Astonishing drug that regrows missing teeth closer to release, but is there a catch that’ll delight the tooth fairy?

There is no better piece of advice than “take good care of your teeth“. For many, it’s easy to take your chompers for granted: simply brush and floss twice a day and make sure you go in for semi-regular check-ups.

But things can rapidly go wrong: whether it be via decay, injury, or disease, and suddenly you remember that once your adult teeth have grown in, that’s all you’re getting. Sure, you can get implants or even dentures, but neither is anything close to as convenient as your own teeth.

But an incredible experimental treatment being developed by a team in Japan is close to developing a drug that will let you grow new teeth in adulthood. Scientist Katsu Takahashi, a dentist and researcher affiliated with Kyoto University, has developed a drug that blocks the USAG-1 protein that suppresses new tooth development.

Ain’t that the tooth

The research underlines that while humans naturally have two sets of teeth – baby and adult – there are also dormant “tooth buds” that never have the opportunity to fully develop. The new drug reactivates them, letting adults grow new teeth. Human trials are underway, and the results are promising.

The comments are saying the catch is that the drug turns your adult teeth into a second set of baby teeth and the new teeth that grow in have to grow in as an entire set. Possibly life changing for ex-crackheads, but not so much for anybody who needs just one new tooth. https://t.co/xchWWSKKct

— ⛤Ace⛤ ♑☭🍀💍🧠𓅪♿ (@Serene_Necrosis) May 9, 2026

But there may be a couple of catches. The consequences of suppressing a protein that blocks new tooth development may mean that you’ll need to grow an entirely new set of teeth at once, which would be excellent news for the tooth fairy but not so great for you.

This could mean you’ll get the unpleasant experience of teething as an adult, as well as a potentially strange smile as your teeth grow to full size.

It’s also by no means guaranteed that a new set of teeth would grow in neatly and uniformly, potentially meaning you’d have to follow that up with some time in braces to ensure a nice appearance. It’s also unknown exactly how long new adult teeth would take to naturally grow – you could end up with a mouth resembling a toddler for years!

All of which adds up to a clear message: just because science may be approaching being able to grow you new teeth doesn’t mean you should give up on dental hygiene and just hope for a fresh pair. It’s far better to assume that the teeth currently in your head are the only ones you’ll have for the rest of your life, so you’d better take care of them!

Having said all that, this is early days yet for this science, so here’s hoping this team refines this still theoretical treatment into a safe course of therapy that’s available at a vaguely affordable price!