Electron microscopy images of a tooth
with demineralised enamel showing eroded apatite crystals (left) and a similar
demineralised tooth after a 2-week treatment showing epitaxially regenerated
enamel crystals (right).
A new material has been used to create a
gel that can repair and regenerate tooth enamel, opening up new possibilities
for effective and long-lasting preventive and restorative dental treatment.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham’s School
of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, in
collaboration with an international team of researchers, have developed a
bioinspired material that has the potential to regenerate demineralized or
eroded enamel, strengthen healthy enamel, and prevent future decay. The
findings have been published today in Nature Communications.
The gel can be rapidly applied to teeth in the same
way dentists currently apply standard fluoride treatments. However, this new
protein-based gel is fluoride free and works by mimicking key features of the
natural proteins that guide the growth of dental enamel in infancy. When
applied, the gel creates a thin and robust layer that impregnates teeth,
filling holes and cracks in them. It then functions as a scaffold that takes
calcium and phosphate ions from saliva and promotes the controlled growth of new
mineral in a process called epitaxial mineralization. This enables the new
mineral to be organized and integrated to the underlying natural tissue while
recovering both the structure and properties of natural healthy enamel.
The new material can also be applied on
top of exposed dentine, growing an enamel-like layer on top of dentine, which
has many benefits including treating hypersensitivity or enhancing the bonding
of dental restorations.
Enamel degradation is a major contributor to tooth
decay and is associated to dental problems affecting almost 50% of the world’s
population. These problems can lead to infections and tooth loss, and can also
be associated with conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Enamel does not naturally regenerate; once you lose it is gone forever. There
is currently no solution available that can effectively regrow enamel. Current
treatments such as fluoride varnishes and remineralisation solutions only
alleviate the symptoms of lost enamel.
Dr Abshar Hasan, a Postdoctoral Fellow and leading
author of the study, said: “Dental enamel has a unique structure, which gives
enamel its remarkable properties that protect our teeth throughout life against
physical, chemical, and thermal insults. When our material is applied to
demineralized or eroded enamel, or exposed dentine, the material promotes the
growth of crystals in an integrated and organized manner, recovering the
architecture of our natural healthy enamel."
“We have tested the mechanical properties of these regenerated tissues under conditions simulating ‘real-life situations’ such as tooth brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic foods, and found that the regenerated enamel behaves just like healthy enamel.
“We are very excited because the technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind. It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable. Also, the technology is versatile, which opens the opportunity to be translated into multiple types of products to help patients of all ages suffering from a variety of dental problems associated with loss of enamel and exposed dentine. We have started this process with our start-up company Mintech-Bio and hope to have a first product out next year; this innovation could soon be helping patients worldwide.
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More information is available from Professor Alvaro: See link below
University of Nottingham
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