Application of biomimetic mineralization: a prophylactic therapy for cracked teeth?

Cracked teeth are usually found and easily ignored in clinic. If not found in time, they can lead to pulpitis and teeth fractures, which even can make the cracked teeth pulled out. The current treatments for cracked teeth include occlusal adjustments or preventive fillings, and the root canal therapy or complete crown restoration, which is decided according to the depth of cracks. However, the successful rate of preserving cracked teeth is less than 50% through occlusal adjustments and preventive fillings. Although the successful rate can reach 80% through the root canal therapy and complete crowns, the pulp and normal tooth can not be reserved. So the harms are very serious that prevention of its further development is extremely important. Nanobacteria have a very unique role in biological mineralization, which can produce crystalline apatites in the conditions of physiological calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Therefore, a hypothesis is put forward that application of nanobacteria may mineralize the cracks of teeth. Then the development of cracked teeth would be completely stopped.