Application of biomaterials and artificial intelligence technologies in the prevention and treatment of dental caries in children: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Dental caries in children and adolescents remains one of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, affecting quality of life, general health, and social functioning. In recent years, pediatric dentistry has seen the development of two areas: the use of minimally invasive and biocompatible dental biomaterials, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for caries detection, risk prediction, and prevention. AIM: To systematically review clinical studies on the use of dental biomaterials and artificial intelligence technologies in caries prevention and management in children and adolescents, and to evaluate the strength of the available evidence and potential for clinical integration. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in MEDLINE and Google Scholar for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligibility criteria were defined using the PICO framework. The analysis included randomized controlled trials, cohort and diagnostic studies, and relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I scores, and QUADAS-2 and AMSTAR 2 domains. RESULTS: Seventeen original clinical studies and four systematic reviews were included in the qualitative synthesis. AI algorithms based on clinical and social data demonstrated moderate diagnostic and prognostic accuracy (AUC approximately 0.75–0.80), comparable to traditional statistical approaches. Biomaterial-based interventions, including atraumatic restorative treatment, Hall technique, silver-containing agents, and calcium-silicate cements, showed high clinical efficacy, particularly within minimally invasive treatment strategies. CONCLUSION: Modern biomaterials and artificial intelligence technologies show considerable potential for personalized caries prevention and management in children. However, prospective studies with long-term follow-up and standardized outcomes are needed to support their widespread clinical implementation.