English

Abstract

Introduction Regenerating a tooth completely in human oral cavity is not achieved by current studies yet. Here, we have conceived a man-induced method to construct a teeth germ which might be used to regenerate a tooth in vivo. This idea was generated by traits of the development of the compound odontoma, a benign tumour of tooth malformation. This is a kind of developmental tooth malformation, characterised by several small teeth inside the entity. Those scattered denticles/daughter teeth germs, formed in the early stage of odontoma morphogenesis, show similar layers as in a normal tooth, and could grow into tooth-like shapes. In consideration with recent report that mouse tooth germ constructed in vitro could develop into a fully functioned tooth in adult mouse jaws. We hope this hypothesis helps generate tooth germs for in vivo implantation. Hypothesis Tooth germ of wisdom tooth might be separated into small daughter germs by bone trabecular using tissue-engineering method, to provide more than one tooth germ for tooth regeneration. Evaluation of hypothesis By reconstruction existing dental tissues during tooth organgenesis in the jaw, this hypothesis shows advantage than generating tooth from single stem cell or artificial tooth graft. Conclusion Proving this hypothesis not only facilitates the acquirement of numerous homologous and immunological rejection-free teeth germs to treat tooth loss and deficit, but also helps afford an alternative lesson that merits attention in other human organ regeneration fields.