DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2017.v04i04.007

Pages: 196-201

MMPs hydrolyze components of the extracellular matrix and have been suggested to play an important role in the destruction of dentin organic matrix. The acidic environment, resulting from adhesive systems or the biological carious process, activates different dentinal MMPs which degrade the unprotected collagen fibrils within the hybrid layer. Host-derived MMPs can originate both from saliva and from dentin. However, MMP inhibition by several inhibitors, could provide a potential therapeutic way to limit degradation in dentin. This paper reviews the effect of MMPs on dentin and employment of various potential MMP inhibitors to pretreat the demineralized dentin interface.