Matrix metalloproteinases in dentin: Assessing their presence, activity, and inhibitors – a review of current trends

Introduction

Dentin integrity is a critical aspect of tooth structure, with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) playing a crucial role in dentinogenesis, caries formation, and dental bonding. It is crucial to accurately assess MMP activity to understand dentin pathophysiology and develop effective clinical strategies. Objectives: The study aimed to conduct a thorough review and comprehensive summary of diverse techniques employed in assessing MMPs in dentin. Data and sources: To conduct the research, electronic databases were systematically searched and manual citation searches were performed. A total of 621 articles were identified. After eliminating duplicates and irrelevant studies, 70 articles were included in the review. 25 articles with overlapping methodologies were also excluded. Study selection: The selection criteria were based on the relevance of the studies to MMPs and MMP inhibitors in dentin without regard to the study design. Only peer-reviewed articles published in English were included. The search was restricted to studies published until November 2022. Conclusion: The comprehensive analysis of various studies has yielded 37 techniques for evaluating MMPs and MMP inhibitors, which hold significant promise in creating diagnostic markers and devising targeted therapeutic interventions.