Current Clinical Trials in Tooth Regeneration
The provided evidence does not contain information about specific ongoing clinical trials for growing new teeth; rather, it focuses on established regenerative techniques using growth factors for periodontal and bone tissue regeneration, not whole tooth regeneration.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
The current clinical landscape involves periodontal tissue regeneration and bone augmentation, not de novo tooth formation. The evidence describes FDA-approved applications of recombinant human growth factors (rhPDGF-BB and rhBMP-2) for regenerating supporting structures around existing teeth, not creating new teeth 1, 2.
Established Clinical Applications (Not Tooth Regeneration)
The following are currently approved and in clinical use, not experimental trials:
rhPDGF-BB with beta-tricalcium phosphate is FDA-approved for treating intrabony periodontal defects, furcation defects, and gingival recessions—these regenerate periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone around existing teeth 1
rhBMP-2 with collagen sponge received FDA approval in 2004 for horizontal/vertical ridge augmentation, alveolar ridge preservation, sinus floor elevation, and peri-implant bone augmentation 1, 2, 3
These applications achieve bone formation through recruiting mesenchymal stem cells and differentiating them into osteoblasts, but this creates bone tissue only, not complete teeth with enamel, dentin, pulp, and periodontal structures 2
Research Stage Concepts (Not Clinical Trials)
The evidence mentions theoretical approaches to tooth regeneration that remain in preclinical research:
Stem cell sources being investigated include dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs), stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) 4, 5, 6
These investigations focus on dentin-pulp regeneration, bioroot formation, and periodontal regeneration—not complete tooth replacement 5, 7
Technical and ethical issues have prevented clinical application of embryonic stem cells, while iPSCs offer potential for autologous transplantation but remain experimental 4, 8
Critical Gap in Evidence
No specific ongoing clinical trials for whole tooth regeneration are identified in the provided evidence. The research describes either:
- Completed clinical studies of growth factors for periodontal/bone regeneration (already FDA-approved) 1
- Preclinical stem cell research without mention of active human trials 4, 5, 6, 8
Future Direction Noted
The evidence emphasizes that periodontal regenerative medicine is moving toward minimally invasive biologics and growth factors rather than surgical techniques, but this applies to supporting structures, not tooth formation 1