Article:

Tooth decay, or dental caries, is the world’s most prevalent chronic condition and a major public health and economic concern. In the United States alone, the cost burden is striking—approximately $45–46 billion is lost annually in productivity due to untreated oral disease, alongside $136 billion in direct dental care expenses and millions more from preventable emergency visits. NYU researchers are pioneering a zinc-based treatment for tooth decay that could redefine minimally invasive dentistry.