New Drug Could Regrow Human Teeth, Testing Soon Underway

This could prove to be a major scientific breakthrough in the world of dentistry. Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind drug that they believe can completely regrow teeth, and will soon start testing it on humans later this year.

Researchers in Kyoto, Japan began developing the drug in early 2021. It wasn't until the summer of 2023 that the drug had finally been developed.

In theory, the medicine works by counteracting the molecules responsible for inhibiting bone growth. The researchers saw promising results of the drug in animals that share many of the same mouth molecules as humans, such as dogs, ferrets and mice. The testing revealed promising tooth growth in the animals' mouths with no noticeable side effects.

In an interview with The Mainichi, the team's lead researcher Katsu Takahashi explained the importance of such a breakthrough. "We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence," said Takahashi. "While there has been no treatment to date providing a permanent cure, we feel that people's expectations for tooth growth are high."

With the ongoing success of the animal testing phase, the team of scientists developing the drug are planning to start human testing in September of this year. According to the drug developer's website (which can be translated to English on Google Chrome), the first phase of human testing will be on young patients who suffer from a congenital tooth deficiency.

If testing continues to prove fruitful, the trials will move on to adults missing up to five teeth due to environmental factors. If it all works out, researchers predict that the drug will be available for mass consumption by 2030.

It's still relatively early in the development process, but if the results stay positive through human testing, this could majorly impact the world of dentistry and oral care as we know it. The CDC reports that over 25% of Americans age 20-44 have decaying or lost teeth. That percentage is more or less equal across older age ranges as well.

The success of this drug could mean a whole new world of tooth restoration for many across the country and the world at large. Time will tell what the future holds for this groundbreaking dental drug, but as of now it looks like a gift that society can really sink its teeth into.

U.S. News & World Report has released their new Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-2025, and the Tar Heel state got some major love! In a list of 150 major cities, two North Carolina cities were ranked among the top 10 best places to live in the US.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking was compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, and some of the publication's own internal resources. The data was then sorted into four different categories by which each major city would be scored.

The categories were assigned different weights depending on how strongly Americans felt each factor mattered when choosing a place to live. The four categories in order of weight are as follows:

According to the official rankings, Charlotte and Raleigh are the two best places to live in North Carolina. The two cities made it to #5 and #6 respectively.

Charlotte scored extremely well overall, with the Queen City's quality of life and economic value placing it among the top places in the country to live. Charlotte was also commended for its sprawling metro area and bustling downtown scene, while still maintaining its southern charm.

Raleigh ranked almost neck-and-neck with Charlotte, with North Carolina's capital scoring highly in the Quality of Life category. The publication highlights Raleigh's bustling art and music scenes, as well as its beautiful green spaces and activity space. The city of Raleigh also received high marks for its strong sense of community among the residents.

The full rankings (seen here) reveals some interesting information about other major cities in the US, including other cities in North Carolina. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Ranked #1 overall, Naples, Florida was determined to be the best city to live in the US. The city scored highly for its overall quality of life, especially among retirees who desire a pristine beachfront view in their twilight years.

It's certainly a surprising #2, but Boise, Idaho has much to offer for outdoorsy types. Boise offers a plethora of different terrains for adventurers, including mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and lakes.

Colorado Springs, Colorado was ranked as the #3 best place to live for its blend of natural beauty and rustic modernism. Despite its endless array of events and activities, Colorado Springs maintains a small town charm that residents find intoxicating.

North Carolina's sister state did just a hair better in the ranking, with the South Carolina city of Greenville landing at #4 in the overall ranking. Greenville's downtown area is a central hub for local businesses, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The city is also quite lively during the summer season.

- Asheville (#17)

-Greensboro (#23) 

-Hickory (#26)

-Winston-Salem (#60)

-Fayetteville (#113)