He said the hope was that one day the technology could replace current dental implants, which cannot reproduce a natural root structure.

BBC: Researchers grow teeth from gum cells

In part, the card issuers are taking advantage of gaps in health-insurance policies for procedures like dental implants, corrective eye surgery and cosmetic surgery.

WSJ: Is Your Doctor Pushing Credit Cards?

"It took a while to piece together why I was even in an ambulance and why I didn't have teeth, " said Stevens, whose injuries resulted in 40 stitches to her face, dental implants and memory loss.

WSJ: Cycling's Occupational Hazard