Teeth

For people with particularly cavity-prone teeth, daily brushing and flossing aren't always enough. A new treatment could help, as it uses tiny particles known as nanozymes to break down plaque and kill cavity-causing bacteria.

Fresh analysis of 54-million-year-old fossils has revealed the oldest known example of cavities among mammals, with prehistoric primates by the name of Microsyops latidens found to suffer from them with increasing regularity.

While implanted artificial teeth do offer a longer-term alternative to dentures, they may need to be surgically replaced if gum infections occur. Scientists are thus working on a better implant, that would generate electricity via mouth movements.

With their often high-sugar diets and lax brushing habits, many children are particularly susceptible to cavities. An experimental new treatment could help, however, using enzymes to weaken the plaque that forms on the teeth.

Scientists have analyzed the fossilized dental plaque of Neanderthals to sequence their oral microbiome, including the oldest ever at 100,000 years old. By comparing them to humans and other primates the study reveals new insights into our evolution.

By investigating the genetic underpinnings behind tooth formation in early human development, a team of scientists in Japan has uncovered clues about how they might be regenerated in adults suffering from congenital conditions.

Earlier this year, paleontologists discovered that Spinosaurus was the first water-dwelling dinosaur. Now some of the same team has found further evidence, with a deposit of teeth recovered from an ancient riverbed, far outnumbering land dinosaurs.

Be thankful you didn’t live 20 million years ago, when the seas were patrolled by the Megalodon. This monstrous prehistoric shark was more than twice the size of a great white, and now a new detailed analysis has found just how big it really was.

Although cavities are caused by bacteria, simply killing all of the bacteria in the mouth isn't a good idea, as some of them have beneficial effects. A nanoparticle coating, however, could someday prevent cavities without harming bacteria.

A new method for determining the sex of human remains based on proteins extracted from tooth enamel has proven more reliable than those based on DNA or bone anatomy.

A new study is suggesting signs of the disease ALS may be detectable in teeth, decades before the onset of any symptoms. The research points to a dysfunction in metabolizing metals as a possible factor in the onset of this still mysterious disease.

After an orthodontist has fitted a patient with braces or otherwise worked on straightening their teeth, it's important for them to follow that person's progress. A new setup lets them do so, without requiring the patient to visit their clinic.