Dental Care Insight from the Animal Kingdom

When you picture an animal with bucked teeth, the beaver might come to might. Beavers have a lot of surface area when it comes to their big choppers, but they certainly don’t brush their teeth as humans do. They don’t even have the same access to fluoridated water supplies. However, researchers from Northwestern University have discovered that beavers have built-in protection for their very busy teeth as they gnaw away at tree trunks. Their secret weapon? Iron.

Beaver Tooth Enamel

Studying tooth enamel can be challenging because the substance is very complex in chemical makeup. Scientists discovered that beavers have pigmented enamel which is harder and more resistant to acid than human tooth enamel. Even human teeth treated with fluoride don’t come close to the strength of beaver teeth. By studying such animal dental feats, scientists can uncover ways to better combat tooth decay in humans. This includes better preventive measures such as newly formulated fluoride treatments with iron and magnesium as added compounds.

A Deeper Understanding of Enamel

To dig deeper into the layers of complex enamel, the Northwestern scientists turned to nanoscale imaging. Since tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases (yes, it’s a disease that starts with bacteria) public health officials and dentists alike have a vested interest in prevention. The American Dental Association (ADA) cites $111 billion a year as the figure for what is used to cover American dental services. Any dental issue is best dealt with at an early stage. Ideally, dental problems can be prevented. But not without innovative scientific research like the beaver study. Beavers have teeth that are chemically different, but not structurally different, so they make a great study subject for dental progress.

About your Albuquereque, NM Dentist

At Snow Park Dental, Dr. Miller provides the preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental care you need to help you enjoy optimal oral health and a beautiful smile. Contact us today at (505) 596-4479 to schedule a consultation or appointment at our Albuquerque, NM dentist’s office. We proudly serve families from Rio Rancho, Corrales, Edgewood, Tijeras, Los Lunas, and surrounding communities.

Source: Science Daily

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