Goodbye, cavities? New gel could regrow tooth enamel

A newly developed dental gel may be able to rebuild damaged tooth enamel, potentially creating a new approach to preventing decay and restoring worn teeth. Scientists at the University of Nottingham created the material to imitate the biological processes that form enamel naturally. Their findings suggest that the gel could repair enamel that has been weakened by mineral loss or erosion, reinforce enamel that is still healthy, and help protect teeth from future damage.

The new gel is made from proteins designed to reproduce important functions of the natural proteins involved in enamel development during infancy. After the gel is placed on a tooth, it forms a thin, durable coating that penetrates the tooth’s surface and fills small cracks, pores, and other damaged areas. This coating then acts as a framework for rebuilding the mineral structure of enamel. According to the researchers, this organised growth helps the repaired surface recover both the microscopic architecture and the physical properties of healthy enamel.

The researchers tested the regenerated material under conditions intended to reproduce the stresses teeth experience in daily life. The results showed that the restored tissue displayed mechanical behaviour similar to that of healthy natural enamel.

Prof. Alvaro Mata, who led the study, said: “We are very excited because the technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind. It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable”.

The team has begun working towards commercialisation through its start-up company, with the goal of developing an initial product for clinical use. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

From: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260717033046.htm.