Synthetic enamel?

Did you know that the hardest substance in the body is tooth enamel? Enamel is essentially the tough outer covering of the portion of the tooth above the gumline. Over time, dentists have repaired damaged and decayed teeth with many different materials such as beeswax, amalgam alloys, resin composites, ceramics and now newer materials that are stronger and more esthetic than previous generations. But all these options are synthetic materials and display wear and weaknesses.

A team of scientists are in the process of making a new material that mimics enamel’s fundamental properties of strength and elasticity. Not only could this material be used in the oral cavity, but could also possibly be used to strengthen fractured bones, improve pacemakers and treat other biological indications. Stay tuned!