Cariostatic Agents: From Silver Diamine Fluoride to Emerging Bioactive Compounds

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Biomaterials
• Preventive Dentistry

Background:

• Dental caries is a progressive disease managed by remineralization and hypersensitivity mitigation.
• Cariostatic agents are bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
• Evidence-based caries management necessitates evaluating these agents' clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive analysis of cariostatic agents' clinical applications.
• To critically appraise the scientific evidence for their efficacy in caries management.
• To synthesize recent findings on their role in preventive and therapeutic dental strategies.

Main Methods:

• Extensive bibliographic search of specialized databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus).
• Critical appraisal of scientific evidence regarding efficacy and potential.
• Synthesis of key findings from recent research on cariostatic agents.

Main Results:

• Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) shows superior efficacy in arresting active carious lesions and preventing progression.
• Emerging agents like remineralizing peptides and phytochemicals exhibit promising anticariogenic properties.
• Long-term clinical effectiveness of novel bioactive compounds requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Cariostatic agents play a pivotal role in evidence-based caries prevention and management.
• Integration into minimally invasive, patient-centered approaches is crucial.
• These agents are particularly beneficial for high-risk populations to optimize oral health outcomes.