An international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Nottingham has developed a protein gel capable of restoring damaged tooth enamel. Unlike fluoride coatings, it reproduces the natural structure of enamel by attracting calcium and phosphate crystals from saliva and creating a durable mineralized layer in 10 days.
The method is based on epitaxial mineralization, a principle in which crystals align according to the template of natural tissue. Tests showed that the created layer is no less strong or wear-resistant than natural enamel, and in some cases even surpasses it.
So far, the tests have been carried out only in the laboratory, and the thickness of the restored layer is still less than that of natural enamel. Nevertheless, the direction itself is being described as one of the most promising in decades.
