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What is it?
Hydroxylapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is a mineral that your body produces and is found in teeth and bones. It also acts as filler in bone replacements, like hips, to replace bone that has been removed or amputated. It can also promote bone ingrowth into prosthetic implants and is one of only a handful of inorganic mineral materials that our bodies can produce.
The enamel in our teeth is 96 % hydroxlyapatite making it the hardest material in our bodies. Once it is produced, tooth enamel does not regenerate. Repairing and maintaining teeth is the job of dentists. However, research into suitable materials to repair tooth enamel has come from the understanding of the crystal structure of hydoxlyapatite. In fact, a very new study has suggested that, triggered by small electrical currents, teeth can be made to re-mineralise and repair themselves.
Where did the structure come from?
Published: 05/08/2014