Chinese scientists seek to regrow tooth enamel

A Chinese research team may have finally cracked the problem of repairing tooth enamel.

Scientists at Zhejiang University have discovered a method by which its complex structure can be reproduced and the enamel essentially “grown” back.

The team behind the research say the materials are cheap and can be prepared on a large scale. “After intensive discussion with dentists, we believe that this new method can be widely used in future,” said Dr Zhaoming Liu, co-author of the research.

Currently, substitute materials such as resin, metal alloys, amalgams and ceramics are used to replace damaged tooth enamel, but these are less than ideal. Resin-based material cannot fully adhere to natural enamel, and will loosen after several years.

The new method involves producing calcium phosphate clusters which bind to natural enamel contiguously, forming an extension of the natural scale-like crystalline structure.

At present, the thickness of the new enamel layer is limited to a few micrometers, but the team hopes to improve their techniques up to millimeter-thick layers that would deal with tooth cavities.