March 10th, 2005
Timeline For Tooth Regeneration
ABC News reports on projected timelines for regenerative dental therapies: "Presentations at a dental meeting demonstrate that techniques using stem cells and gene therapy to regenerate teeth are producing promising results, suggesting this technique may not be far off. ... Clearly, techniques that involve adding new tissue to already-existing teeth are 'probably a bit closer on the horizon,' perhaps within a 'handful of years,' Smith predicted. Techniques that grow teeth from scratch will likely take at least another 10 years to perfect." Similar promising beginnings and projected timelines for regenerative medicine can be seen for many other organs and body parts, from hair to heart. Let the research roll on!