Novel material fights against cavities.A new substance may counteract tooth decay Tooth Decay Definition Tooth decay, which is also called dental cavities or dental caries, is the destruction of the outer surface (enamel) of a tooth. under fillings and braces. According to Joseph M. Antonucci of the National Institute of Standards and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology, governmental agency within the U.S. Dept. of Commerce with the mission of "working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards" in the national interest. in Gaithersburg, Md., half of all fillings are replaced due to recurring decay. His team has developed polymer composites that dentists might someday place under fillings and behind orthodontic orthodontic (ôr´th  dän´tik),adj braces to heal small cavities. The new substances carry calcium and phosphate ions inside polymers commonly used in dental applications. These ions can combine to make the stuff of teeth, the mineral hydroxyapatite hydroxyapatite /hy·droxy·ap·a·tite/ (-ap´ah-tit) an inorganic calcium-containing constituent of bone matrix and teeth, imparting rigidity to these structures. (SN: 8/19/00, p. 122). The new composites have already repaired decay in the enamel of cow's teeth in laboratory experiments, says Antonucci. |
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