Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
11:02
Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy
Published on: April 13, 2022
Tooth development, replacement and regeneration
Ce Shan1,2, Ziwei Zhang1,2, Li Du1
1Center of Growth Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Mammals have lost lifelong tooth renewal, unlike other vertebrates. Recent advances in dental research are uncovering stem cell roles and paving the way for tooth regeneration therapies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Teeth are a key model for studying organogenesis via epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
- Mammals are predominantly diphyodont, having lost the polyphyodonty (lifelong tooth renewal) seen in most non-mammalian vertebrates.
- Understanding this evolutionary shift is vital for addressing regenerative limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent progress in understanding tooth development, replacement, and molecular regulation.
- To explore the current knowledge of dental stem cells and their role in regeneration.
- To outline a path forward for translational tooth regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Lineage tracing techniques
- Single-cell sequencing
- Multi-omics profiling
- Organoid models
Main Results:
- Recent advances have revealed significant cellular diversity and lineage potential in tooth development and homeostasis across vertebrates.
- New insights into dental stem cell identity and their function in tissue regeneration have emerged.
- The persistence of the successional dental lamina and reactivation of dormant stem cell niches are key areas of ongoing research.
Conclusions:
- Elucidating the evolutionary transition from polyphyodonty to diphyodonty offers critical insights into regenerative constraints.
- Advances in technology are reshaping our understanding of dental stem cell biology.
- A roadmap for translational tooth regeneration is being developed based on current research findings.
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