Status and progress of treatment methods for root caries in the last decade: a literature review

Abstract

The aim of this literature review is to explore the treatment methods for root caries in laboratory and clinical research in the last decade. A systematic search of publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed. The timespan was limited to the last 10 years and English language. Further retrieval was conducted using the search terms of specific therapies or treatments. Eighty-two articles were included in this systematic review and full texts were retrieved. Types of studies included laboratory studies and clinical trials. Therapeutic approaches for root caries without risk of pulp exposure can be categorized into non-invasive and restorative treatment. Non-invasive treatments which targeted different causative factors of root caries have been developed in the last decade. Accordingly, several artificial caries model systems have been proposed for the study of root caries in the laboratory. Carious tissue excavation techniques and restorative materials and procedures have been modified to improve the prognosis of invasive treatment. It is of importance to determine the most appropriate therapy for root caries and further clinical trials are needed to draw firm conclusions concerning the efficacy and consistency of the various treatment methods proposed.

Clinical and primary evidence of silver diamine fluoride on root caries management

“…The aging world population has been confronted with the growing occurrence of root caries because of the increase in retained teeth, coupled with inadequate oral care and the prevalence of gingival recessions [ 10 ]. Root caries is defined as a non-cavitated or cavitated lesion below the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) that does not include the adjacent enamel [ 73 ]. A swept-source optical coherence tomographic observation was attempted on extracted human teeth to examine the prevalence of the exposed root surface [ 74 ].…”

The Arginine Biosynthesis Pathway of Candida albicans Regulates Its Cross-Kingdom Interaction with Actinomyces viscosus to Promote Root Caries

“…Oral diseases affect approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide, of which 2.3 billion people suffer from permanent tooth caries, the most common oral problem ( 1 ). Root caries is among the important reasons for tooth loosening in the elderly population, with prevalence ranging from 25% to 100% ( 2 – 4 ). Facilitating the prevention and treatment of root caries is among the important missions necessary to achieve the plan “8020 better oral health for older people” proposed by the WHO ( 5 ).…”

The burden of root caries: Updated perspectives and advances on management strategies

“…As the world's population is ageing and people tend to retain more teeth compared to older generations, root caries is expected to be one of the main challenges in dentistry 2 . Root caries is any carious lesion that occurs on the root surface of the tooth 3 . It is defined as a non‐cavitated or cavitated lesion below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) that does not include the adjacent enamel.…”

“…2 Root caries is any carious lesion that occurs on the root surface of the tooth. 3 It is defined as a non-cavitated or cavitated lesion below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) that does not include the adjacent enamel. Root caries is discoloured, softened and ill-defined, and involves both cementum and underlying dentine.…”