Natural enamel wear--a physiological source of hydroxylapatite nanoparticles for biofilm management and tooth repair?

Dental caries is a widespread chronic disease caused by glucolytic biofilms. Despite considerable success in prophylaxis, there is still a strong demand for biomimetic biofilm management. Reflections on the abraded, but mostly caries-free teeth observed in prehistoric sculls or omnivorous primates, respectively, offer perspectives for developing new approaches in preventive dentistry. It is hypothesized that nano-sized hydroxylapatite crystallites occur in the oral cavity during extensive physiological wear of the hierarchical structured enamel surface due to dental abrasion and attrition. These nano-scaled apatite enamel crystallites might promote re-mineralization and physiological biofilm management at the tooth surface. Indeed, modern bioinspired nanomaterials in preventive dentistry containing nano-sized hydroxylapatite particles have shown efficacy in reducing oral biofilm formation and yield re-mineralizing effects. Accordingly, they seem to mimic extensive abrasions which do not occur with modern diet. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.