Scientists have developed a substance similar to the adhesive that mussels use to attach themselves to rocks and other surfaces in water that shows promise in preventing sensitivity in teeth.
According to a report published in the American Chemical Society Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal, the researchers believe they have discovered a substance that don't just reduce the feeling of sensitivity, but actually rebuilds both enamel and dentin at the same time.
They chose a sticky material similar to the adhesive that mussels use to adhere to surfaces because it could help keep minerals in contact with dentin long enough for the rebuilding process to occur.
In laboratory tests, they bathed homan teeth that had worn-away enamel and dentin in liquid containing the sticky material and minerals. Another group of teeth was bathed only in minerals. That group reformed only the enamel. However, the group that included both minerals and the sticky material, reformed BOTH enamel and dentin.
According to a report published in the American Chemical Society Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal, the researchers believe they have discovered a substance that don't just reduce the feeling of sensitivity, but actually rebuilds both enamel and dentin at the same time.
They chose a sticky material similar to the adhesive that mussels use to adhere to surfaces because it could help keep minerals in contact with dentin long enough for the rebuilding process to occur.
In laboratory tests, they bathed homan teeth that had worn-away enamel and dentin in liquid containing the sticky material and minerals. Another group of teeth was bathed only in minerals. That group reformed only the enamel. However, the group that included both minerals and the sticky material, reformed BOTH enamel and dentin.