Your old teeth might actually be the secret to regrowing your bones after a nasty injury.
April 10, 2026
Original Paper
Dentin Graft Mediates Functional Bone Regeneration through macrophage immunomodulation-induced BMSC-recruitment via SPP1/CD44 Axis
SSRN · 6469190
The Takeaway
Scientists have found that processed tooth dentin can be used as a bone graft that actually outperforms synthetic materials. It works by 'tricking' the immune system into recruiting bone-building cells, turning a common waste product into a high-tech medical tool for regeneration.
From the abstract
Autogenous dentin bone graft materials (ADGM) represent a unique class of bioactive material for bone repair, but their functional mechanism remains elusive. This work demonstrates that a chairside-prepared ADGM directly addresses the clinical shortcomings of commercial grafts by biodegrading in harmony with new bone formation and providing potent osteoinductive signals. We combine retrospective clinical evidence, showing significantly enhanced bone density in patients, with preclinical rodent m