Prevention of dental caries and promotion of remineralization

Summary Projects are available to study the process of enamel demineralization and remineralization to increase our understanding of dental caries and will study ways of inhibiting enamel demineralization and enhancing remineralization and quantify the effects of these treatments using state-of-the art quantification methods.

Project Details

Dental decay, or caries, starts when bacteria in plaque produces an organic acid which dissolves the tooth enamel, breaking down the calcium and phosphate in tooth enamel. Enamel remineralization is the process of net mineral uptake into partially demineralized tooth structure to prevent and repair early dental decay. Projects are available to study the process of enamel demineralization and remineralization to increase our understanding of dental caries and will study ways of inhibiting enamel demineralization and enhancing remineralization and quantify the effects of these treatments using state-of-the art quantification methods. Projects are available to test novel oral health products and functional foods designed to assist in the prevention of dental caries. The preventive products that include toothpastes, dental cremes, mouth rinse solutions, gels, and varnishes for topical application will contain anti-caries agents. Alternatively, commonly consumed foods and beverages will be modified to minimize their potential to cause loss of mineral from teeth such as during dental caries or modified to provide a positive health effect. The projects may include laboratory and/or in situ studies.