Japan’s TRG-035 Drug Could Regrow Human Teeth by 2030

For decades, dentists have told us that once your adult teeth are gone, they’re gone for good. Crowns, implants, and dentures have been our only options — until now.But in Japan, a team of researchers at Kyoto University and Kitano Hospital is rewriting dental history with something straight out of a sci-fi movie: a drug that could make your body regrow its own teeth.

Let’s talk about TRG-035 — the antibody medication scientists are calling the world’s first true “tooth regeneration drug.” And if early trials go as planned, it could be available before the end of this decade.

The Science Behind TRG-035: Waking Up What’s Already Inside You

This isn’t about growing new teeth from scratch or using stem cells in a lab.TRG-035 works by blocking a protein called USAG-1 (Uterine Sensitization-Associated Gene-1) — the very same protein that stops “tooth buds” (the tiny clusters of cells that form new teeth) from developing after childhood.

In plain English?Everyone has dormant “backup teeth” sitting quietly under their gums, but our bodies just never activate them. The Kyoto research team figured out how to flip the biological switch back on.

When they blocked the USAG-1 protein in mice and ferrets, new teeth actually grew — naturally, perfectly formed, and fully functional.That experiment, published in 2021, stunned the scientific community. It wasn’t a dental implant, it wasn’t 3D printing — it was real biological tooth regrowth.

The 2024 Human Trials: From Mice to Molar Dreams

After years of success in animals, the team has officially moved into Phase 1 human trials, which began in September 2024 at Kyoto University Hospital.These initial tests focus on adults aged 30–64 who are missing back teeth — and for good reason. Molars are larger and under heavy bite pressure, making them the perfect test case for durability and natural integration.

Phase 1 trials are all about safety — making sure TRG-035 doesn’t cause inflammation, bone issues, or other side effects.If all goes well, the next step will be to test the drug on patients born with congenital tooth loss — people who never developed certain permanent teeth at all.

By 2025, those cases will be included in expanded trials. And if everything continues to align, experts project market availability by 2030. That’s less than five years away from potentially regrowing real teeth.

What This Means for the Dental World

If TRG-035 passes through all phases of testing, it could completely revolutionize dentistry.Imagine walking into your dentist’s office — not for a $4,000 implant — but for an injection or topical treatment that literally restarts your natural tooth growth cycle.

This breakthrough could mean:

• Fewer extractions and root canals in the future

• Natural regrowth for lost or damaged teeth

• Major cost savings in long-term dental care

• Better jaw alignment and bone health without foreign implants

• A major confidence boost for millions dealing with missing or damaged teeth

For people who’ve lost teeth due to injury, decay, or disease, the possibilities are life-changing.

From Genetic Research to Everyday Medicine

The development of TRG-035 didn’t happen overnight. Kyoto University has been researching genetic pathways for tooth growth since the early 2000s, focusing on how certain mammals (and even humans during fetal development) can grow multiple sets of teeth.

Dr. Katsu Takahashi, one of the lead researchers, said the goal was always to “make tooth regeneration medicine a reality.”He’s been on this mission for over 20 years — and now, the dream is closer than ever.

Ethics, Accessibility, and the Road Ahead

While Japan leads the charge, the question now becomes: When will the rest of the world catch up?If successful, TRG-035 will first be approved domestically before seeking international clearance through the FDA (U.S.) and EMA (Europe). That means Western patients might not see it in clinics until the early 2030s.

There are also questions about accessibility — will it be covered by insurance? Will it be affordable for working-class families, or reserved for those with deep pockets?Because if we’re talking about regrowing smiles, this can’t just be a luxury — it needs to be universal.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Beyond Teeth

This isn’t just about vanity or saving on dental bills.If TRG-035 proves safe and effective, it could open the door to regenerative medicine far beyond dentistry — think hair regrowth, organ repair, or even reversing some aging processes.

Every major leap in medicine starts small.Penicillin began as a mold in a petri dish.The first vaccine was a gamble with cowpox.Now, we might be watching the dawn of regrowing lost parts of ourselves.

By 2030, visiting the dentist might no longer mean drilling, dentures, or titanium screws.Instead, it could mean activating what’s already been waiting inside you — your body’s own ability to heal, regrow, and restore.

The tooth fairy might need a new job description, because science just stepped into her lane.

Sources:

• Kyoto University & Kitano Hospital Research Updates (2024)

• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – USAG-1 Protein Studies

• Nature Scientific Reports, 2021: “Inhibition of USAG-1 induces tooth regeneration in mice and ferrets”

• Nikkei Asia, September 2024: “Japan launches world’s first clinical trial for tooth regrowth drug TRG-035”

• Kyoto University Hospital Trial Registry