The Potential of Aloe vera as a Caries Prevention Agent in the Future: A Scoping Review

Untreated dental caries in permanent teeth is the most frequent disease of all 371 diseases and traumas assessed by the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2021, and there are reported to be 2.24 billion cases worldwide. Demineralization is a disintegration process of minerals and apatite crystals in hard tissue, provoked by biofilm activities, dietary factors, and the micro-oral environment-the three main mechanisms of dental caries. Restoration of mineral ions in the crystal structure is defined as remineralization. Remineralization enables the deposition of new minerals within the crystal structure of demineralized enamel, aiming to increase mineral production. Environments suitable for remineralization and inhibiting demineralization could be created by using a caries prevention agent. Objectives: Providing scientific evidence regarding Aloe vera as an alternative agent for caries prevention. Materials and Method: The method used in this study is a scoping review, utilizing the PRISMA-ScR as a guideline to conduct article screening and further analysis, following a thematic analysis approach. Database searches were conducted in PubMed, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect, based on the keywords generated. Results: A total of 13 articles were gathered for further analysis. Conclusions:Aloe vera shows promising preliminary potential, but further standardized in vivo and randomized clinical studies are necessary to confirm its remineralizing efficacy and clarify its mechanisms of action as a cavity prevention agent. Clinical Relevance: Using Aloe vera as an alternative caries prevention agent.