Abstract
The human body has difficulty repairing damaged dental enamel, an acellular hard tissue. Researchers have sought feasible biomimicry strategies to repair enamel defects; however, few have been successfully translated to clinical applications. In this study, we propose a new method for achieving rapid enamel mineralization under a near-physiological environment. Through treatment with a laser and chelating agents, 15 μm crystals could be grown compactly on an enamel substrate in less than 20 min. The compact crystal layer had similar structure as native enamel prisms and high elastic modulus. This layer also had the potential for further remineralization in saliva. The benefit of using laser can not only speed up the mineralization, but also control the crystal growth precisely where in need. A mechanism for how laser and chelating agents synergistically function is also proposed. This strategy offers a possibility for enamel-biomimicking repair in dental clinics.
Highlights
Dental enamel is the outmost layer of the human tooth and a highly mineralized tissue in the human body, more than 95% of which is composed of carbonated hydroxyapatite[1]
A film of compacted, ordered FA crystals was grown via a laser, and this film had a similar structure to human enamel
The cross-sectional Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Fig. 2b) showed that the regenerated layer had a similar structure as the enamel prism
Summary
Dental enamel is the outmost layer of the human tooth and a highly mineralized tissue in the human body, more than 95% (by volume) of which is composed of carbonated hydroxyapatite[1]. Different peptides have been used to increase nucleation sites on the enamel surface, such as amelogenin peptide[2] polyamidoamine (PAMAM)[3] and 3DSS peptide[4] These peptides can function as a mineralization template for HAP formation. Many chemical methods have been used to achieve rapid crystal growth Those methods, such as the hydrothermal reaction[5] and electrolytic deposition[6], can achieve mineralization in several hours, the stringent conditions of those chemical reactions limits their clinical application. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nanoindentation were used to evaluate the regenerated layer To further explore this mechanism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and TEM analysis were used
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
