Lifestyle & Healthresearch summary
Nottingham scientists develop a fluoride-free gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel
Enamel cannot repair itself, but a new gel tested on extracted human teeth rebuilt it to match the healthy original in lab tests.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or another qualified professional about your own situation.
A gel for damage once considered permanent
Scientists at the University of Nottingham developed a gel that could regrow lost tooth enamel. [1] Enamel cannot naturally regenerate once it has been lost, unlike bones and many other tissues, so the finding matters to anyone whose enamel has worn down. [1]
The research came from the university's School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. [1] The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. [1]
Professor Alvaro Mata, Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials at the University of Nottingham, led the study. [1] Dr. Abshar Hasan, a postdoctoral fellow, is the lead author. [1]
Why enamel is hard to replace
Enamel is made from hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring calcium phosphate mineral, and is the hardest material in the human body. [2] Its exceptional hardness and durability come from the precise arrangement of its mineral crystals. [1]
Enamel has no living cells capable of rebuilding it after teeth have fully developed. [1] Existing treatments such as fluoride varnishes and remineralization products cannot fully reconstruct enamel that has already been lost. [1]
Current cavity treatments use composite resin, ceramic, or silver amalgam fillings that act as a permanent patch. [2]
How the gel works
The gel is inspired by the biological processes that form tooth enamel during early childhood. [1] It uses a material made from proteins that imitates characteristics of the natural proteins that guide enamel formation when teeth first develop. [1] Those proteins are elastin-like recombinamers, which are lab-engineered proteins. [3]
Once applied, the gel forms a thin but durable coating that penetrates the tooth's surface and fills microscopic cracks and gaps. [1] The regrowth relies on calcium and phosphate ions naturally present in saliva. [1]
The process is called epitaxial mineralization, in which new mineral crystals grow in alignment with existing enamel. [1] The gel contains no fluoride. [1]
What the lab tests showed
In lab tests simulating brushing, chewing and acidic foods, the regenerated enamel displayed mechanical properties comparable to healthy natural enamel. [1] The regenerated tissue matched healthy enamel in hardness, stiffness, toughness, and wear resistance. [3]
Hasan said the regenerated enamel behaves just like healthy enamel. [1] Mata said the technology is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and is scalable. [1]
The gel is designed to repair enamel weakened by mineral loss or worn away by erosion, and to reinforce enamel that remains healthy. [1] It is also designed to be safe, simple to apply, and suitable for manufacturing on a larger scale. [1]
Limits of the research
The gel's regrowth was tested on extracted human teeth in a lab, not yet in living mouths. [3] The laboratory results do not yet establish how well the treatment will perform over extended periods in patients. [1]
Commercialization efforts are linked to the startup Mintech-Bio. [3]
What it means for you
Enamel deterioration is a major factor in tooth decay and contributes to dental problems affecting nearly half of the world's population. [1] When enamel wears away or gums recede, exposed dentine can make teeth sensitive to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. [1] Poor oral health is also associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. [1]
If the gel reaches patients, dentists could apply it directly to teeth using a procedure similar to existing fluoride treatments. [1] For now, the results come from extracted teeth in a lab, and long-term performance in patients is not yet established. [3][1]
Sources
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