High-tech fillings could actually repair your teeth

A new synthetic biomaterial could change the way dentists treat  cavities in the future. Developed by the University of Nottingham and  the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, the new material actually  stimulates the repair and regeneration of parts of your teeth.As  you probably know, teeth have an enamel layer on the outside. Below that  is a tissue called dentin and below that is the delightfully named pulp  where all the nerves and blood vessels live. The material currently  used for fillings is incompatible with pulp, but the new biomaterials  can actually stimulate the tooth stem cells. This means that you could  essentially regrow pulp and dentin in a damaged tooth.The research has picked up second prize in the materials category of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Emerging Technologies Competition 2016.  But like all good scientific advances, it might be some time before  this actually makes it to your local dentist's office, so don't start  skimping on the brushing and flossing just yet.