Background: A variety of approaches have been developed for the control of dental caries, a pathology with high incidence and prevalence worldwide. The use of probiotic strains for the modulation of dental biofilm in the prevention of caries has been studied, but the available evidence shows varied methodologies; and the strains tested differ from one study to another. Objective: To analyse through a systematic review of clinical trials, the efficacy of using probiotic strains to prevent dental caries. Methods: A search was made in the scientific bases PubMed, Cochrane and Science Direct, prioritizing randomized double and triple-blind clinical trials from 2010 to 2020, including a total of 20 studies to be analysed. The selection criteria were consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews protocol. Results: Within the studies, different types of probiotic bacteria were analysed, dominating Lactobacillus Paracasei. While most clinical trials show a favorable response in terms of a significant reduction of Streptococcus mutans in the oral microbiota, very few studies evaluated salivary pH and sIgA levels. Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the studies analysed and the multifactorial nature of dental caries do not allow us to ensure that probiotic therapy is completely effective in preventing this pathology. Although probiotic therapy can help by regulating the microbiological factor, there are other determinants that can favor the development of caries and that are barely approached in their relationship with bacteriotherapy. Future studies that homogeneously evaluate the use of probiotics could give us a clearer idea of their effectiveness.

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Gingival hyperpigmentation is produced by excessive melanin deposit, generating a dark gum coloring. Although it does not constitute a health issue, in some cases it usually represents an aesthetic problem that can affect psychologically, for which there are currently several treatment alternatives such as: surgery with scalpel, laser therapy, abrasion, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, among others. The aim of this literature review was to analyze the available information about gingival melanosis and the therapeutics that can be applied to improve the appearance of patients with this condition. Articles in English and Spanish, published during the period 2000-2020 in the PubMed, Medline, Scielo, Cochrane and Lilacs databases, were reviewed. It was concluded that the selection of the technique will depend on each particular case, however, the laser is the most relevant.