Dental Daily

Opening Bottles With Your Teeth Can Crack Them In Seconds

A future where missing teeth could be replaced by growing new ones may be one step closer.

Japanese dental startup Toregem has secured $5.3 million in new funding to advance Phase II human trials of TRG035, an experimental tooth-regrowth treatment.

The therapy is being developed for people with congenital tooth agenesis, a rare condition in which one or more permanent teeth never develop. For many patients, treatment currently relies on dentures, bridges, or dental implants.

TRG035 is designed to block a protein called USAG-1, which researchers believe may help activate natural tooth-development pathways and stimulate the growth of new teeth. The long-term goal is to develop a treatment capable of inducing a "third dentition" after the permanent teeth have already formed.

The new funding will support ongoing clinical trials in Japan, future development plans in the United States, and continued research into regenerative dental medicine.

While the treatment remains experimental and is not yet available to patients, it is among the most advanced tooth-regeneration therapies currently being tested in humans.

If successful, it could one day offer a completely new treatment option for people born with missing teeth.

Source: Toregem BioPharma (Official Company Announcement, May 2026)

The difference between healthy gums and gum disease often lies beneath the surface.

As gum disease progresses, bacteria and inflammation can gradually damage the gums, periodontal ligament, and supporting jawbone. Over time, gums may recede, periodontal pockets can deepen, bone levels may decline, and teeth can become less stable. Because this process usually develops slowly, many people are unaware that significant damage is occurring.

One of the biggest concerns is that this damage often develops silently, with few noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Early diagnosis, effective plaque control, and regular dental care can help protect the structures that keep teeth healthy and stable for life.

🦷 Types of Cavities

A new study found that children who continued thumb sucking or pacifier use for longer periods were significantly more likely to develop anterior open bite.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Oral Health analyzed data from 33 studies and found a clear association between prolonged non-nutritive sucking habits and anterior open bite—a condition in which the upper and lower front teeth do not properly meet when the mouth is closed.

Researchers also found that the longer these habits persisted, the greater the risk became. Daily pacifier use showed one of the strongest associations with open bite development.

Thumb sucking and pacifier use are common during early childhood and are often normal developmental behaviors. However, when these habits continue for extended periods, they may gradually influence the way the teeth and jaws develop.

Source: Wang Y, et al. Association between non-nutritive sucking habits and anterior open bite: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2025.

🦷 The Anatomy of Gum Disease

Vitamin D deficiency has been increasingly associated with multiple oral health conditions in scientific and clinical research. Evidence suggests that low vitamin D levels may contribute to enamel defects, higher cavity risk, periodontal disease, impaired bone support around teeth, and delayed healing after dental treatments.

Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium metabolism, tooth mineralization, immune regulation, and inflammatory control within the oral cavity. When levels are inadequate, the body’s ability to maintain strong teeth and healthy gums may be compromised.

Researchers have observed that individuals with vitamin D deficiency may have a greater susceptibility to dental caries and gum disease, highlighting the important connection between nutritional health and oral health.

Maintaining healthy vitamin D levels through safe sunlight exposure, diet, and medical guidance may support both oral and overall health.

Source: Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. PMID: 32438644

The American Dental Association recommends that a child’s first dental visit happen soon after the first tooth erupts — and no later than the first birthday.

Many parents wait until a child complains of pain or develops visible cavities, but dental problems can begin much earlier than most people realize.

Early dental visits help monitor oral development, identify signs of tooth decay, guide parents on feeding and brushing habits, and build healthy routines from the start.

Baby teeth are temporary, but they play a major role in chewing, speech development, jaw growth, and guiding permanent teeth into place.

Preventive dental care should begin early — not after problems appear.

Tooth loss may be linked to changes in brain health, researchers suggest.

Researchers analyzing data from more than 34,000 adults found that tooth loss was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The findings also suggested that the risk increased gradually as more teeth were lost.

Scientists believe several factors may help explain this connection. Missing teeth can reduce chewing efficiency, which may affect brain stimulation and nutrition over time. Gum disease — one of the leading causes of tooth loss — has also been linked to chronic inflammation that may influence overall health, including the brain.

Researchers additionally observed that older adults with missing teeth who used dentures had lower rates of cognitive impairment compared with those who did not use dentures.

While more research is still needed, the findings highlight the importance of protecting oral health throughout life — not only for the mouth, but potentially for healthy aging as well.

Source: NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing | Published in JAMDA: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

Archaeologists in Portugal have discovered a rare 19th-century dental bridge made from animal bone, carefully shaped to resemble natural teeth and tied into the mouth with thread or wire.

Researchers believe the prosthetic was likely cosmetic rather than functional. It may have helped hide missing or damaged teeth and improve speech at a time when modern dentistry did not yet exist.

Scans showed the bridge was probably made from cattle bone, and even contained lead-based material used to reinforce the structure — despite the toxic risks that were unknown at the time.

Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2026)
Vassallo et al.
doi:10.1002/oa.70115