Next-Generation Dental Materials: A Mini-Review of Bioactive and Smart Formulations

Abstract

Dental materials have progressed from passive restoratives, which merely replace lost tissue, to active or intelligent systems that dynamically interact with the oral environment to promote health and prevent disease. This mini-review highlights the core scientific advancements in next-generation dental materials, focusing on bioactive and smart formulations. Bioactive materials are engineered to support natural tissue functions like remineralization and regeneration, while smart materials exhibit a stimuli-responsive capacity (e.g., to pH changes) to release therapeutic agents or modify their properties. These innovations, often leveraging nanotechnology, represent a paradigm shift towards truly restorative and preventive dentistry, aiming to increase the longevity of restorations and address the leading cause of failure: secondary caries.