[BloodEagle]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574334741892789978.html

Researchers used stem cells to grow a replacement tooth for an adult mouse, the first time scientists have developed a fully functioning three-dimensional organ replacement, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Now if they can get it to work on humans....

[iamzack]

steeeemmmmmmm cceeeeellllllllssss

[Flipside]

Aren't mice teeth designed to be perpetually ground down anyway, like most rodents? Whilst I'm not trying to knock the success, from what I understand, the way primates have interlinking teeth is a lot more complex than most rodents and browsing animals?

[Mongoose]

I would just about kill for magically-replenishing teeth.  My dentist can suck it.

[Flipside]

Of course, the problem is that the treatment is going to cost more than implants, so people are going to prefer to spend less and get a fake tooth.

[Rick James]

Of course, the problem is that the treatment is going to cost more than implants, so people are going to prefer to spend less and get a fake tooth.

If one lives under the aegis of a health maintenance organization, yes.

Everyone else = w00t.

[Flipside]

Actually, I've got both Private and NHS Cover, but it depends more on when you get your premium, you might find that if the tooth is already missing when you first got the insurance, they won't cover you for treatment to replace it. Otherwise, I'll agree, for treatments that have 'levels', like the difference between Crowns, Implants and this sort of thing, it's usually best to have private insurance

[FUBAR-BDHR]

They dental industry will just pay to have the research disappear just like with the shot to prevent cavities in the 80's. 

[Flipside]

Well, the concept of irrigating teeth with Fluorine did work, but there was one problem, a lot of the subjects who had it done were very ill from blood poisoning caused by it. One of my friends was actually one of a few kids in the UK who underwent the treatment, and he's been lucky, few ill effects, and, he must admit, it works, his teeth have had almost no cavities and he's in his 50's.

[Kosh]

So is there any truth to "The Big Book of British Smiles"?

[Snail]

So is there any truth to "The Big Book of British Smiles"?

Hey. **** you.

[Flipside]

Well, dental-work in the UK works slightly differently to the to rest of the NHS, it is probably the weakest of our services, partly because of the lack of NHS dentists in most areas, and partly because, unlike prescriptions, you are only fully protected from the costs if you are unemployed. Most dental work done in the UK is private these days, so people who cannot afford private care don't get good dental-care unless they are lucky.