Chapter
7 The Future Opened by Bio-hybrid Tooth — A New Era of Dental Treatment
7 The Future Opened by Bio-hybrid Tooth — A New Era of Dental Treatment
Last updated: May 15, 2026
Miho Ogawa, Ph.D. Director, CTO
Ph.D. in Science from Tokyo University of Science Graduate School. After working at Otsuka Holdings and RIKEN, became Director and CTO of OrganTech Inc. Promotes research, development, and commercialization in regenerative medicine and organ induction. Recipient of the Japan Sjogren's Syndrome Society Award and the Economist Future Award 2023 SDGs Division. View full profile >
Ph.D. in Science from Tokyo University of Science Graduate School. After working at Otsuka Holdings and RIKEN, became Director and CTO of OrganTech Inc. Promotes research, development, and commercialization in regenerative medicine and organ induction. Recipient of the Japan Sjogren's Syndrome Society Award and the Economist Future Award 2023 SDGs Division. View full profile >
From “Being Able to Chew” to “Feeling and Protecting”
Until now, dental treatment has mainly focused on restoring the ability to chew, even after losing a tooth.
Dentures, bridges, and osseointegrated implants have supported the daily lives of many patients.
However, as discussed in Chapter 1, a natural tooth is not simply a structure used for chewing.
A natural tooth works together with surrounding periodontal tissues — including the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone — and performs many important functions:
• Adjusting chewing force
• Sensing food texture and discomfort
• Protecting the jawbone and surrounding tissues
Inside the tooth, the dental pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, allows the tooth to feel pressure and temperature.
A bioengineered tooth (Bio-hybrid Tooth) aims to restore not only the tooth’s shape, but also these biological functions.
In other words, dentistry may evolve from:
“treatment that allows you to chew”
to
“treatment that enables teeth to feel and protect.”
Dentures, bridges, and osseointegrated implants have supported the daily lives of many patients.
However, as discussed in Chapter 1, a natural tooth is not simply a structure used for chewing.
A natural tooth works together with surrounding periodontal tissues — including the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone — and performs many important functions:
• Adjusting chewing force
• Sensing food texture and discomfort
• Protecting the jawbone and surrounding tissues
Inside the tooth, the dental pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, allows the tooth to feel pressure and temperature.
A bioengineered tooth (Bio-hybrid Tooth) aims to restore not only the tooth’s shape, but also these biological functions.
In other words, dentistry may evolve from:
“treatment that allows you to chew”
to
“treatment that enables teeth to feel and protect.”
A New Choice in Dental Treatment
If this technology becomes widely available, the way we think about tooth loss could change dramatically.
Until now, treatment has followed this approach:
• Preserve natural teeth as long as possible
• Replace them when they are lost
In the future, a new option may emerge:
• Preserve teeth whenever possible
• Even if a tooth is lost, restore it in a form closer to a living tooth
A bioengineered tooth is created using epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
These cells can regenerate structures such as:
• Ameloblasts (enamel) that form enamel
• Odontoblasts (dentin) that produce dentin
• Supporting tissues derived from the dental follicle, including Sharpey's fibers that connect the tooth to bone
This approach may play an important role in:
• Maintaining proper bite alignment
• Preserving long-term oral health
• Supporting oral function in an aging society
Until now, treatment has followed this approach:
• Preserve natural teeth as long as possible
• Replace them when they are lost
In the future, a new option may emerge:
• Preserve teeth whenever possible
• Even if a tooth is lost, restore it in a form closer to a living tooth
A bioengineered tooth is created using epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
These cells can regenerate structures such as:
• Ameloblasts (enamel) that form enamel
• Odontoblasts (dentin) that produce dentin
• Supporting tissues derived from the dental follicle, including Sharpey's fibers that connect the tooth to bone
This approach may play an important role in:
• Maintaining proper bite alignment
• Preserving long-term oral health
• Supporting oral function in an aging society
Significance in an Aging Society
Many countries, including Japan, are experiencing rapid population aging.
In this context:
• Eating comfortably
• Speaking clearly
• Staying socially connected
all greatly influence quality of life.
Losing teeth is not only a dental issue—it can affect overall health and social well-being.
Technologies such as the Bio-hybrid Tooth may help extend the time people can live with teeth that function like their own natural teeth, bringing meaningful benefits to society as a whole.
In this context:
• Eating comfortably
• Speaking clearly
• Staying socially connected
all greatly influence quality of life.
Losing teeth is not only a dental issue—it can affect overall health and social well-being.
Technologies such as the Bio-hybrid Tooth may help extend the time people can live with teeth that function like their own natural teeth, bringing meaningful benefits to society as a whole.
A Question Leading to the Next Chapter
As we have seen, the Bio-hybrid Tooth has the potential to transform modern dentistry.
But what ideas inspired this technology, and what future does it aim to create?
In the final installment, Chapter 8, we will introduce the vision pursued by OrganTech, Inc.— a future society where people can live longer with their own teeth.
But what ideas inspired this technology, and what future does it aim to create?
In the final installment, Chapter 8, we will introduce the vision pursued by OrganTech, Inc.— a future society where people can live longer with their own teeth.
＊ This article reflects research and development-stage information as of May 15, 2026, and does not represent finalized medical procedures or products.