Scientists Grow Mouse Teeth From Single Cells

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Her team has attempted similar work, she said, but the Japanese tooth "doesn't develop any farther than our bioengineered teeth did."

According to Yelick, the problem with all bioengineered teeth is that, so far, they can't be made to form specific teeth. "The limitations are generating teeth of predetermined size and shape, which really is the big stumbling block," she said.

"Tooth root formation is a big problem," too, she said. Tsuji's group was able to develop preliminary root structures, she said, "but they are not the functional roots that are really required for a functional tooth to stay in place."

However, Yelick remains optimistic. She predicts that, one day, there will be tissues engineered to replace damaged parts of organs, and even whole organs will be grown outside the body for transplant. "Every day, progress is being made," she said

More information

For more on tissue regeneration, visit the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative.