What Sharks Can Tell Us About The Future Of Human Teeth
The human body is extraordinary. Year after year, humans continue to exceed their physical capabilities (you only have to look at this year’s Olympics). But there is one design flaw… our teeth.
Whilst many of our organs are incredibly resilient, the same cannot be said of our teeth. Humans go through life with only two sets of teeth, and by the age 50, approximately 25% of people will have lost at least one tooth. Meanwhile, sharks can create up to 100,000 teeth in a lifetime. Yep, you read that right, 100,000.
So what if humans could learn to do the same?
Biomimicking sharks and their teeth – is it possible?
Researchers have long understood that sharks can continuously grow their teeth.
Sharks have a conveyor belt of teeth, with a new one emerging as a worn one falls out (this can be in cycles as short as just a few days).
Researchers’ next endeavour is to wrap their heads around the genetic mechanism that enables sharks to pull off this impressive biological feat.
Humans have the same network of genes as sharks and we create dental lamina, (the cells responsible for creating teeth) in the same manner as sharks. The drawback is that humans cease to create dental lamina once their adult teeth come through. For now, the why is the mysterious part.
Could sharks help humans fight tooth decay in the future?
Researchers hope to one day emulate shark’s continuous ability to create dental lamina on demand. Fascinatingly, a shark’s skin is covered in V-shaped scales that are more akin to teeth than fish scales.
Next steps for researchers is to understand if sharks’ skin can be harnessed or transferred to humans, and trigger a biocompatible reaction that creates new dentine and enamel in a short space of time when a tooth is lost to decay.
If successful, this could change the face of dentistry forever, eradicating many of the consequences of decay, including dental pain and tooth loss.
Just imagine, a tooth becomes decayed – no putting up with unpleasant symptoms or a dental extraction - your tooth simply falls out and you grow a new one!
The rich fossil records of sharks could also be key to unlocking the potential of biomimicking sharks, offering researchers an inexhaustible supply of biomaterials to work with.
The irony of human teeth
The elusive answer to the question, “why do we stop making teeth?” is somewhat ironic. Especially as tooth enamel happens to be stronger than bone, and yet at the same time, it’s so prone to frailty.
Modern diets certainly have a hand to play in enamel erosion and decay, not to mention the fact that we’re drinking less water than ever (in favour of flavoured drinks that are high in sugar), which would normally help wash away trapped food particles.
Hopefully, with continued determination, humans will continue to (wisely) look to the limitless lessons nature can teach us about maximising our biological potential. Watch this space.
Ask a dentist online
For now though, the best things you can do to protect your teeth include:
Brushing and flossing every day.
Seeing a dentist regularly for check-ups.
Speaking to a dentist if you notice any changes to your teeth and gums.
Speak to a dentist for free online using Nova Smiles’ online form. No obligation, no charge, just honest guidance from experienced dentists.
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