Here is some heartening news for all those who break into a cold sweat just at the thought of going to the dentist.

A gel that can help restore teeth to their original state without enduring the pain of drilling, scraping and filling of cavities is now on its way.

Researchers, at the National Institute for Health
and Medical Research in Paris developed a gel which contains MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) that plays a crucial role in bone generation and poly-L-glutamic acid that is often used to transport drugs through the bodies because it can ward off stomach acids.

They found that the gel so formed triggered the growth of new cells and also helped with adhesion - the process by which new dental cells 'lock' together.

The researchers stated, "This is important because it produces strong tooth pulp and enamel which could make the decayed tooth as good as new."

Experiment on rodents
In a bid to investigate the regenerative properties of the gel, the researches conducted an experiment on mice with dental cavities.

They application of the the gel on mice led to the disappearance of the dental cavities within just four weeks time.

Gel tested on human teeth
In a separate study the scientists rubbed the gel on cells taken from extracted human teeth.

The researchers found that the gel generated the growth of new cells in the decayed tissues and also helped in the restoration of the teeth to their original healthy state.

The scientists stated that the new tooth cells would be stronger and a permanent solution.

The gel which is still undergoing testing will not be available for commercial use for another three to five years.

However, the researchers have said that the treatment will not be suitable for severe decayed teeth.

The scientists reiterate the importance of oral hygiene in dental care. Meanwhile, they are in the process of developing a 'tongue' gel to tackle bad breath and prevent tooth decay.

Professor Damien Walmsley, the British Dental Association's scientific adviser stated, "There are a lot of exciting developments in this field, of which this is one.

"It looks promising, but we will have to wait for the results to come back from clinical trials and its use will be restricted to treating small areas of dental decay."

Their findings are published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano.