Dental enamel: a new treatment to make it grow back?

Tooth enamel is a particularly strong and resistant material, but the inevitable aggressions it faces during your life weaken it. The demineralization of enamel, until now irreversible, is the subject of much research and the Americans speak of spectacular advances. Nutrident.fr provides an update on the treatment being developed.

What is tooth enamel and how does it deteriorate?

We only have one set of teeth for life, from the time the permanent teeth grow in during childhood. The enamel of the teeth must therefore resist wear and abrasion, especially every time we eat. With time, it tends to demineralize and lose its valour.

Enamel is the surface envelope of the tooth. It protects the dentin, which itself surrounds and protects the pulp of the tooth that contains tissues, nerves and blood vessels.

Tooth enamel is essentially mineral (96%) and is the hardest material in our entire body. However, it is not indestructible and must resist aggression:

• Erosion due to contact with acidic materials: they can come from the body itself, with gastric reflux, or be caused by external elements, with the consumption of acidic food and drink;
• abrasion When we eat, food wears away the enamel, but there are also behavioral problems: bruxism (the grinding of teeth, usually at night, caused by the friction of one jaw on the other), use of a toothbrush with hard bristles, brushing with too much pressure, too much flossing, etc. ;
• Infections: poor hygiene leads to a proliferation of bacteria that create cavities by destroying the enamel; teeth that are too tightly packed also create cavities, because food gets stuck and attracts bacteria; various problems, such as gingivitis, abscesses, periodontal diseases, etc.

When tooth enamel is eroded, the process is irreversible. However, when the damage is minor, it can be reinforced with specific toothpastes. This type of paste is recommended for people whose enamel is naturally fragile or too thin. This can be due to heredity, disease, but also to heavy medical treatments, such as antibiotics or chemotherapy.

Tooth enamel erosion: U.S. research

Specific toothpastes or laser treatments are only marginally effective, if the enamel is really damaged, they cannot repair it. The treatment developed by American researchers in Washington seems more promising.

The process consists of applying a peptide-based compound to the enamel, inspired by the protective cells of the enamel, the ameloblasts. The substitute is composed of an assembly of amino acids. The phosphate and calcium ions induced by this peptide treatment regenerate the enamel.

Caution must be exercised, as the treatment is still in the laboratory study stage and has yet to be tested in real-life conditions. On the other hand, while it is more effective than a simple restorative toothpaste, it only reduces minor flaws and not deep cuts in the enamel.

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