A patented, protein-based, fluoride-free gel appears to repair and regenerate tooth enamel and could transform oral health and dental care, according to a news release from the University of Nottingham in the U.K.
Unlike fluoride, which recruits calcium and phosphorous to strengthen enamel, making it more resistant to acid and caries, this new gel imitates natural proteins that promote enamel growth during infancy, according to the press release. The breakthrough gel is the subject of a study in Nature Communications.
“When our material is applied to demineralized or eroded enamel, or exposed dentine, the material promotes the growth of crystals in an integrated and organized manner, recovering the architecture of our natural healthy enamel,” Dr. Abshar Hasan of the university’s school of pharmacy and department of chemical and environmental engineering and a leading author of the study, said in the release.
The unnamed gel contains elastin-like recombinamers, or ELRs, that imitate the structure and function of enamel-developing matrix. When applied to teeth, the ELRs create a protective layer over the enamel that “plugs” holes and cracks. It then triggers the growth of apatite nanocrystals, building a microarchitecture of the enamel and restoring it.
It’s estimated that in the U.S. enamel erosion affects nearly 46% of children and nearly 80% of adults. Currently, there is no cure for worn, damaged enamel. Current solutions, like fluoride varnishes and other remineralizing mouthwashes, only treat the symptoms, like sensitivity.
The researchers have envisioned multiple uses for their innovation to prevent, treat, and correct enamel loss.
“It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable,” Alvaro Mata, a professor at the university who led the study, said in the press release. “Also, the technology is versatile, which opens the opportunity to be translated into multiple types of products to help patients of all ages suffering from a variety of dental problems associated with loss of enamel and exposed dentine.”
The research has led to a startup company, Mintech-Bio, which hopes to launch its first product in 2026, the release stated.
