Stem cells used for regrowing missing teeth?

[Zaia]

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right place but I have been reading about the possibility of using stem cells to regrow teeth. Could this eventually replace dental implants? Could it be done if a tooth has been missing for years? How far into the future is this? At this point, it seems too good to be true..

 

[honestdoc]

There was a discussion that they are developing embryonic stem cells from the rat's bladder to form a tooth bud. Unfortunately not much else was discussed.

 

[MattKW]

One of the problems are that teeth grow in a very unusual manner compared to other tissue. I've heard of some amorphous blobs being generated, but they'll be growing livers, hearts, etc well before they manage teeth. And there has to be a big cost benefit for the company which is more likely with liver, heart, etc... So my career is not over just yet.