A BIOLOGICAL WAY IN CARIES PREVENTION

The intent of this research program was to determine a new way in caries prevention. The score was the valuation of anti-caries effects of bio-active molecules of natural origin (derived from animals), in order to elaborate a new preventive methodology. The under discussion molecules were casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) of dairy origin. For this aim, this research project has been divided in 5 part. Part 1: in vitro evaluation of the effectiveness of synthetic CPPs in dental caries prevention; Part 2: in vitro evaluation of the effectiveness of natural CPPs in dental caries prevention; Part 3: in vivo evaluation of the effectiveness of synthetic and natural CPPs in dental caries prevention; Part 4: in vivo evaluation of the antibacterial power of commercial yogurt against oral cariogenic microflora; Part 5: in vitro effectiveness of TMR (transverse micro-radiography) in assessing dental enamel demineralisation and remineralisation. The final score will be the creation of a new preventive methodology against dental caries. In fact, on the basis of the results obtained from this research, the protection against tooth decay could be done in different ways. First of all, people could protect their self simply by eating food containing CPPs , then these active principles could be exploited by nutritional and pharmacological industries by adding these bio-molecules both in food and in commercial products used for oral hygiene (mouth-rinse, toothpaste).