Tooth gel that rejuvenates enamel and eliminates cavities? What do you know?

Dental fillings are not a fun way to fix cavities, but they are necessary to fill holes and prevent further damage. But now a team is looking in University of Nottingham In the UK it is Work on the gel Which can help prevent tooth decay and regenerate damaged tooth enamel.

According to research published in the journal Nature Communications Earlier this month, the gel worked by containing a modified version of amelogenin, a protein that helps direct enamel growth in infants. The gel fills the holes and cracks in the teeth when applied.

“The gel was able to grow crystals epitaxially, meaning in the same crystalline direction as the existing enamel,” Alvaro Mata, professor of biomedical engineering and biomaterials at the University of Nottingham, told New Scientist.

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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.

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. This process was effective even when the enamel was severely eroded and the dentin underneath was exposed, according to the research.

“Tooth enamel has a unique structure, which gives enamel its wonderful properties that protect our teeth throughout life against physical, chemical and thermal insults,” Dr. 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.”

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.

We reached out to Mata for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.