Dental News - Mussel-inspired substance may remineralise sensitive teeth

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Mussel-inspired substance may remineralise sensitive teeth

Mussels use adhesive proteins to attach to various surfaces. Researchers think that a substance inspired by this bioadhesion could also reduce dental pain. (Photo courtesy of Pavel Ilyukhin/Shutterstock)
Dental Tribune International

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 9. January 2013

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HEFEI, China/HONG KONG: In a new study, biomaterial scientists have found that a substance similar to the adhesive that mussels use to attach to rocks and other surfaces in water could advance the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity and may help rebuild dental tissue.

According to the researchers, three in four people worldwide have teeth that are extremely sensitive to hot, cold, sweet or sour foods and drinks. Among others, this is caused by exposed nerves, resulting from enamel and dentine wear. Although there are some products, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes or chewing gum, that can relieve the pain, the researchers noted that there was no treatment available that helps rebuild both tooth enamel and dentine at the same time.

They hypothesised that the adhesive found in mussels could be used to keep minerals in contact with dentine long enough for the tooth to remineralise. In a number of laboratory experiments, they immersed dental slices containing enamel and dentine in a dopamine solution to obtain a polydopamine coating. Afterwards, the slices were bathed in a solution of calcium and phosphate.

The researchers observed that coating polydopamine on the surface of dental tissue promoted the remineralisation of enamel and demineralised dentine significantly, while teeth without coating that were bathed in mineral solution reformed enamel only. They concluded that this method could be a simple universal technique to induce both enamel and dentine remineralisation simultaneously.

The research was conducted in a collaborative study between the Anhui Medical University and the University of Hong Kong. The results were published in the December issue of the ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces journal.

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