New Gel Promises to Repair Tooth Enamel

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed an innovative gel that could repair and rebuild tooth enamel. This could be a significant breakthrough, considering that current dental practices mainly focus on prevention and managing decay rather than reversing it.

In a recent paper published in Nature Communications, the team details how this protein-based gel harnesses the body’s natural growth processes from childhood to create a strong coating and fill in minor cavities. After applying it to a tooth’s surface, the gel draws calcium and phosphate ions from saliva, which prompts the growth of new minerals that integrate with the existing tooth structure—essentially allowing for the regrowth of lost enamel.

While it hasn’t been tested in humans yet, initial lab results on extracted human teeth have been promising. Since enamel doesn’t regenerate on its own, this could represent a major advancement in dental care.

The gel may also serve to cover dentine, the layer beneath enamel that can become susceptible to infections when exposed due to enamel wear.

“When applied to damaged or worn enamel, or exposed dentine, this material encourages the formation of crystals in a structured way, restoring the architecture of healthy enamel,” explained Abshar Hasan, the lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at the university.

Lab tests revealed that a thin protective layer emerged within weeks of using the gel on human molar teeth.

“We assessed the mechanical properties of the regenerated tissues under realistic conditions, like brushing and chewing, and found that the new enamel behaves just like healthy enamel,” Hasan noted.

Alvaro Mata, a biomedical engineering professor at Nottingham, mentioned that growth can actually occur within a week.

Mata and his team aim to bring this product to market through a startup called Mintech-Bio. However, there’s still a lot of work ahead to ensure its safety and effectiveness for human use, with clinical trials anticipated to start early next year.

In their paper, the researchers acknowledged that their findings indicate a potential for growing enamel-like structures under conditions mimicking the mouth’s challenges. Still, they emphasize that further in vivo validation is necessary for confirming the ability to regenerate natural enamel.

Despite these challenges, the researchers are hopeful their technology could offer an efficient solution for regrowing dental enamel, regardless of the extent of tooth erosion.