New drug treatment may help teeth repair themselves

Research from Kings College London using a biodegradable sponge soaked in a chemical called Tideglusib could encourage stem cells in the dental pulp to heal holes in human teeth.

It means that metal or amalgam fillings could be a thing of the past.

The team were looking into the ways of enhancing the natural ability of teeth to repair themselves through the activation of stem cells inside the pulp.

Unlike bones and skin, teeth have limited ability to regenerate themselves, meaning that they require dentists to drill and fill in order to keep them in good condition.

The drug in question has already been trialled in patients as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's.

Find out more in the video above.