Oral healthcare experts have said that a special type of glass could be used in dental implants in the future.
Caltech and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories have announced a new material that is stronger and tougher than steel or any other known material, MedGadget.com reports.
It is made from palladium and silver, as well as small pieces of metalloids.
Although the special glass is too expensive to be used in large-scale applications such as aeroplanes, its creators have said it may be ideal for smaller uses such as within dental implants.
Caltech professor Marios Demetriou said: "Palladium glass can be thought of as a superior alternative to conventional palladium dental alloys."
He also pointed out that it is free from toxins or allergens, so could be the perfect material for inside patients' mouths.
Earlier this week, Nanowerk reported that nanotechnology may be used in the coming years to create the next generation of dental implants.
