Oral Microbiota in Caries Prevention, Diagnostics and Management: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

[EN]The oral microbiome plays a critical role in oral pathologies, namely in caries and periodontal disease. Although most of these pathologies are currently understood as the result of dysbiosis, knowledge about the specific microbial and ecological events that precede the development of the disease and/or support health is scarce. In this context studying biological mechanisms underlying oral and dental pathologies becomes crucial. In this work a thorough review of the molecular data published regarding the oral microbiome as well as the intricate interactions within polymicrobial communities is done and information is extracted and applied to the study of oral microbiome changes in adults and its relation to caries risk and management. Three systematic reviews were conducted, to extract knowledge on the microbial communities associated with caries in adults; on the influence of diagnosis tools of white spot lesions in the treatment of such lesions; and on targeted interventions for management caries, such as the use of probiotics to restore the microbial balance in population with caries... In sum, this work provides important information on the current knowledge on how the oral microbiome is affected by caries, by using clear aligners, and by using probiotics. Furthermore, an assessment of how caries lesions and caries risk might be managed is also discussed both using probiotics and by the early diagnosis of white spot lesions