Inching closer to finding a lasting solution to tooth enamel loss, a research team from Zhejiang University in China has devised a gel that helps stimulate the natural repair of tooth enamel.
Dentists have been investing substantial time and effort in safeguarding enamel, recognizing that its erosion can render patients susceptible to issues such as sensitivity, decay, or discoloration. Enamel plays a pivotal role in maintaining oral health and contributes significantly to the overall aesthetics of one's teeth. Nevertheless, the regeneration of enamel has presented notable challenges to the field of dentistry.
What makes the gel more crucial is the fact that once enamel is lost, it does not regenerate naturally, making preventive care the optimal treatment approach.
This innovative gel has undergone rigorous testing, including application to damaged teeth extracted from patients and immersion in a solution that closely replicates the oral environment. According to the research findings, this gel facilitated enamel self-repair within a mere 48 hours.
Microscopic analysis revealed that the newly formed enamel possessed the same arrangement of calcium and phosphate crystals as normal enamel.
This is a significant advancement, as previous attempts by other scientists involved calcium and phosphate mixtures characterized by larger particle clusters, which hindered their ability to adhere effectively to tooth surfaces.
However, the gel's effectiveness has a limitation that it generates a layer approximately three micrometers thick, roughly 400 times thinner than the healthy enamel.
Currently, this gel is undergoing testing on mice, with potential human trials on the horizon. Human testing would involve everyday activities like eating and drinking to assess how the gel performs in real-life scenarios.