The Urban Grind

Doctors are now envisioning the possibility of growing new teeth, and coaxing existing teeth to repair themselves, through the use of stem cells and gene therapy.

Other techniques being explored involve using stem cells, which have the potential to become any type of cell or tissue. In one study being presented at the meeting, researchers successfully extracted stem cells from the pulp of adult teeth, Smith said. The next step is to examine whether it's possible to use these teeth to regenerate new dental tissue, he said.

Other research being unveiled describes tests of different approaches to select stem cells from pulp, and all shows "different degrees of success," Smith said.

But it looks like we have years to go.