A natural solution to sensitive teeth
From the side: Open dentinal tubules before treatment (left). Closed dentinal tubules after 20 treatments with Nanit®active (right).
From above: Open dentinal tubules before treatment (left). Closed dentinal tubules after 20 treatments with Nanit®active (right).
Research and Development
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from SusTech Darmstadt and Henkel has successfully developed a nanotechnology based material Nanit®active and its oral care products.
This innovative new substance is composed of calcium phosphate nanoparticles (apatite) and protein – the same components as found in natural teeth. Nanit®active owes its unusual properties to the size of its nanoparticles and its special composite structure. It is therefore eminently suitable for dental applications.
Sensitive Teeth
Teeth consist mainly of dentin, which is made up of calcium phosphate and protein. The crown of the tooth is covered by a layer of very hard enamel, while the root is covered by cementum. If the neck of the tooth is exposed, the cementum recedes. This causes pain, as undesirable hot/cold or sweet/sour stimuli are conducted to the nerves through the fine passages (tubuli) in the dentin. Specialists regard targeted closure of the tubuli as a particularly effective method of reducing the sensitivity of the teeth to pain. Until now, most techniques for closing the tubuli have involved the use of materials that are unlike those of the tooth and are unable to bond permanently with natural dentin.
Nanit®active provides a new approach to this problem.