Goodbye, Cavities? New Gel Could Regrow Tooth Enamel
The protein-based gel rebuilds organized enamel crystals in under five minutes and is set for human trials after lab tests on 32 teeth.
- Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a protein-based gel that regenerates tooth enamel, with human clinical trials scheduled to begin in early 2026 through spin-off company Mintech-Bio.
- Enamel degradation impacts nearly 50% of the global population, yet the tissue contains no living cells and cannot repair itself. Current treatments only manage symptoms rather than restore lost structure.
- Lab tests on 32 extracted molars showed regenerated enamel crystals up to 10 micrometers thick. Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Abshar Hasan said the gel "promotes the growth of crystals" in an integrated manner, matching healthy enamel.
- Applied in under 5 minutes, the gel also treats exposed dentine, potentially reducing sensitivity affecting millions of patients. The treatment targets early-stage erosion, though advanced decay still requires traditional restorative dentistry.
- Mintech-Bio aims to release the first professional product as early as 2026, pending successful human trials and regulatory approval from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency.
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The fluoride-free gel can use the minerals in saliva to form an enamel-like layer and can also reduce tooth sensitivity.
The enamel protects the teeth against wear, acids and temperature changes, but it has an important limitation: once lost, the organism cannot regenerate it alone. A team from the University of Nottingham has developed a gel that tries to solve this problem by imitating the natural process with which it is formed during childhood. The material is not yet a treatment available in the clinics, because the results that have been shared come from tes…
Goodbye, cavities? New gel could regrow tooth enamel
Researchers have developed a fluoride-free gel that could help rebuild damaged tooth enamel, something the body cannot naturally replace once it is lost. Inspired by the proteins that guide enamel formation in infancy, the gel fills microscopic cracks and draws calcium and phosphate from saliva to grow a new mineral layer that closely matches healthy enamel.
Researchers Are 'Excited' About A Gel That May Regrow Tooth Enamel
Gross as it sounds, some research suggests that toothpaste made from keratin-rich sources like hair might be even better than fluoride at slowing enamel erosion. That’s important because once you lose enough enamel – the hard outer layer of your teeth – you can’t get it back. This is why dentists use crowns and fillings to treat decayed teeth. But a gel might change that. Researchers have created a “bioinspired material” that seems to repair and…
New Protein Gel Regrows Tooth Enamel, Human Trials Begin 2026
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a protein-based gel that can repair and regrow tooth enamel, something dentistry has never been able to achieve before. While earlier enamel regeneration gels have shown promise in the lab, this new Nottingham formulation is the first to be fast-tracked toward human clinical trials with a commercial product in sight. Published in Nature Communications in November 2025, the breakthrough a…
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