Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a protein-based material that can repair and regrow damaged teeth. An international team from the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering created it. The findings appeared in Nature Communications. Dentists can apply the new tooth enamel gel in the same way as a regular fluoride treatment.

The material contains no fluoride and mimics the natural proteins that help enamel grow in early life. After application, it forms a thin, strong layer that fills holes and cracks in teeth. It then acts as a framework that draws calcium and phosphate from saliva. As a result, new minerals grow in a controlled way through a process called epitaxial mineralization.

This process helps the new minerals bond with the natural tooth. Therefore, the structure and strength of healthy enamel return. Moreover, the material can also be used on exposed dentine to form a protective layer similar to enamel. That layer could help treat severe tooth sensitivity and improve future dental repairs.

The need for such a treatment is large. Enamel loss is a major cause of decay and affects nearly half the world’s population. Since enamel does not grow back on its own, damage has usually been permanent. Current options such as fluoride varnishes and remineralization solutions can ease symptoms. However, they do not replace lost enamel.

Lead author Dr Abshar Hasan said the new material helps crystals grow together to rebuild healthy enamel. The team tested the gel under conditions that simulated brushing, chewing and exposure to acidic foods. Furthermore, the regrown enamel behaved like natural enamel under those tests.

Hasan said the technology is safe, practical and designed for use by both dentists and patients. Meanwhile, the gel offers hope to people who have lived with painful sensitivity for years. Finally, this tooth enamel gel could turn a permanent problem into a treatable one.