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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Recent Advances in Caries Prevention and Non-Invasive Management: From Ecological Modulation to Precision
Yanfei Yin1, Wenxia Li1, Wei Zhang1
1Healthy Examination & Management Center, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Background:
Dental caries remains a globally prevalent biofilm-mediated disease driven by microbial dysbiosis and progressive enamel demineralization. The traditional "drill and fill" paradigm has increasingly given way to biologically informed preventive frameworks emphasizing ecological management.
Methods:
This narrative review synthesizes 134 studies (2016-2026) retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to evaluate emerging caries prevention strategies across three domains.
Results:
Three interrelated domains of advancement were identified. First, microbial ecological modulation-including probiotics, prebiotics, and targeted antimicrobial peptides-aims to restore oral microbiome homeostasis by disrupting cariogenic virulence without eliminating commensal flora. Second, nanomaterial-based targeted interventions utilizing stimuli-responsive carriers and biofilm-penetrating nanoparticles enable site-specific drug delivery with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Third, precision-guided strategies incorporating caries risk assessment models and salivary biomarker diagnostics facilitate individualized prevention protocols.
Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate a fundamental paradigm shift from indiscriminate microbial eradication to equilibrium-driven, ecology-centered disease management. Future directions include AI-assisted personalized prevention, chairside microbiome diagnostics, and smart responsive biomaterials for sustained caries control.
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Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.