MetaChat - A tooth for an eye.

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28 February 2008

A tooth for an eye. I'm having a lot of trouble buying that this isn't a hoax. Wouldn't this be huge news?

post by: amro at: 09:46 | 4 comments

I have no real understanding what's involved in it, but the technique the article mentions (osteo-odonto-kerato-prosthesis) is certainly real.

According this PDF on the Southampton University website, the process involves:

Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOK) is a method of corneal substitution, which uses a prosthesis composed of an acrylic optical cylinder mounted within a section of one of the patient’s own teeth. Because the implant uses autologous tissue, it has been used in people who are at high risk of graft rejection following conventional transplantation.

Google finds many academic websites and journals discussing it.

posted by matthewr 28 February | 10:11

How about man gets new jaw bone grown in his own stomach?

posted by TheDonF 28 February | 10:16

The case referred to happened. Can't say more without bringing my job into it and that's just not fun!

Not remotely as unusual as WW2 burns victims growing their own nose tissue attached to their shoulder (literally) for 12 months!