Ozen is made from aerogel, one of the lightest solid materials known to science, and is the first new sensitive toothpaste patent in nearly 30 years.
Millions of Brits plagued by sensitive teeth could finally get some relief thanks to a new toothpaste that the inventor claims works instantly.
British surgeon Dr Niall Kent has spent a decade developing Ozen, a gel designed to coat the tooth with a varnish-like layer to help block pain.
Most toothpastes for sensitive teeth work by either numbing the nerve or blocking tiny channels inside the tooth over days or weeks, rather than providing immediate relief.
Dr Kent, an NHS maxillofacial surgeon, said: “Sensitive teeth affect millions of people and can have a significant impact on their lives. It stops people enjoying an ice cream, a hot drink, or sweet foods.
“I’ve even seen people attending A&E from the pain. I knew the existing treatments were masking the problem rather than solving it. The technology had not changed in decades.
“We borrowed from aerospace and art to do what dentistry had not. No one had thought to look there. This really is sensitivity done different.”
Ozen is made from aerogel, one of the lightest solid materials known to science, and is the first new sensitive toothpaste patent in nearly 30 years.
It works by sealing exposed channels in the tooth while releasing calcium and phosphate ions to form a protective mineral layer on the surface. The dual action is designed to stop pain instantly.
Dr Kent came across aerogel when he was helping his sculptor brother research new materials; a development team at University College London were then able to apply it to dentistry.
Anni Seaborne, team dentist for England Rugby, said: “Tooth sensitivity remains one of the most undertreated conditions in dentistry.
“The treatments most people reach for work by plugging microscopic channels in the tooth, and that protection disappears the moment you eat or drink. Patients have been managing sensitivity, not treating it.
“The mechanism behind Ozen represents the first serious attempt to change that.”
Ozen is available Boots in two forms – a daily-use toothpaste at £10 a tube, and an Oral Gel for £15.
The gel is designed to be applied directly to sensitive areas before hot or cold drinks or other common sensitivity triggers.
