Scientists have developed a protein-based gel that could finally solve one of dentistry's most stubborn problems: the permanent loss of tooth enamel. The breakthrough technology, being commercialized by a startup based in the Miami area, promises to regenerate damaged enamel rather than simply patch it up.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering created the bioinspired compound designed to restore eroded or demineralized enamel. Their startup company, Mintech-Bio, is headquartered in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where they're working to bring the first product to market as early as next year, according to Science Daily.
The international research team published their findings on November 4 in Nature Communications. Among the co-authors is Stefan Habelitz, an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, whose work focuses on understanding how matrix proteins control mineralization in enamel and dentin, UCSF reports.
How the Gel Works
The fluoride-free gel can be quickly applied to teeth in much the same way as standard fluoride treatments. Once applied, it forms a thin but durable layer that seeps into the surface of teeth, filling in tiny cracks and holes, as reported by Science Daily. The gel then acts as a scaffold that captures calcium and phosphate ions from saliva, organizing them into new enamel through a process called epitaxial mineralization.
Dr. Abshar Hasan, the study's lead author and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Nottingham, explained that the material promotes crystal growth "in an integrated and organized manner, recovering the architecture of our natural healthy enamel." The regenerated enamel behaves just like healthy enamel when tested under conditions simulating tooth brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic foods, according to Medical Xpress.
A Global Health Problem
Enamel damage plays a major role in tooth decay, which affects nearly half of the global population. When enamel is lost, teeth become more vulnerable to infections, cavities, and tooth loss, Science Daily notes. These dental issues have also been linked to broader health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Because enamel cannot naturally regenerate once it is lost, dental care has long focused on prevention or temporary protection. Existing treatments like fluoride varnishes and remineralization products can help relieve symptoms but do not actually rebuild enamel, according to Interesting Engineering.
Miami Connection and Commercial Prospects
Mintech-Bio, the startup commercializing the technology, is based at 1986 NW 167th Ave in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The company was founded in 2022 and has raised $940,000 in seed funding, CB Insights reports. Professor Alvaro Mata, the study's lead investigator and Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials at the University of Nottingham, emphasized that the technology "is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable," as mentioned on Interesting Engineering.
"The technology is versatile, which opens the opportunity to be translated into multiple types of products to help patients of all ages suffering from a variety of dental problems associated with loss of enamel and exposed dentine," Mata said, according to Science Daily. "We have started this process with our start-up company Mintech-Bio and hope to have a first product out by next year; this innovation could soon be helping patients worldwide."
Beyond Enamel Restoration
The material can also be used on exposed dentine, creating an enamel-like coating that helps reduce tooth sensitivity and improves how restorations such as fillings or veneers bond to the tooth surface. However, it's worth noting that the results are preliminary, as tests were conducted ex vivo under controlled conditions, New Atlas points out. The ELR layer was only a few micrometers thick—thinner than natural enamel—so its long-term durability remains unknown.
The international research collaboration included scientists from Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. The involvement of UCSF's Stefan Habelitz brings decades of research experience in biomineralization and dental tissue regeneration to the project, according to UCSF's Musculoskeletal Center.
If Mintech-Bio succeeds in bringing the product to market next year as planned, it would represent the first commercially available treatment capable of actually regrowing tooth enamel rather than simply protecting what remains.
