EC Dental Science

Dental enamel, the outermost layer of teeth, is the hardest mineralized tissue in the human body. Despite its durability, enamel is susceptible to wear, damage, and decay. Unlike other mineralized tissues such as bone and dentin, enamel cannot regenerate itself post-eruption due to the loss of ameloblasts, the cells responsible for its formation. Conventional dental treatments rely on synthetic materials to restore lost enamel, but these materials fail to fully replicate the physical, mechanical, and aesthetic properties of natural enamel. Recent advancements in material science, coupled with a deeper understanding of organic matrix-mediated mineralization, have paved the way for synthetic enamel fabrication. Additionally, insights into enamel formation, protein interactions, and the isolation of postnatal stem cells from oral tissues, along with the development of smart materials for cell and growth factor delivery, have opened new possibilities for biologically based enamel regeneration. This article reviews recent progress in biomimetic synthesis and cell-based strategies for enamel regeneration, highlighting the challenges that remain.

 Keywords: Biomimetic; Enamel; Hydroxyapatite; Regeneration; Strategies; Synthetic

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