A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Dental Association examined the effectiveness of self-assembling peptide P11-4 as a treatment for initial caries lesions. The review found that this innovative brush-on treatment, utilizing a regeneration process, successfully arrested non-cavitated caries lesions and reduced their size. This work establishes P11-4 as the first treatment for tooth decay that makes the caries lesion smaller.

The research included a panel of 10 international leaders in cardiology, evidence-based guidelines, and dental public health, specifically including leaders who created the American Dental Association Center for Evidence-based Dentistry and the ADA Clinical Practice Guidelines on Non-Restorative Treatments.

The study emphasizes the pressing need for more minimally invasive dental treatments in light of the global burden posed by untreated cavitated caries. The researchers, including experts from CareQuest Innovation Partners, concluded that P11-4 shows great promise as a treatment option for initial caries lesions, alongside other approaches such as silver diamine fluoride (SDF).

• The review demonstrated that P11-4, a brush-on treatment utilizing a regeneration process, successfully arrested non-cavitated caries lesions and reduced their size.
• The study highlights the urgent need for more minimally invasive dental treatments, considering the global burden caused by untreated cavitated caries.
• The researchers, including experts from the CareQuest Innovation Partners, concluded that P11-4 holds significant promise as a treatment option for initial caries lesions, along with other approaches such as silver diamine fluoride (SDF). The full article is available in the Journal of the American Dental Association, accessible as open access.

The article can be accessed here from the Journal of the American Dental Association. (open access)