What if, instead, they could regrow their pearly whites, perhaps at a fraction of the cost? Approaches that replace — rather than patch up — teeth with crowns or fillings may be closer than you think.

And an estimated 90% of adults in the US have fillings. But many animals don't have this problem. Because they can regrow their teeth replacing old, damaged ones with brand new pearly whites.

They explain how cavities can be reversed, if acidic foods will whiten teeth, and how long fillings last. They also talk about what you should do with a knocked-out tooth — as well as how long ...