Vitamin D - a forgotten preventive agent against caries? A narrative review

Vitamin D has been extensively studied in dentistry in the modern past. However, its impact on caries progression and arrest remains unclear. This narrative review aims to provide a critical overview of the relationship between vitamin D and caries, with a focus on the historical development of the topic, current scientific understanding, and potential future perspectives.

A literature review and screening of historical periodicals was performed to outline the role of vitamin D in caries prevention in the past and in the future. Articles focusing on the historic use of vitamin D in cariology and vitamin D in cariology were included and evaluated.

Literature showed that vitamin D was described as one of the central caries preventive agents in the 1930s and 1940s until systemic and topical fluoridation became more prominent. Possible mechanisms described by current science include effects on tooth development and immune modulation via saliva.

The emergence of fluoride as the leading preventive measure in cariology shifted the focus away from vitamin D research. However, recent studies have renewed interest in the potential causal role of vitamin D in caries prevention.

Further research is needed to examine the role of vitamin D in the proteome of saliva, pellicle and initial caries lesions, as well as to visualize its presumed arresting effect at the ultrastructural level. Additionally, prospective studies on the influence of vitamin D on caries progression in permanent teeth are necessary.