A team of doctors in Japan has developed a groundbreaking drug that could allow people to naturally grow a brand-new tooth.

Instead of relying on dentures or implants, this treatment activates the body’s own ability to produce another set of teeth. The research is led by Dr. Katsu Takahashi at Kitano Hospital’s Medical Research Institute. His team discovered that by blocking a protein called USAG-1—which normally prevents extra teeth from forming—they could trigger tooth growth. In experiments with mice, the treatment worked successfully. Now, human clinical trials are being prepared, with hopes of making the therapy available by 2030