In teeth, though, fibres aren't arranged in a grid, but are 'wavy' in structure. There are hierarchies of fibres and matrices arranged in several layers, unlike the single-thickness layers used in aircrafts.

Chai, himself an aerospace engineer, suggests that if engineers can incorporate tooth enamel's wavy hierarchy, micro-cracking mechanism, and capacity to heal, lighter and stronger aircraft and space vehicles can be developed.

And while creating a self-healing airplane is far in the future, this significant research on the composite structure of teeth can already begin to inspire aerospace engineers -- and, of course, dentists.

Dental specialists looking for new ways to engineer that picture-perfect Hollywood smile can use Chai's basic research to help invent stronger crowns, better able to withstand oral wear-and-tear. 'They can create smart materials that mimic the properties found in real teeth,' he said.

These findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.