Cavities could soon become a thing of the past. Thanks to a special gel developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham, capable of promoting the regrowth of tooth enamel, preventing wear and therefore reducing the risk of cavities and tooth sensitivity. The discovery was recently described in the journal Nature Communicationsand is expected to soon be put to the test in a trial with human volunteers.
The idea of trying to repair tooth enamel is not a coincidence. It is in fact the first line of defense of our teeth: a protective layer that over time is inevitably damaged by friction and exposure to acidic substances and bacteria, leaving the teeth more exposed to the onset of cavities, fractures, aesthetic defects and dental hypersensitivity. Our body is unable to regenerate tooth enamel, and the treatments developed to date can slow down its wear. A treatment capable of restoring and protecting the health of tooth enamel could therefore revolutionize the field of dentistry. And that’s what the English researchers decided to try.
Their gel contains a modified protein that mimics the action of amelogenin, a molecule that plays a key role in the formation of the enamel layer on teeth during childhood. Their hope was that the gel could reproduce what happens during tooth development, when amelogenin guides the formation of the crystals that make up tooth enamel. And so it was: tested in a test tube on human teeth immersed in a solution of calcium and phosphate (the main ingredients of enamel), the gel promoted the formation of a layer of enamel perfectly integrated with that already present on the teeth, regardless of how much it was worn.
In a week the gel demonstrated that it could produce a new layer of enamel 10 micrometers thick, much more than ever achieved before. And it has also been shown to work by replacing the calcium and phosphate solution with real human saliva, naturally rich in both elements. The researchers also revealed that a clinical trial is already planned, which should begin in the first half of 2026. And if the results are as hoped for, it is easy to imagine that we will soon hear about this dental innovation, even from our dentist.
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