Can Stem Cell Research Reverse Gum Disease?
Scientists have discovered that a specific type of molecule may stimulate stem cells to regenerate, reversing the inflammation caused by periodontal disease.
Not yet. No stem cell treatment for gum disease is available to patients. This post originally described a 2020 laboratory study suggesting that two molecules derived from omega-3 fats could help stem cells rebuild gum tissue under inflammation. That study was retracted by the journal in 2026, so its findings should not be relied on. Gum disease is treated today with proven steps that stop the infection and, in some cases, regenerate lost support.
What did the 2020 study claim?
Researchers at the Forsyth Institute grew stem cells from the ligament that holds teeth in their sockets, taken from extracted wisdom teeth. They exposed the cells to inflammatory signals in a dish and then added two molecules, maresin-1 and resolvin E1. They reported that the molecules restored the cells' ability to grow, move and form tissue. [1]
This was laboratory work on cells, not a study in patients.
Why was it retracted?
In August 2026, the journal Frontiers in Immunology retracted the paper. According to the notice, the authors themselves contacted the journal about a duplicated image in one figure. They could not provide the raw data, and the journal concluded that the data and conclusions were unreliable. [2]
A retraction doesn't settle whether these molecules could ever help, but it does mean this paper can't be used as evidence that they do.
How is gum disease treated today?
Treatment follows a stepwise approach. [3]
Home care and risk factors. Better brushing and cleaning between teeth, help stopping smoking, and better blood sugar control for people with diabetes.
Deep cleaning. Removing plaque and tartar from the tooth roots below the gumline, called scaling and root planing. For many people, this controls the disease.
Reevaluation and surgery where needed. Deep pockets that don't respond may need gum surgery. In some defects, regenerative procedures using bone grafts, membranes or other materials can rebuild part of the lost support. Not every area is suitable.
Maintenance. Regular professional cleanings and checks, usually every few months, keep the disease from returning.
Gum disease is a long-term condition. It can be controlled, and some lost bone can be regenerated in the right circumstances, but lost support usually can't be fully restored.
How common is gum disease?
About 4 in 10 US adults aged 30 and older have some level of periodontitis. [4] Because it is usually painless until it is advanced, a professional exam is how it is found.
Where can you get your gums checked in Jacksonville?
A comprehensive dental exam at our office includes measuring the pockets around each tooth. If you have gum disease, we explain your options, including referral to a periodontist when that is the right step. Read more about how gum disease relates to your overall health, or contact us at 904-398-1549.
Sources
Albuquerque-Souza E, Schulte F, Chen T, et al. Maresin-1 and resolvin E1 promote regenerative properties of periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory conditions. Front Immunol. 2020;11:585530. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.585530 Retracted. (retrieved via PubMed)
Frontiers in Immunology. Retraction: Maresin-1 and resolvin E1 promote regenerative properties of periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory conditions. Front Immunol. 2026;17:1961138. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1961138 (retrieved via PubMed and frontiersin.org)
Sanz M, Herrera D, Kebschull M, et al. Treatment of stage I-III periodontitis: the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. J Clin Periodontol. 2020;47(Suppl 22):4-60. doi:10.1111/jcpe.13290 (retrieved via PubMed)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gum (periodontal) disease. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
A Greenland Fossil Jaw and the Origin of Molars: Summary
Scientists have described the earliest known example of dentary bone with two rows of cusps on molars and double-rooted teeth. The new findings offer insight into mammal tooth evolution, particularly the development of double-rooted teeth.
In 2020, researchers described a fossil jaw from eastern Greenland, about 215 million years old, that has the oldest known molar-like teeth with two roots and two rows of cusps. It belonged to Kalaallitkigun jenkinsi, a mouse-sized close relative of the first mammals.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also used engineering models to show that teeth with two roots withstand the forces of biting better than teeth with one root. That may help explain why broad chewing teeth and divided roots evolved together, a design human molars still carry.
For the full explanation, including what the researchers found, the study's limits and what it means for your own molars, read What a Tiny Jaw From Greenland Shows About the Origin of Molars.
Sources
Sulej T, Krzesiński G, Tałanda M, et al. The earliest-known mammaliaform fossil from Greenland sheds light on origin of mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020;117(43):26861-26867. doi:10.1073/pnas.2012437117. Retrieved via PubMed.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.