If we cut our skin or break a bone, these tissues will repair themselves; our bodies are excellent at recovering from injury.
Tooth enamel, however, cannot regenerate, and the oral cavity is a hostile environment.
Every mealtime, enamel is put under incredible stress; it also weathers extreme changes in both pH and temperature.
Despite this adversity, the tooth enamel that we develop as a child remains with us throughout our days.
Researchers have long been interested in how enamel manages to stay functional and intact for a lifetime.
As one of the authors of the latest study, Prof. Pupa Gilbert from the University of Wisconsin–Madison puts it, «How does it prevent catastrophic failure?»
The secrets of enamel
With assistance from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, Prof. Gilbert took a detailed look at the structure of enamel.
The team of scientists has now published the results of its study in the journal Nature Communications.
Enamel is made up of so-called enamel rods, which consist of hydroxyapatite crystals. These long, thin enamel rods are around 50 nanometers wide and 10 micrometers long.
By using cutting edge imaging technology, the scientists could visualize how individual crystals in tooth enamel are aligned. The technique, which Prof. Gilbert designed, is called polarization-dependent imaging contrast (PIC) mapping.
Before the advent of PIC mapping, it was impossible to study enamel with this level of detail. «[Y]ou can measure and visualize, in color, the orientation of individual nanocrystals and see many millions of them at once,» explains Prof. Gilbert.
The architecture of complex biominerals, such as enamel, becomes immediately visible to the naked eye in a PIC map.
When they viewed the structure of enamel, the researchers uncovered patterns. «By and large, we saw that there was not a single orientation in each rod, but a gradual change in crystal orientations between adjacent nanocrystals,» explains Gilbert. «And then the question was, ‘Is this a useful observation?'»
The importance of crystal orientation
To test whether the change in crystal alignment influences the way that enamel responds to stress, the team recruited help from Prof. Markus Buehler of MIT. Using a computer model, they simulated the forces that hydroxyapatite crystals would experience when a person chews.
Within the model, they placed two blocks of crystals next to each other so that the blocks touched along one edge. The crystals within each of the two blocks were aligned, but where they came in contact with the other block, the crystals met at an angle.
To investigate, co-author Cayla Stifler returned to the original PIC mapping information and measured the angles between adjacent crystals. After generating millions of data points, Stifler found that 1 degree was the most common size of misorientation, and the maximum was 30 degrees.
This observation agreed with the simulation — smaller angles seem better able to deflect cracks.
Now we know that cracks are deflected at the nanoscale and, thus, can’t propagate very far. That’s the reason our teeth can last a lifetime without being replaced.
Prof. Pupa Gilbert
Земляника
60 комментариев
Lindsey1671
04.08.2025 в 20:45
https://shorturl.fm/envrz
Erik1223
05.08.2025 в 09:22
https://shorturl.fm/Zt9A8
Rex1455
11.08.2025 в 23:34
https://shorturl.fm/VxkIL
Lincoln183
12.08.2025 в 02:17
https://shorturl.fm/ECuRA
Dillon4107
12.08.2025 в 09:49
https://shorturl.fm/vhdj6
Kira1379
12.08.2025 в 17:16
https://shorturl.fm/SYRbm
Regina4590
13.08.2025 в 04:12
https://shorturl.fm/fZY5S
Miley4551
16.08.2025 в 14:07
https://shorturl.fm/3vOit
Hayden3443
17.08.2025 в 05:27
https://shorturl.fm/wzkt2
Aliyah1422
19.08.2025 в 10:33
https://shorturl.fm/66FfZ
Clint4095
20.08.2025 в 15:37
https://shorturl.fm/oaLMh
Trent982
21.08.2025 в 17:11
https://shorturl.fm/mv7HP
Amber2146
25.08.2025 в 05:27
https://shorturl.fm/prTiW
Harlan4334
25.08.2025 в 10:28
https://shorturl.fm/Wglv2
Karen4538
25.08.2025 в 16:47
https://shorturl.fm/99Ufc
bet7kapp
23.12.2025 в 12:58
I really dig the bet7kapp platform. It’s slick, user-friendly on my phone, and I can always find something to keep me entertained. bet7kapp
jilihot777
13.01.2026 в 08:03
Man, Jilihot777 login is always smooth. Gets me straight into the action. Good times guaranteed at: jilihot777
dailyjili99
13.01.2026 в 08:03
I check DailyJili99 daily for my dose of Jili games. The promotions they have are insane! Must visit: dailyjili99
elexbettv
13.01.2026 в 08:03
Elexbettv is great for catching live games. The stream quality is top-notch. Watch here: elexbettv
ah77
27.02.2026 в 16:35
Ah77 is pretty coolio. I’m gonna keep it real. Very intuitive navigation: ah77
66zzz
27.02.2026 в 16:35
66zzz is my goto website to get some entertainment, highly recommended if you are looking for some fun: 66zzz
pak92
27.02.2026 в 16:35
Pak92, eh? I’ve heard some whispers about it. Might need to give it a whirl myself. Anyone else tried it out? Let me know your thoughts! Link’s here: pak92
3wim
01.03.2026 в 21:18
Gave 3wim a go last week. Found some good value bets and managed to snag a small win. The site’s pretty straightforward, which is a bonus. Nice one! 3wim
666lotterybet
01.03.2026 в 21:18
Played the lottery via 666lotterybet. Simple process, no hassles. Sadly didn’t win this time, but the process was smooth. Give it a shot, maybe you’ll have better luck! 666lotterybet
69betlogin
01.03.2026 в 21:19
Logging in to 69betlogin was surprisingly easy. Haven’t placed any bets yet, but the initial experience was smooth. Will update after a few goes! 69betlogin
99abgamedownload
05.03.2026 в 15:41
Need the 99ab game? 99abgamedownload has got you covered. The download link worked for me straight away. Setup was smooth too. Happy gaming! 99abgamedownload
bajilogin
05.03.2026 в 15:41
Bajilogin is pretty straightforward to use. No complicated hoops to jump through. Just log in and get going. Solid choice in my book! Easy access via this link: bajilogin
8888vi
05.03.2026 в 15:41
I’ve been checking out 8888vi lately, and I gotta say, it’s got some interesting stuff. Different from the usual fare. Take a look: 8888vi
luck91login
22.03.2026 в 05:15
Been playing on Luck91login for a while now, it became my lucky charm! I’ve had some major wins there, gotta love that! Check out the official luck91login.
mexokcasino
22.03.2026 в 05:15
Hey, if you are looking for a top-tier experience, then Mexokcasino is just the place to be! Lots to explore, enjoy every game. Follow the link to mexokcasino.
pk345
22.03.2026 в 05:15
Hey, anyone tried pk345 yet? Heard some buzz about it. Thinking of giving it a shot. Let me know if you have any insider tips! You can check them out here pk345.
mamaloncasino
22.03.2026 в 21:42
Hey! mamaloncasino is cool and legit, have been here a while, come try it now. Check it out mamaloncasino.
5557betcasino
22.03.2026 в 21:42
Alright, 5557betcasino has a solid selection of games. I like the interface, easy to navigate. Give it a shot if you’re looking for something new. 5557betcasino
ph350
22.03.2026 в 21:42
Yo, PH350 ain’t a bad site. Good selection of games and seems legit. Had a few good sessions there. Give it a look-see! ph350
abc8a8
23.03.2026 в 13:28
ABC8A8, huh? Gave it a spin. I gotta say it’s got some cool games. The interface is pretty clean too. Worth a look if you’re hunting for a new spot. abc8a8
brazino777brazil
23.03.2026 в 13:29
Brazino777Brazil, now that’s a name! A little sketch at first maybe, but once you are in it’s a pretty cool place with some nice deals. I’d vouch for it and recommend you give it a try 😀 brazino777brazil
e2betvietnam
23.03.2026 в 13:29
E2BetVietnam is another platform I stumbled into recently. It’s got a focus on the Vietnam market, as you may have guessed from its name… Solid platform with good customer service. Check em out now! e2betvietnam
7f777gameapk
25.03.2026 в 04:26
7f777gameapk Got that app vibe thing going on. If you like play on your phone then you need this, get you game on direct to your phone: 7f777gameapk
lucky44game
25.03.2026 в 04:26
Lucky44game? Hope it lives up to the name! Need some luck? This might be your spot. Go try your luck at lucky44game. We see what you do!
td777gameapk
25.03.2026 в 04:27
Hey guys, just checked out td777gameapk. Seems like a decent spot to download some game APKs. Worth a look if you’re into that kind of thing! Check it out here: td777gameapk
linkv9bet
01.04.2026 в 12:23
Needed a reliable link and found it with linkv9bet. No dodgy redirects, just straight to the action. Appreciate that, you know? Take a peek: linkv9bet
hititbet551
01.04.2026 в 12:24
Hititbet551 — definitely one to check out. Solid selection of games and good odds. Had a pretty decent run. Feeling lucky? See for yourself: hititbet551
playsbobet
01.04.2026 в 12:24
Playsbobet is where it’s at. Always a great experience, and there’s a good variety to keep things interesting. A solid choice overall in my book: playsbobet
Уведомление: cialis health benefits
shbetgame
24.04.2026 в 00:22
E aí, pessoal! Ouvindo falar muito do Shbetgame? Pra saber mais detalhes, o melhor é dar um pulo no site deles! Lá vocês encontram informações sobre os jogos e como se divertir por lá. Fica a dica! shbetgame
milyon88demo
24.04.2026 в 00:23
Milyon88demo, huh? A demo version, so probably good for trying things out before going all in. Worth checking out if you’re new to the scene. milyon88demo
oan88
24.04.2026 в 00:23
Heard some buzz online about OAN88 and how great they are so definitely worth checking out. I’m just getting started now but have already played a few times and won some money! Give it a try yourself! Sign up here oan88.
idkedai168
09.05.2026 в 06:49
Idkedai168 is a very solid platform. I enjoy the games. Visit idkedai168 for lots of fun.
billionclubcasino
09.05.2026 в 06:49
BillionClubCasino, eh? Sounds fancy! Played a few rounds there last night. The bonuses are pretty good, and I actually won a little bit! Might go back and see if I can repeat the magic. Worth a look! Give it a shot at billionclubcasino
idbosangka
09.05.2026 в 06:50
Yo, idbosangka is pretty awesome if you’re into Indonesian online gaming. The selection is killer, and they’ve got some exclusive games I haven’t seen anywhere else! Definitely recommend checking it out. Find your luck at idbosangka
Уведомление: propecia 1mg tablets
Уведомление: cialis tadalafil doses
Уведомление: rogaine unscented foam
Уведомление: proscar type of medication
Уведомление: doxycycline monohydrate adverse reaction
Уведомление: metronidazole .75 cream for rosacea
Уведомление: terbinafine dosage for skin infections
Уведомление: terbinafine antifungal for nails
Уведомление: toradol migraine relief guide
Уведомление: ivermectin safety data