104-year-old grows three new teeth

MOSCOW, FEB 4: Maria Vasilieva is delighted that at the tender young age of 104, she will at last be able to munch her favourite ginger cookiesafter growing three new teeth.

Russia’s RIA news agency said Vasilieva had become the oldest person to grow new teeth, baffling doctors in the remote southern region of Tatarstan, where she lives alone in a small village tending a garden and raising poultry.

RIA quoted health officials as saying it was the first known case of anyone older than 100 growing new teeth.

‘‘She is just happy about it, saying she now has teeth to chew ginger biscuits. Local dentists are studying the exceedingly rare event,’’ RIA said.