CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF BIOACTIVE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS IN THE PREVENTION OF SECONDARY CARIES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Secondary caries remains one of the leading causes of restoration failure in contemporary restorative dentistry, despite significant advances in adhesive techniques and restorative materials. Conventional resin-based composites lack intrinsic bioactivity and do not actively contribute to enamel and dentin remineralization, which increases the risk of marginal degradation and recurrent caries. Recently, bioactive restorative materials have been introduced with the potential to release ions, enhance remineralization, and inhibit cariogenic biofilms. However, high-quality randomized controlled clinical evidence evaluating their effectiveness in preventing secondary caries remains limited.