The field of preventive dentistry has rapidly evolved with intensified attention toward antimicrobial strategies and microbiome modulation, particularly as they pertain to oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, and other oral infections. Oral health is fundamentally entwined with the inhabitant microbial communities, and recent research efforts have delved into the interplay among host factors, external environments, and the oral microbiota. While traditional approaches primarily aimed at eradicating pathogens, the zeitgeist is now leaning towards balancing these microorganism communities to maintain or restore oral health. Innovations in tailored interventions, diagnostic techniques, and natural antimicrobials are steering this new direction by providing more precise and balanced approaches to combating oral microbial dysbiosis.

This Research Topic aims to delve into novel strategies that foster long-term health by incorporating both antimicrobial measures and microbiome modulation. We seek to explore novel targeted antimicrobial agents, such as antimicrobial peptides, nanoparticles, and photodynamic therapies, that selectively combat harmful pathogens with reduced disruption to beneficial microbes. Additionally, we wish to spotlight research into microbiome manipulation via probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, which support the structuring of a resilient beneficial microbiotic presence. A primary goal is to shift the paradigm from pathogen eradication to community stabilization, exploring individualized treatments driven by unique microbiome profiles.

We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Reviews on emerging antimicrobial and microbiome modulation measures in dental care.

- Laboratory and clinical studies on the impact and mechanisms of novel antibacterial compounds and devices.

- Guidelines and expert consensus on integrating novel treatments into everyday dental practices.

- Comparative analyses of the effectiveness and safety of antimicrobial interventions.

- Innovations in delivery systems for precision and sustained therapeutic interventions.

Research on microbial community dynamics and strategies for harnessing beneficial microbes.

- Exploration of the synergies between antimicrobial modalities and the oral microbiome, including combination therapies and personalized care protocols.

This collection welcomes insights from various scientific fields to promote the advancement of innovative and sustainable oral health treatments.

All authors should note that if submitting to the Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy section of Frontiers in Microbiology, the following article types are not accepted: Brief Research Report, Case Report, Classification, Clinical Trial, Community Case Study, Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy, Data Report, Policy and Practice Reviews, Policy Brief, Study Protocol, Technology and Code.

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Antimicrobial Strategies and Microbiome Modulation in Preventive Dentistry: Current Trends and Future Possibilities