The role of remineralizing agents in dentistry: a review.

Minimal intervention is a key phrase in today's dental practice. Minimal intervention dentistry (MID) focuses on the least invasive treatment options possible in order to minimize tissue loss and patient discomfort. Concentrating mainly on prevention and early intervention of caries, MID's first basic principle is the remineralization of early carious lesions, advocating a biological or therapeutic approach rather than the traditional surgical approach for early surface lesions. One of the key elements of a biological approach is the usage and application of remineralizing agents to tooth structure (enamel and dentin lesions). These agents are part of a new era of dentistry aimed at controlling the demineralization/ remineralization cycle, depending upon the microenvironment around the tooth. This article details the various agents that enhance and/or promote remineralization and discusses their clinical implications.