Sami Dogan and UW Engineers Develop Lozenge for Hypersensitive Teeth

US: Sami Dogan, an experienced dentist with over three decades of experience, has collaborated with a team of materials engineers from the University of Washington (UW) to develop a solution for tooth sensitivity. The team’s innovative approach involves creating a lozenge that builds new mineral microlayers that can reportedly effectively provide long-lasting natural protection for individuals suffering from hypersensitivity.

Challenge Posed by Tooth Sensitivity

The problem of tooth sensitivity, characterized by the discomfort experienced when consuming hot, cold, or acidic foods, has been a persistent challenge for dentists. While various treatment options exist in the market, they often only offer temporary relief by addressing the symptoms rather than tackling the root cause. Recognizing this, Dogan and his team set out to develop a natural protocol to rebuild lost tooth minerals, aiming to provide a permanent solution for this painful condition.

Under the leadership of Professor Mehmet Sarikaya, a materials science and engineering expert, the research was conducted at the Genetically Engineered Materials Sciences & Engineering Center at UW. Sami Dogan expressed his motivation for the project, stating, “We see patients with hypersensitive teeth, but we can’t really help them… I see my patients… coming to my practice complaining about the same issue.”

Mimicking Natural Tooth Development

To address tooth sensitivity and reverse the effects of demineralization, the UW researchers developed a molecularly biomimetic solution that closely resembles the natural tooth development process. Central to their approach is a peptide called sADP5, derived from the amelogenin protein, which plays a vital role in the biological development of human teeth. This specially tailored peptide has the ability to bind with calcium and phosphate ions, the key components of tooth mineral, and utilize them to construct new mineral microlayers.

Lead author Deniz T. Yücesoy, who initiated this work as a postdoctoral researcher at UW and is now an assistant professor at the Izmir Institute of Technology in Türkiye, explained the significance of the breakthrough. “Our technology forms the same minerals found in the tooth, including enamel, cementum, and dentin alike, which had dissolved previously through demineralization and caused the sensitivity,” Yücesoy said. By creating these newly formed mineral microlayers, the communication channels with the tooth nerves are closed, providing relief from hypersensitivity.

Diverse Applications

The versatility of the peptide-based solution is anticipated to allow for integration into various oral health products. In preclinical trials, participants were provided with a dental lozenge similar in size to a cough drop. The lozenge consisted of a core made of calcium and phosphate, coated with a layer of peptide-infused flavoring. The researchers have also developed peptide-based formulations such as mouthwash, dental gels, tooth whiteners, and toothpaste.

Hanson Fong, an assistant teaching professor of materials science and engineering at UW and co-author of the research paper, emphasized the importance of the peptide in these formulations, stating, “There are lots of different design and delivery methods. The most important thing is the peptide, the key ingredient in the given formulation, and it’s working.”

The technology developed by these UW materials engineers holds immense promise for individuals worldwide who suffer from tooth sensitivity.