[ad_1]
In our world of fast food and sweet snacks, tooth decay is a big problem. Many people experience dental abuse when cavities form, with lost enamel being replaced by materials such as metal alloys and resin. Scientists have discovered a way to repel the enamel of human teeth, a technique they hope dentists could use one day to repair their teeth.
Enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that protects them from cavities. To our knowledge, this is the hardest biological tissue. However, too much sugar and poor dental hygiene can cause plaque build up in our mouth and the bacteria that accompanies this plaque, an acid that destroys stubborn enamel. When the tooth enamel is lost or damaged, it does not grow back, resulting in the formation of cavities that must be filled by a dentist.
A problem with current fillings is that they sometimes become loose or fall and need to be replaced. Researchers from China's Zhejiang University and Xiamen University sought to overcome this disadvantage by finding a way to repair tooth enamel. They made a gel containing tiny clumps of calcium and phosphate, key components of natural tooth enamel.
To test their gel, the researchers first applied it to crystalline hydroxyapatite, a substance similar to the enamel of our teeth. They found that clumps of calcium phosphate in the gel melted on the material, which is made possible by the small size of the clusters; Scientists have already tried using larger clusters, but have had limited success.
Then they used human teeth (not yet attached to their owners), first damaging the enamel with acid and then coating them in the gel. The teeth were then placed under conditions that reproduce those of the human mouth for 48 hours.
Surprisingly, after this time, the substance had formed a very thin layer of enamel-like coating, as strong and resistant as the enamel we found naturally in our teeth. Under the microscope, the researchers found that the coating had a crystalline structure similar to that of natural enamel. The diaper was only very thin, but the author of the study, Ruikang Tang, explained to New Scientist that the gel could be applied repeatedly to accumulate it. The results are reported in Science Advances.
Researchers now want to test their gel on mice and possibly on humans to determine if it is safe to use in the mouth. Although freezing is still far from being available to everyone, it could one day revolutionize the way we treat tooth decay, potentially eliminating the need for fillings.
"This process can be developed as an effective remedy against enamel erosion in clinical practice," note the researchers.
[ad_2]
Source link