New gel restores dental enamel and could revolutionise tooth repair

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Breakthrough fatigue and skepticism

  • Many commenters say they’ve seen nearly identical “tooth repair” stories for 15–30+ years, likening this to recurring hype about fusion, graphene, solid‑state batteries, AGI, etc.
  • Key distinction raised: if this were an approved commercial product making clinical claims, it would be huge news; as a university press release based on preclinical work, it’s “nearly meaningless” until human trials.
  • One person notes only a small fraction of early human studies ever reach phase 3 and approval; this gel is still at tooth/analogue-in-dish stage.

Context: real medical progress vs vaporware

  • Several point out that HIV and many cancers have seen major advances: HIV is now a chronic, well-controlled disease for most; some cancers have immunotherapies and extended survival.
  • Others list hair regrowth, male birth control, Alzheimer’s cure, tooth regrowth as areas that still feel perpetually “almost here”.
  • There’s discussion that progress often looks like decades of slow improvement followed by sudden visible breakthroughs (e.g., weight‑loss drugs).

Tooth repair and regrowth landscape

  • Commenters recall many enamel‑regeneration and stem‑cell tooth replacement announcements (e.g., sound‑wave regrowth, stem‑cell teeth, USAG‑1 research) that never reached clinics.
  • One notes ART with high‑viscosity glass ionomer cement has effectively addressed caries in some regions since the 1980s, but is underused in the US due to entrenched drilling/filling business models.
  • Others mention ongoing work on inducing a “third set” of teeth via developmental pathways, with concern about targeting and safety.

Existing remineralization products

  • Long discussion of products like:
    • Novamin (calcium sodium phosphosilicate, in some Sensodyne variants outside the US).
    • Nano‑hydroxyapatite pastes (e.g., Apaguard, Boka, tabs), often reported to reduce sensitivity and aid remineralization.
    • CPP‑ACP (Recaldent, GC Tooth Mousse), Enamelon, Biomin F.
  • Experiences are mixed but several report measurable reductions in sensitivity and, occasionally, reversal of early lesions; others see little difference.
  • Regulatory differences (cosmetic vs drug claims) are cited as reasons some formulas aren’t sold or fully labeled in the US.

Science communication and academic incentives

  • Multiple comments blame “publish or perish”, KPI‑driven academia, and PR‑heavy university press offices for overhyping early-stage findings.
  • Concerns about p‑hacking, poorly designed studies, and lack of reproducibility are seen as eroding public trust.
  • Some argue HN links should go to the actual paper (which is open access) rather than to institutional PR.

Dentistry practice, economics, and technology

  • A practicing dentist says if cavities vanished, dentistry would shift but not disappear: there would still be gum disease, fractures, wear, implants, bite and cosmetic work.
  • Others speculate fewer dentists would eventually be needed, similar to what would happen if obesity suddenly plummeted.
  • Noted tech improvements: 3D intraoral scanning and SLA 3D printing for crowns and fixtures; sonic scalers for cleanings.
  • At the same time, some low‑hanging comfort fixes (e.g., using lukewarm rinse water) are still often ignored.

Oral hygiene and product debates

  • Flossing: cited systematic reviews/meta‑analyses suggest weak evidence for caries prevention but some support for gum-disease reduction; users point to technique issues and self-report bias.
  • Mouthwash: one commenter claims emerging research shows daily antimicrobial/alcohol-based rinses may harm the oral microbiome and raise certain risks; others ask for references.
  • Xylitol gum: said to reduce cariogenic bacteria and support remineralization indirectly, but not itself a mineral-depositing agent.
  • Several mention anxiety, access problems, and personal trauma around dentistry, plus the role of sugar and alcohol in tooth decay.

Implants, artificial teeth, and natural dentition

  • One provocative take suggests replacing all teeth with artificial ones if rich; many others strongly disagree, stressing that natural roots and periodontal ligaments provide shock absorption and better long‑term function.
  • People with implants report upper‑jaw implants can be fragile and uncomfortable compared to natural teeth; flexible, “shock absorber” implant designs are mentioned as emerging tech.