Researchers develop gel that regenerates tooth enamel

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have recently developed a protein-based gel that can regenerate tooth enamel – the white, hard, outermost layer that protects each tooth from decay, and temperature changes. 

According to a blog by University of Nottingham, the material, created by researchers from the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering in collaboration with international partners, is designed to repair demineralised or eroded enamel and strengthen healthy teeth. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

HOW DOES THE GEL WORK

The gel can be applied by dentists in much the same way as standard fluoride treatments, but it works without fluoride. Instead, it mimics the natural proteins responsible for enamel formation in infancy. Once used on a tooth's surface, the gel forms a thin layer that penetrates cracks, and holes. It then acts as a scaffold, drawing calcium and phosphate from saliva to promote the controlled regrowth of mineral through a process known as "epitaxial mineralisation". This enables the newly formed mineral to integrate with the original structure and recover the properties of healthy enamel, as per the blog by University of Nottingham.

Electron microscopy images of a tooth with demineralised enamel showing eroded apatite crystals (left) and a similar demineralised tooth after a 2-week treatment showing epitaxially regenerated enamel crystals (right). Image: University of Nottingham.

Researchers say the material can also be applied to exposed dentine, producing an enamel-like layer that could help treat hypersensitivity or improve the durability of dental restorations.

Tooth enamel is the most mineralised tissue in the human body, but unlike skin or bone, it cannot regenerate once damaged. When enamel decays – whether through diet, acids, or poor brushing habits – the underlying dentine becomes vulnerable, often leading to sensitivity, cavities and infections. Almost half of the global population experiences enamel-related problems, making its loss a major contributor to tooth decay worldwide. 

As enamel does not naturally regenerate, current treatments can only manage symptoms rather than rebuild lost material. If successful in wider testing, the new gel could provide the first effective method of restoring enamel rather than simply protecting what remains.