A new gel made from an innovative material can repair and regenerate tooth enamel, offering new hope for long-lasting dental protection and restoration.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, working with an international team, have developed a bioinspired material that can rebuild damaged enamel, strengthen healthy teeth, and help prevent future decay. Their findings were published today in Nature Communications.
Above: Electron microscopy images of a tooth with demineralized enamel showing eroded apatite crystals (left) and a similar demineralized tooth after a two-week gel treatment, showing epitaxially regenerated enamel crystals (right). Credit University of Nottingham
The gel can be applied quickly to teeth, similar to how dentists currently use fluoride treatments. However, this new protein-based gel contains no fluoride. Instead, it mimics natural proteins that guide enamel formation during early development.
Once applied, it forms a thin, durable layer that fills small holes and cracks in teeth. This layer acts as a scaffold, attracting calcium and phosphate from saliva to grow new minerals through a process called epitaxial mineralization. The new mineral integrates with natural enamel, restoring its original strength and structure.
The material can also be used on exposed dentine, forming an enamel-like coating that can help reduce sensitivity and improve the bonding of dental restorations.
source University of Nottingham
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