While conventional treatments such as fillings, dentures, and implants help restore function, they do not regenerate living tissues or tackle the biological mechanisms that drive dental deterioration in older adults. Regenerative dentistry—using stem cells, biomaterials, and tissue engineering—offers transformative potential, but current approaches still struggle to reproduce the complex cellular and structural features of real teeth.
To better understand societal perspectives on these emerging treatments, the team will conduct a comparative survey in Sweden and Japan. Led by Prof. Mariko Naito (Hiroshima University) and Shariel Sayardoust (Region Östergötland and Linköping University), this study will explore public awareness, perceived benefits and risks, and expectations surrounding regenerative solutions for oral health in ageing populations.
In parallel, the project aims to create next-generation bioengineered dental tissues. By combining the expertise of Pierfrancesco Pagella and PhD student Cornelia Schwarz in dental genomics and stem cell biology (Linköping University) with the internationally recognized leadership in dental tissue bioengineering of Prof. Hiroshi Egusa, Ass. Prof. Takeru Kondo, and their PhD student Sara Ambo (Tohoku University), the team will assess how biomaterial properties, stem-cell differentiation strategies, and biofabrication techniques can promote realistic cell diversity in engineered tooth tissues. Joint workshops in Sweden and Japan will foster close scientific exchange and provide valuable training opportunities for early-career researchers.
This initiative not only launches a strategic Sweden–Japan partnership but also serves as a foundation for a broader consortium. The project is expected to generate new biological insights, strengthen international networks, and lay the groundwork for future applications advancing dental regeneration and healthy ageing.
