No more ‘wait and watch’ with Curodont Repair – vVardis introduces a medical approach to enamel caries treatment.
Professor G V Black, the father of operative dentistry, was known to stress upon the need to focus on caries in the enamel and that dentistry was not only about mechanics (Black, 1910). More than a century later, enamel caries are largely left untreated in the dental clinic in the so-called ‘wait and watch’ approach (Shah et al, 2023). This is because, on the one hand, there is lack of a tailored solution for such incipient lesions. On the other, a restoration would lead to the sacrifice of a significant amount of healthy tooth structure.
The self-assembling peptide technology has opened up a new school of thought in this space. Working through a mechanism termed guided enamel regeneration, and incorporated in Curodont Repair, it is based on a short but ‘intelligent’ peptide, P11-4.
Within early carious lesions, individual P11-4 peptides assemble into a three-dimensional matrix with a high affinity for hydroxyapatite. This matrix then serves as a platform for calcium and phosphate ions from one’s own saliva for de novo hydroxyapatite formation over the next weeks and months, mimicking the natural biomineralisation process (Kind et al, 2017).
Benefits of Curodont Repair
Curodont Repair is a patented, fluoride-free formulation that reaches the depth of non-cavitated caries through capillarity. It is applied in a targeted and short in-office procedure that can be done by dentists or hygienists. In the majority of cases, a single application is seen to be enough for treating a lesion. The procedure is non-invasive, pain-free and does not require anaesthesia or advanced isolation techniques. It is non-staining and thus can be used on all teeth and tooth surfaces. This, along with the fact that it is tasteless, makes it well-received by patients, particularly children, and their families.
The efficacy of Curodont Repair has been proven in several studies, including randomised controlled clinical trials. It has been shown to enable not just a significantly superior rate of caries arrest than fluorides but in fact caries regression through in-depth enamel regeneration (Bröseler et al, 2020; Welk et al, 2020; Godenzi et al, 2023; Alkilzy et al, 2018).
Case reports
Case one
Patient presentation and examination: An 18-year-old male patient, after completing his fixed orthodontic treatment, presented with multiple white irregular discolourations in the cervical thirds of the labial surfaces of the anterior teeth. This was especially prominent on the maxillary left central incisor (21).
Diagnosis: Based on the history and findings from intra-oral examination, a diagnosis of early, non-cavitated caries (ICDAS scores two) was reached for the maxillary left central incisor.
Treatment and follow-up: The lesion was treated with one application of Curodont Repair. At the two-month follow-up, significant reduction in the size and appearance of the white spot lesion was seen.The patient is under follow up.
Case courtesy: Katarzyna Ostrowska, Poland
Case two
Patient Presentation and examination: In a 40-year-old male patient, during a routine radiographic examination in March 2023, a radiolucent area was detected on the distal surface of the maxillary left second premolar (25). This was confirmed with interpretation using an AI software (Pearl Second Opinion).
Diagnosis: Based on the radiographic findings and confirmation with AI, an initial carious lesion extending to the inner half of the enamel (E2) was diagnosed on 25.
Treatment and follow up: The diagnosed lesion was treated with Curodont Repair in the same appointment. At a recall appointment one year post treatment (March 2024), a bite-wing X-ray revealed complete regression of the lesion (E0). This was also confirmed with AI. Oral hygiene instructions were reinforced.
Case courtesy: Dr. Michael Failer, Switzerland
References
- Black GV. Dental Cosmos 1910;15;161-171
- Shah SV et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2023;154:897-909.e6.
- Kind L et al. J Dent Res 2017; 96:790-797
- Bröseler F et al. Clin Oral Investig. 2020; 24:123-132
- Welk A et al. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6819
- Godenzi D et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2023:S0002-8177(23)00416-6
- Alkilzy M et al. J Dent Res 2018; 97:148.
This article is sponsored by vVardis.
