Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a fluoride-free gel that regenerates damaged tooth enamel, a feat no existing dental treatment can achieve. Led by Professor Alvaro Mata, the team engineered proteins that mimic the natural process enamel uses to form during infancy.
Applied to a tooth, the gel forms a thin coating that penetrates microscopic cracks and draws calcium and phosphate from saliva to grow new mineral crystals aligned with the existing tooth structure, a process called epitaxial mineralization. Lab tests showed the regenerated enamel held up mechanically like healthy natural enamel under brushing, chewing and acid exposure, and the gel also shows promise for treating exposed dentine and tooth sensitivity.
The findings were published in Nature Communications. The researchers have launched a startup, Mintech-Bio, to commercialize the gel, with an initial product targeted within about a year.