The tooth fairy is a welcome guest for any child who has lost a tooth. Not only will the fairy leave a small gift under the child’s pillow, but they be assured of a replacement tooth in a few months. Unfortunately, the scenario is quite different for adults grappling with a loss of teeth. Luckily, there may be some hope thanks to a new study performed by scientists at Kyoto University and the University of Fukui.
A dental breakthrough
While the typical adult mouth houses 32 teeth, approximately 1% of the population exhibits variations of them, either possessing more or fewer teeth due to congenital conditions. Researchers have delved into the genetic factors behind cases of excessive teeth, seeking valuable insights into the potential regeneration of teeth in adults. This study is the first to show that monoclonal antibodies can help regrow teeth. It suggests a new way to treat a dental problem that currently requires implants and other artificial solutions.
A bit of science
The research team disclosed that an antibody targeting a specific gene, known as uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1), can induce tooth development in mice affected by tooth agenesis, a congenital condition. The findings were published in the journal, Science Advances.
As per Katsu Takahashi, a senior lecturer at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and one of the principal contributors to the study, the essential molecules crucial for the development of teeth have already been pinpointed. “The morphogenesis of individual teeth depends on the interactions of several molecules including BMP, or bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signaling,” says Takahashi.
On April 13, 2021, the University of Kyoto posted its first pic of newly-grown teeth in mice.
BMP and Wnt are involved in more than just tooth development; they affect the growth of organs and tissues early in the body’s development. Because drugs affecting them directly might have broad side effects, scientists are cautious. To find a potentially safer method, researchers focused on the gene USAG-1, thinking that aiming at factors countering BMP and Wnt specifically in tooth development could be more precise.
“We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough,” added Takahashi.
The first results
Scientists looked at how different monoclonal antibodies affect USAG-1. Monoclonal antibodies are often used to treat things like cancer and arthritis and for making vaccines. Tests with this antibody showed that BMP signaling is crucial for deciding the number of teeth in mice. Also, just one treatment was enough to grow a whole tooth. Further tests confirmed these positive results in ferrets too.
“Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans. Our next plan is to test the antibodies on other animals, such as pigs and dogs,” explained Takahashi.
Fully regrown frontal teeth in ferrets
The next steps
Now, scientists are going to test the drug on healthy adults. If that goes well, the team plans to try it on kids aged 2 to 6 with a rare tooth problem called anodontia, a genetic disorder defined as the absence of all teeth. These kids will get one shot of the drug to see if it makes their teeth grow. If everything works out, the medicine might be approved by 2030.
Takahashi sees the new medicine as an additional choice for individuals who are missing some or all of their teeth.
“The idea of growing new teeth is every dentist’s dream,” Takahashi told the Japanese newspaper, The Mainichi in June this year. “I’ve been working on this since I was a graduate student. I was confident I’d be able to make it happen.”
So hopefully, by the year 2030, humans will get a chance to have their third generation of teeth grown and say goodbye to implants. Until then, make sure to keep your teeth strong and healthy — this article will help you with that.
Preview photo credit KyotoU_News / Twitter
My Husband Cheated on Me While I Was Postpartum – I Pretended Not to Know, Planning to Hit Him Hard with My Revenge
My Husband Cheated on Me While I Was Postpartum – I Pretended Not to Know, Planning to Hit Him Hard with My Revenge
I thought my husband and I were on the same page when we conceived our first child together, but he chose our baby girl’s birth as the reason for his infidelity. Little did he know I found out and played him, pretending to still be in love with him until I could drop the real surprise!
A shocked man with his mouth covered while reading something on a paper | Source: Pexels
Right after I gave birth to our only child, I found out that my husband had been sneaking around with a mistress. The truth shattered my heart into a billion pieces when I discovered the truth, finding myself tangled in a web of betrayal and pain.
I thought we had a healthy and happy marriage until I started noticing the late-night calls, secretive outings, and general changes in his behavior.
A man smiling while on a call | Source: Freepik
What broke my heart the most was that he strayed while I was postpartum, a time when our family should have been basking in the joy of our new addition. Instead, I was left grappling with a hurt that seemed insurmountable.
I was able to confirm his infidelity when I pored over what felt like a thousand texts between him and his side chick, trying to figure out WHY. Like, what did she have that I was missing?
A woman looking to the side while contemplating something with her phone in hand | Source: Pexels
While I was trying to work, take care of our little one, and maintain a happy marriage, he was finding love and joy in the arms of someone else. I don’t want to lie… I was livid! I felt betrayed, but anger was the main emotion fueling me.
Then a wild idea hit me!
I decided to secure a life for myself and our baby girl by buying an apartment where we’d love together. I also moved our money around so I could have access to it when needed without him being aware.
I also spoke to a lawyer and prepared to get sole custody or shared if it came down to that.
A man smiling while a woman whispers something to him while having beverages | Source: Pexels
However, I had a bigger and more elaborate plan than what I already did. I started morphing into every little thing he’d been daydreaming and texting her about. His messages to her started drying up.
When I read how he loved seeing her wearing “her short miniskirt with the cute little heels,” I incorporated that into my look. When he mentioned liking the way she “lightly touched his forearm when they conversed,” I started mimicking that behavior.
Ironically, he never asked me about these changes but just became more interested and invested in me.
A woman caressing a man’s arm while holding hands | Source: Pexels
He spoke of feeling alive, desired—a contrast to the life we had woven together. It pained me to see him find solace in another when I had poured every ounce of my love into our union.
And then, the moment I’ve been biting my nails for happens… he breaks it off with her! My plan had yielded the results I wanted, leading him to tell her he loves me!
My husband cut things off with his mistress and was finally mine, but it was a bittersweet victory.
An angry woman pointing at a man seated on a bench during a heated disagreement | Source: Pexels
Relief washed over me, yet the seed of my plan had already taken root. Preparation for my divorce was underway, a final act of defiance against the hurt that had been inflicted upon us both. He was unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon, a storm that would break in the serene setting of a restaurant, under the guise of a romantic evening.
So, when our anniversary came, I pretended to still be in love with him and planned this super romantic dinner at a restaurant where I invited him as my date. He’s all sparkly-eyed, totally excited, looking at me like I’m the only woman in the world.
A happy man kissing the hand of his date | Source: Pexels
That night, as we sat across from each other, I played the part of a loving wife to perfection. Laughter and tender glances were exchanged, a facade of normalcy that belied the tumult within me.
At one point, I asked him to pose for this photo, you know, “for the memories…”
…And then his face went ghost-white the second I unveiled the culmination of my plans: Divorce papers slid across the table!
I TOOK THIS PHOTO OF MY HUSBAND MINUTES BEFORE RUINING HIS LIFE.
A man smiling and looking happy while having his picture taken at a restaurant | Source: Flickr
His eyes widened, a mix of shock and disbelief washing over him. “Is this some kind of joke?” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
A shocked man looking at some papers | Source: Pexels
“No joke,” I replied, my voice laced with a resolve that surprised even me.
“I know everything, about her, about the lies. It’s over.”
A shocked man covering part of his face while sitting with a drink and papers in front of him | Source: Freepik
“But, I…I thought we were happy,” he managed, his words tumbling out in desperation.
“We were until you decided that wasn’t enough,” I said, standing up, the chair scraping quietly against the floor. “I deserved better. Our child deserves better.”
An upset woman gesturing with her hands while talking to someone at a restaurant | Source: Freepik
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away. “Please, can’t we talk about this? There has to be another way,” he pleaded.
“There was. It was called trust,” I answered, turning away from the table, from the life we shared, from the man I thought I knew.
The shock that rippled through him was palpable, a stark contrast to the composed demeanor I maintained. His face, a canvas of confusion and hurt, mirrored the turmoil I had wrestled with in solitude. The photographs, now haunting relics of a happiness that was no more, served as a testament to the depth of my resolve.
A couple posing for a photo at an establishment | Source: Pexels
As I walked away from that table, the weight of my decision settled around me. It was a choice born of pain, a necessary end to a chapter that could no longer sustain us.
The relief I had expected to feel was mingled with a profound sadness. Yet, amid the tumult of emotions, there was a flicker of hope. Hope for healing, a future unfettered by betrayal, and the strength to rebuild from the ashes of a love that once was.
A happy woman holding a drink and standing at the door of an establishment | Source: Freepik
In the end, it wasn’t just about revenge or the satisfaction of catching him unawares. It was about reclaiming my life, about setting boundaries for the respect and love I deserved. As I stepped into the unknown, with my child by my side, I knew that no matter how daunting the path ahead might be, we would navigate it together, with our heads held high and our hearts open to the promise of new beginnings.
A woman hugging and holding her baby tight | Source: Pexels
In a similar tale, a wife discovered her marriage was a lie during a vacation:
Alice’s tale is stirred by secrets and lies. Imagine, if you will, a life seemingly lifted from the pages of a fairy tale, with Alice, her devoted husband Tom, and their daughter, Sarah, living a dream punctuated by laughter and love. On the surface, everything’s picture-perfect – until her husband’s surprise vacation to the Maldives reveals cracks in the facade.
A couple embracing while on vacation | Source: Pexels
Their Maldivian adventure starts like a dream, with romantic beach dinners under the stars, but soon, Tom’s incessant phone calls cast a shadow over paradise. Alice’s discovery of Tom’s deception – telling another woman that she was dead – turns the dream into a nightmare.
The plot thickens as Alice, reeling from the revelation, decides not to play the victim but to craft a cunning plan of retribution. Her strategy unfolds over a dinner designed to expose Tom’s betrayal, under the guise of forgiveness and new beginnings.
A couple sharing a toast while having a meal together | Source: Pexels
The dinner, intended as a celebration, transforms into an arena where truths are unveiled, leaving Tom grappling with the consequences of his actions. Alice’s encounter with Amanda, the other woman, reveals a twist of fate, turning a moment of personal betrayal into an opportunity for empowerment.
A serious-looking woman talking to someone on the phone | Source: Pexels
In the end, Alice steps away from the wreckage of her marriage, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and healing, with Sarah by her side. Her story, while steeped in betrayal, is ultimately a testament to resilience, the power of the truth, and the courage to rebuild.
It’s a vivid reminder that even in the aftermath of deception, new beginnings can be forged, shaped by strength and the will to move forward on one’s own terms.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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