A New Study Suggests an Alternative to Dental Fillings

Fortunately for everyone who hates fillings a new study that is titled Nanostructured Assemblies for Central Application, seems to suggest that normal fillings could become a thing of the past thanks to a new biomaterial that helps to regenerate the enamel on a person’s tooth.

This new material, known as melanocytes stimulating hormone (MSH) is placed next to the damaged tooth in order to encourage the regeneration and growth of the cells.

There have been numerous tests that have been performed on mice teeth that were cavity filled as a part of the study and the researchers saw very positive results.

In a month the cavities were gone. However, obviously it is important to keep in mind that the teeth that mice have are very much smaller than the teeth that humans have.

This study was subsequently published in the journal of ACS Nano and is the work of scientists from a French institute associate with the Faculty of Medicine.

The focus of the institute is to take care of the cavities after they have developed, although a researcher there notes that this should not be considered any reason to ignore dental hygiene completely.

Although MSH is being called a potential replacement for the filling and drilling process, the technology may only be useful in certain cases since it is only in its formative stages.

There will be numerous years of clinical trials until the product is put on the market, therefore dentists aren’t quite ready to hang up their drills quite yet.