The treatment works by blocking a protein involved in suppressing tooth development. Human trials are underway following successful animal studies, and researchers hope the drug could become available by 2030 if testing continues to prove successful.

The drug was developed by Toregem Biopharma and is initially aimed at people born with missing teeth. Researchers say it may also help those who have lost teeth through injury or disease. Early human trials are focused on assessing safety, while experts caution that further testing is needed before the treatment can be widely used.