Our teeth are covered with an outer layer, called the enamel. This protective shell covering each tooth is an important to keep bacteria from getting through to the tooth and causing decay.

In the recent NSF funded study, published in the journal Nature, research scientists working at Northwestern University have isolated impurities which both contribute to the enamel’s strength but also make it material more soluble.

“Enamel has evolved to be hard and wear-resistant enough to withstand the forces associated with chewing for decades,” said lead researcher Derk Joester. “However, enamel has very limited potential to regenerate.”

This lack of regeneration, it is what makes research into protecting and maintaining the enamel on our teeth so important.  The new information gained from the study will help scientists better understand how the tooth decay occurs and even the role that genetics play in development of enamel. This will help us understand why for some their enamel layer is poor or, in some rare cases, altogether missing.

The results from this study, it is hoped, will also lead to advances in materials and procedures to help dental professionals provide better care to us all.

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