Role of chitosan in remineralization of enamel and dentin: A systematic review

Abstract

Aim and objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze the role of chitosan in the remineralization of enamel and dentin. Materials and methods: An electronic search was done for articles published from January 2009 to January 2020. A manual search was done from bibliographies of selected articles for relevant articles that were unexplored. Only in vitro studies conducted on the application of chitosan for remineralization of enamel and dentin were included in the study. Results: Of the 162 articles that were searched, only 15 in vitro studies were selected for the study. These studies met the inclusion criteria and were published from January 2009 to January 2020. Conclusion: The review provides insight into the mechanism of remineralization of enamel and dentin. The properties of chitosan make it an ideal biomaterial that can be employed in the formulation of a novel remineralizing gel. However, more in vivo studies, clinical trials, and research are essential to transform chitosan-based remineralizing gels from research to clinical use. Clinical significance: This review article opens a new window of opportunities for remineralizing enamel and dentin which have been long considered a challenging job.