of cells was transplanted into mice, hybrid human-mouse teeth could be grown.
Containing dentin and enamel, the bioengineered teeth also displayed the vital root structure.
The biggest problem was to be able to grow sufficient cells in such a way that they could maintain their
tooth-forming capacity.
Thus far researchers have demonstrated that epithelial cells from adult gum tissue can be prompted to
give rise to differentiated cell types and contribute to the creation of tooth crown and root with signals
from embryonic mesenchymal cells. Epithelial cells from the gum are easily accessible and so the
technique is promising, but it will be necessary to grow adult mesenchymal cells in vitro in order that they
may be used to stimulate tooth formation.
(NOTE: mesenchymal cells are loosely organized unspecialized mesodermal cells that give rise to such
structures as connective tissues, blood, lymphatics, bone, and cartilage)
VOCABULARY
1. Give a definition/synonym of the following.
a. gum:
b. denture:
c. periodontal ligament:
d. to transplant (v):
e. dentin:
f. enamel:
g. vital:

2. Match the words/expressions taken from the article with the appropriate definition.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

bioengineered
(adj)
replica (n)
to come to fruition
implant (n)
prospect (n)
in situ
to be bound to
primordia (n)
akin to

A. sth put into a persons body by means of surgery

B. very likely, sure
C. to direct energy towards sth
D. an exact or very close copy of sth
E. to be made to
F. the earliest developmental stage of an organ or part
G. a small, ball-like body
H. created artificially by using living cells
I. undergone the processes whereby unspecialized cells/tissues get their adult
form and function
10. pellet (n)
J. the possibility of sth
11. to channel efforts into
K. to be successfully put into action and completed
12.to be prompted to
L. outside the living body and in an artificial environment
13. differentiated
(adj)
M. similar to
14. in vitro
N. in the natural or original position or place
3. in vitro is the opposite of in vivo. What do you think in vivo means?
4. Answer the following questions.
a. How will bioengineered teeth differ from standard implants?

b. Describe the process of creating hybrid teeth under development at Kings College London (Use the
verbs: isolate, grow, combine, transplant). Use your own words, do not copy from the text!

c. Explain the sources of difficulties researchers have been facing in the process of making bioengineered
teeth.

d. What do you think of the future of bioengineering? (Use the following terms: in vivo, in vitro, in situ)