The Remineralizing and Desensitizing Potential of Hydroxyapatite in Dentistry: A Narrative Review of Recent Clinical Evidence

Abstract

Although caries is declining in industrialized countries, early childhood caries and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) remain clinically relevant. To meet the demand for effective and well-tolerated preventive strategies, hydroxyapatite (HAp) has gained attention as a biocompatible, fluoride-free agent. A structured narrative review was conducted to evaluate recent clinical evidence on the use of HAp. A PubMed search identified clinical trials from the past five years that investigated HAp-based products. Studies were included if they reported clinical outcomes related to remineralization, caries prevention, or desensitization. Fifteen clinical studies met the inclusion criteria. HAp seems to be a safe and effective alternative to flouride, especially for children or individuals at risk of overexposure. While both agents show similar efficacy in caries prevention, HAp may offer additional advantages in managing hypersensitivity and MIH. Compared to other remineralizing agents, such as calcium sodium phosphosilicate, HAp demonstrated comparable efficacy. Combination therapies show the most promising results. Future research should explore synergies of active ingredients and include standardized long-term studies to substantiate the clinical relevance of HAp.

Keywords: biocompatible materials; caries prevention; dentin sensitivity; fluorides; hydroxyapatite; molar hypomineralization; molar–incisor hypomineralization; remineralization.

Figure 1

Key modes of action of hydroxyapatite in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Reprinted from Ref. [33].

Figure 2

Modified PRISMA flow diagram illustrating the literature selection process in this narrative review.