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Dental fillings are never a pleasant experience, but these days they are necessary to fill cavities and prevent further damage. Research team in University of Nottingham The UK could change that, with New gel It is being developed which can help prevent tooth decay and regenerate damaged tooth enamel.
The gel works by containing a modified version of amelogenin, a protein that helps direct enamel growth in infants, according to research published in the journal. Nature Communications This month. The gel fills the holes and cracks in the teeth when applied.
“The gel was able to grow crystals epitaxially, meaning it is in the same crystalline direction as the existing enamel,” said Alvaro Mata, professor of biomedical engineering and biomaterials at the University of Nottingham. New world.
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Enamel is the hard layer of the tooth that protects the soft inner layers from damage caused by general wear, acids and bacteria. Tooth decay occurs when the enamel layer breaks down. Enamel does not regenerate naturally, during fluoride treatment and remineralization toothpaste Which Nano hydroxyapatite is used They can provide a temporary cure, but are not a permanent solution, unlike dental fillings.
Enamel deterioration is the main contributor to tooth decay and is associated with dental problems affecting up to 50% of the world’s population.
The new gel forms a thin but durable layer that adheres to the teeth for several weeks, using calcium and phosphate to stimulate the growth of new crystals in the enamel. In a separate email interview with CNET, Mata explained how long he expects the gel to last. “The gel is biodegradable, and the remineralization process takes approximately two weeks. Applied once, it will remain as firm as the original enamel, depending on people’s health habits.”
Research shows that it works on severely damaged enamel
“Tooth enamel has a unique structure, which gives enamel its wonderful properties that protect our teeth throughout life against physical, chemical and thermal insults,” Absher Hassan saida postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study. “When our material is applied to demineralized or eroded enamel, or exposed dentin, the material promotes crystal growth in an integrated and organized manner, restoring a natural, healthy enamel structure.”
This process was effective even when the enamel was severely eroded and the dentin underneath was exposed, according to the research.
Mata said he believes the gel could be used as a preventative solution to avoid dental fillings, although the dentists we spoke to are more cautiously optimistic.
“If it is used as a preventative solution, the stage of filling teeth can be avoided,” Mata said. “In a way, it has to be managed as a chronic disease where patients need to start at home with more education and care. Having said that, we have been working on this for 16 years, which has allowed us to develop a great deal of knowledge to understand, control and shape the technology. For this reason, we now have a versatile technology that will be derived from multiple types of products. I believe that in the future, dental fillings will be possible.”
Mata says he is “very excited that this technology was designed with the doctor and patient in mind. It is safe, can be applied easily and quickly, and is scalable.” He’s started a startup called Mintech-Bio and hopes to roll out the first product next year, according to New Scientist, after a clinical trial.
Dentists are cautiously optimistic
CNET reached out to several dentists to get their perspective on the gel.
Bianca Velayo, MD, is a general dentist in Henderson, Nevada, and multi-practice owner Health of the public distribution systemHe was careful about the schedule.
“Dental materials like this rarely reach the market overnight, even with dramatic results,” she says. “After early laboratory success, the real test is how it performs in the human mouth under real-world conditions: heat, saliva, bacteria, diet and daily habits. Between laboratory research, multiple trial phases and regulatory approval, it usually takes five to ten years before we see a material like this in everyday dental use.”
However, Velayo also says she is excited about the prospect of replacing traditional dental fillings in the future.
“This gel points to the future of dentistry, where we can actually regrow what we’ve lost,” she says. “It’s the difference between repairing teeth and truly healing them.”
Another dentist and multi-practice owner at PDS Health, Ahmed Mokbel, said the treatment has potential, but he doesn’t think it will be possible anytime soon, because it requires a shift in patient and dentist education, dental coverage and treatment protocols. However, he pointed to the current technology in use.
“We use an FDA-approved treatment called Curodont, which has similar properties and is effective for treating early tooth decay,” Mokbel said. “The number of applications required can vary depending on how the tooth responds, the size of the cavity, and how early the intervention occurs.”