Jump to content

Why can you regenerate regular bones but not teeth?

Featured Replies

It just always seemed weird how someone could heal after getting a broken bone, but it's somehow impossible to gain any amount of thickness on enamel.

Probably because there are lots of other things in the human body that do not regenerate like heart cells or spinal cord. Injuries to your spinal cord do not heel. There some case the brain learn to bypass the injury site if other parts of the spinal cord are not damage.

 

That why I think they are trying turn it back to stem cells because babies in womb can regenerate any thing even grow new limb. But after birth for some strange reason the body know longer knows how to regenerate like it did before.

 

 

  • Author

The dentine, like bone, can be regenerated. There has been some interesting research on stimulating stem cells to accelerate this:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38524566

So teeth do actually grow to retain their original thickness? But how do the teeth "know" that they've grown enough? What's stopping them from growing indefinitely like rats teeth?

  • Author

The enamel has no blood supply to provide nutrients- that seriously disrupts its chances of growing.

Okay well I have someone saying they can grow back allegedly, and now I have you saying they can't. Is there maybe something you're not clarifying?

  • Author

Dentine <> enamel.

incidentally, since mice are rodents, and one of rodents' defining characteristics is that their teeth grow continuously the research is- shall we say- less useful than it might be.

So are you meaning to say that dentin can grow back just fine but enamel seldom does?

  • 3 weeks later...

Teeth are regenerated. But it a one time deal, usually offered during our early childhood years.

 

After that, you're pretty much on your own, mate. LOL.

 

Most entities in the human body are not regenerated totally. Rather, they are repaired or partially restored. It's misleading to claim bones are regenerated, also. If your right femur is amputated six inches above it's distal end it does not grow back, for example. Neither would even a comparatively small phalange in your God or finger. Rather, if fractured they heal. But even then under only optimal circumstances and depending on the severity and nature of the fracture.

 

The largest organ in your body is your epidermal layer. With more restorative cells in it per centimeter than any other organ. Yet even it will not always regenerated to pre trauma condition.

Teeth are regenerated. But it a one time deal, usually offered during our early childhood years.

 

After that, you're pretty much on your own, mate. LOL.

 

No, that's misusing the definition of regeneration. Deciduous teeth are temporary, and smaller than adult human teeth. The transition between the two doesn't happen using a regenerative mechanism, but rather one more resembling exfoliation.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.