As humans, we are constantly finding ways to injure ourselves on a fairly regular basis. Whether bumping our heads, stubbing our toes, breaking bones, or burning our fingers and tongue, humans seem to have a knack for incurring bruises, scrapes, and cuts. Lucky for us, the human body is remarkably good at repairing itself. There is one part of the body, however, that does not have the capability to repair itself – our teeth. Tooth enamel is made up of about 90 percent minerals, which means that it lacks the cells and proteins that would be needed to regenerate. Because the teeth cannot regenerate on their own, it is imperative that we take a proactive attitude in preventing any damage to our teeth. This means brushing and flossing twice a day, visiting the dentist at least twice a year, and wearing a protective mouth guard whenever you are participating in athletics. It also means that visiting the dentist is a necessity, whether you like it or not.
There is currently research being done that shows promise that it may be possible for certain aspects of our teeth to regenerate in the future thanks to new laser technology. Experiments done at Harvard University have shown that laser treatment on the teeth of rats has triggered cells to regenerate at an accelerated rate by triggering a chain of events within the molecules in the tissue. There is a hope that this technology will one day be able to be applied for use on human teeth, as well as serve a broader role in treating the human body.
There is a possibility that laser technology will be able to help regenerate your natural teeth one day in the near future. Until that time, we will have to continue to rely on traditional dental practices to restore our damaged and missing teeth. And no matter what, it will always be important to take excellent care of your teeth in order to prevent tooth decay and damage in the first place.