Dental fillings are far from a pleasant experience, but they are now necessary to fill cavities and prevent further damage. A research group University of Nottingham In the UK this may change a new gel developed that can help prevent tooth decay and regenerate damaged tooth enamel.
According to a study published in the journal, the gel contains a modified version of amelogenin, a protein that regulates the growth of tooth enamel in newborns. natural communication this month. Once applied, the gel fills in the gaps and cracks in the teeth.
“The gel was able to grow crystals epitaxially, which means it has the same crystallographic orientation as existing tooth enamel,” said Álvaro Mata, professor of biomedical engineering and biomaterials at the University of Nottingham. New scientist.
Tooth enamel is the hard layer of the tooth that protects the softer inner layers from damage caused by general wear and tear, acids and bacteria. Cavities occur when the enamel layer on your teeth breaks down. Tooth enamel does not regenerate naturally or during fluoride treatment and remineralization. toothpaste HE using nanohydroxyapatite They can provide a temporary solution, but unlike a dental filling, they are not a permanent solution.
Research shows that it works on severely damaged tooth enamel
“Enamel has a unique structure that gives tooth enamel its extraordinary properties that protect our teeth against physical, chemical and thermal influences throughout our lives.” said Abshar HasanPostdoctoral 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 the architecture of our natural, healthy tooth enamel.”
According to the study, this process was effective even when the enamel was severely worn and the underlying dentin was exposed.
“If used as a preventive solution, dental amalgam can be avoided,” says Mata. “In a sense, it should be treated as a chronic disease where patients should start with more education and care at home. But we have been working on this topic for sixteen years, which has allowed us to develop some expertise in understanding, controlling and designing the technology. We now have a versatile technology that will result in different types of products. I think dental fillings will be a possibility in the future.”
Mata says he is “very excited because the technology was developed with the doctor and the patient in mind. It is safe, simple, quick to use and scalable.” He founded a startup called Mintech-Bio and hopes to launch the first product after clinical trials next year, New Scientist reports.
Dentists are cautiously optimistic
Bianca Velayo, general dentist in Henderson, Nevada, and owner of several offices in IBS healthHe looked at the calendar.
“These dental materials rarely come to market overnight, even if they produce interesting results,” he says. “After the initial success in the laboratory, the real test is how it behaves in the human mouth under real conditions: heat, saliva, bacteria, diet and daily habits. Between laboratory research, several phases of testing and regulatory approval, it usually takes five to ten years before we see such material in daily dentistry.
But Velayo says it’s also excited about the prospect of these fillings replacing traditional dental fillings in the future.
“This gel heralds the future of dentistry, where we can actually recreate what’s been lost. It’s the difference between repairing and truly healing the tooth,” he says.
Another dentist and multi-practice owner at PDS Health, Ahmad Mokbil, said the treatment has potential, but he doesn’t think it will be possible in the short term because it will require a change in patient education, dentists, dentistry and treatment protocols. However, he emphasized the technology that exists and is being used.
“We use an FDA-approved treatment called Curodont, which has similar properties and is effective in treating early-stage cavities,” Mokbil said. “The number of applications needed may vary depending on the reaction of the tooth, the size of the cavity and the speed of the procedure.”
