The impact of research and development on the prevention of oral diseases in children and adolescents: an industry perspective.

Significant progress has been made globally in reducing dental caries and periodontal disease through adoption of safe and effective methods of prevention. Nonetheless, there are profound oral health disparities in the population and this necessitates further improvement. This review provides an industry perspective of the impact of research and development on the prevention of oral disease in children and adolescents. It also provides an overview and discussion of the key routes that are currently under investigation in academic research, together with an outline of what it will take to develop a major new therapeutic and bring it into clinical practice and individual self care. The key challenges and opportunities are summarized.