A Study of the Relationship Between Kidneys, Bones, and Teeth in Eastern-Western Medicine

Bones and teeth impact quality of life and serve as important indicators of overall health, and diseases such as osteoporosis and periodontitis are emerging as increasingly significant health issues in aging societies. In traditional Korean medicine(TKM), bones and teeth are classified under the kidneys, explaining their interrelationship, and biomedical studies have been published on this connection. This study aims to compare the perspectives of TKM and biomedicine on the relationship between the kidneys, bones, and teeth, focusing on similarities between the two disciplines. The fact that the kidneys produce active vitamin D, which contributes to skeletal formation, and that sex hormones, which influence the lifespan of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, resemble the role of the kidneys(腎) in TKM, which are associated with growth and reproduction, aligns with the TKM concept that &quotthe kidneys govern the bones&quot (腎主骨). Furthermore, the histological similarity between bones and teeth, as well as the metabolic parallels involving osteoclast metabolism, retinoic acid metabolism, and vitamin D, support the idea that &quotteeth are the surplus of bones&quot (齒者骨之餘). In addition to the kidneys acting on the shared pathways of bones and teeth, the pathological link between kidney deficiency(腎虛) and dental diseases—caused by aging, overwork, or congenital deficiencies—explains the concept that &quotthe kidneys govern the teeth&quot(腎主齒). This study contributes to an integrated understanding of both disciplines by comparing the TKM concept with biomedical explanations concerning the kidneys, bones, and teeth. Through this approach, it can be demonstrated that TKM concepts remain valid in modern contexts, while also suggesting the potential to explain less clearly understood TKM theories in this manner.