The Advent of 4D Dentistry: Integrating Time and Technology in Contemporary Oral Care

Abstract

The development of digital dentistry is now moving from a 3D static to a 4D dynamic model. Although 3D modalities (e.g., CAD/CAM, CBCT) have overcome the issue of spatial accuracy, they are constrained by an inability to interpolate temporal physiological dynamics occurring in the oral environment. 4D dentistry adds the dimension of time, expressed in two fundamental ways: smart materials that change shape according to programmed sequences (4D printing) and real-time functional motion integrated into digital workflows. Here, we discuss how responsive polymers and hydrogels are currently transforming the fields of myofunctional orthodontics and tissue engineering, whereas dynamic jaw tracking is taking prosthodontic accuracy to the next level, from "inert" to bio-responsive systems. Developing from the old to a new paradigm: The transition from inert restorations to bio-responsive materials in 4D dentistry, the New Normal for these smart systems, would be associated with self-directed readiness, anagenic biocompatibility, and superior clinical longevity.