New biomaterial helps teeth rebuild their natural enamel, repairing cracks and preventing decay.
Picture a dental visit where you leave not with a filling, but with stronger teeth. That may soon be possible thanks to researchers at the University of Nottingham. They have developed a gel that helps teeth regrow enamel, the hard outer layer that protects them from decay. The study, published in Nature Communications, could reshape how dentists treat and prevent tooth decay worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- The gel regrows tooth enamel by imitating natural enamel-forming proteins.
- It bonds with the tooth surface and guides new mineral growth.
- It works without fluoride and may replace some fillings and varnishes.
- Tests show the regenerated enamel behaves like natural enamel.
- A start-up plans to launch the first clinical product as early as next year.
How the Gel Works
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, tougher than bone. Yet once it’s gone through erosion or decay, it cannot grow back naturally. Fluoride treatments can strengthen enamel but do not restore lost material.
The Nottingham team’s gel changes that. It contains synthetic proteins that copy those responsible for forming enamel in early development. Once applied, the gel forms a thin protective layer that acts as a scaffold.
This scaffold attracts calcium and phosphate ions from saliva and helps them organize into enamel crystals. The process, known as epitaxial mineralization, rebuilds the enamel layer in a way nearly identical to natural enamel formation.
Dental enamel has a unique structure that protects our teeth throughout life against physical, chemical, and thermal insults, When our material is applied, it promotes the growth of crystals in an integrated and organized manner, recovering the architecture of our natural healthy enamel.
Dr. Abshar Hasan from Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy.
Tested for Real-Life Strength
Durability is a major challenge in enamel regeneration. New enamel must survive brushing, chewing, and acidic foods without breaking down.
The Nottingham team tested their regenerated enamel under real-life conditions. The results were impressive. The new enamel layer acted just like healthy enamel. Electron microscopy showed that after two weeks of treatment, eroded surfaces were covered with organized, natural-looking crystals.
The gel can also treat exposed dentine, the softer layer beneath enamel that often causes sensitivity. It forms an enamel-like layer over the dentine, reducing sensitivity and improving how restorations such as fillings or crowns bond to the tooth.
A Global Health Problem
Enamel loss affects nearly half the world’s population. It leads to pain, cavities, and tooth loss, all costly and invasive to fix. Beyond oral health, tooth decay has been linked to conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Because enamel cannot regenerate, dentists have relied on treatments that only slow the damage. This new gel offers a different path: directly repairing enamel and potentially preventing decay before it starts.
“This technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind,” said Professor Álvaro Mata, Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials at Nottingham and senior author of the study. “It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable. We’re very excited about its potential to help patients of all ages.”
From Lab to Clinic
The researchers have launched a start-up, Mintech-Bio, to bring the gel to market. They hope to release the first product within a year, likely as a professional dental treatment similar to fluoride varnish.
Because it’s protein-based and fluoride-free, it may appeal to patients seeking more natural dental care. The gel uses minerals already found in saliva, working with the body’s chemistry rather than against it.
Its simplicity could also make it valuable in areas with limited dental care. A quick, painless application that restores enamel could greatly improve oral health in communities where decay is widespread.
Why It Matters
If successful, this technology could change dentistry entirely. Instead of fixing damage after it happens, dentists could prevent and reverse enamel loss with a simple gel.
It represents a move toward regenerative dentistry, where the body’s own biology drives healing. From a chipped tooth to early cavities, self-healing teeth may soon move from fiction to reality.
As Professor Mata said, “We’ve designed a technology that’s simple, safe, and ready to help people everywhere. That’s what makes this so exciting.”
The team is now refining the gel and preparing for clinical testing. If future results match early success, the days of permanent enamel loss and perhaps even fillings may soon be over.
Sources
- University of Nottingham (Nov 4, 2025). New gel restores dental enamel and could revolutionise tooth repair. University of Nottingham News
- Based on: Hasan A. et al. (2025). Biomimetic supramolecular protein matrix restores structure and properties of human dental enamel. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64982-y
