Cosmetic bridges could be made from new substance

They explained that the substance was particularly useful for dental work due to its appearance and strength.

?We achieve a strength five times higher than with comparable denture ceramics available today,? said glass chemist Dr Christian Russel, who led the research.

He stated that teeth, and thus dentures and cosmetic inlays, need to be very hard as they are operated by some of the strongest muscles in the body.

With this in mind, Dr Russel added that it was difficult to find suitable materials that were both strong enough and had the required cosmetic appeal.

According to the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 32 per cent of the British population are unhappy with the ?look of their teeth.?