Cavities in teeth are normally drilled clean and then filled with an artificial material. This procedure could become obsolete if a new hormone treatment proves successful:
Link via Popular Science | Image: NIH
The gel or thin film contains a peptide known as MSH, or melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Previous experiments, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that MSH encourages bone regeneration.
Bone and teeth are fairly similar, so the French scientists reasoned that if the MSH were applied to teeth, it should help healing as well.
To test their theory, the French scientists applied either a film or gel, both of which contained MSH, to cavity-filled mice teeth. After about one month, the cavities had disappeared, said Benkirane-Jessel.
Link via Popular Science | Image: NIH
Welcome to the modern era dentistry. By now they should have come up with a rinse that lets me swish it around in my mouth and it heals current cavities and prevents future ones.
The dentist is the source of all that is evil in the universe......just my opinion. ;)
Advances in modern dentistry has progressed as fast as a sloth on sedatives.
Humans have been able to send satellites into orbit
and past Pluto, regenerate a mutilated face
on a human and clone a sheep. But nobody on this planet can reverse a cavity (nevermind regrow a tooth)???
Pleeeeaaaazzzzze.