Tooth Enamel

Guest: Janet Moradian-Oldak, PhD, Professor of Dentistry and Biomedical Engineering the University of Southern California  Are you a good teeth brusher? How about flossing? Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the country – five times more common in than asthma is children, even – but it’s also such an easy thing to let slide.  A big problem with slacking off for a bit is that tooth decay is permanent. It’s not like gaining five pounds and then losing them. Tooth enamel does not regenerate once you get back on the wagon and start brushing better. So there’s a lot of research going on right now into materials that could be used as enamel replacements protecting teeth from further decay.  Dental researcher Janet Moradian-Oldak recently contributed to two published papers that combine to offer real promise for understanding – and replacing – tooth enamel.