Biomaterials Journal

The Revolutionary Role of Additive Manufacturing in Dental Materials: A Comprehensive Review

Tamer Hamdy — 2025-11-15

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is revolutionizing the production of dental materials by enabling highly customizable, patient-specific dental restorations. This technology allows for the precise fabrication of dental components such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants with complex geometries that traditional methods cannot achieve. The current review examines the various materials used in AM for dental applications, including metals, ceramics, and polymers.

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

Rasha Abdelraouf — 2025-11-15

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.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Clinical Practices Regarding Dry Socket Among Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ayoub Akgam — 2025-11-15

This cross-sectional study investigates the knowledge, awareness, and clinical practices related to dry socket (alveolar osteitis) among dentists in Libya. Dry socket is a common and painful complication following tooth extractions, especially mandibular third molars. The study aims to assess the level of understanding of dry socket, identify gaps in knowledge, and examine factors such as clinical experience and specialization that influence the management of this condition. A total of 162 dentists participated in the study, completing a structured questionnaire. The study utilized a structured, 17-question, self-administered electronic questionnaire distributed via social media and email. Most participating operators were male (53%), aged 25-35 (62%), held a BDS degree (70%), and had 3-5 years of practice (53%). The results reported by the dentists showed that most extractions were performed in the lower jaw (71%) and involved molars (84%). Smoking (45%) was the most common patient habit reported, which is a major dry socket risk factor. A significant proportion of patients did not follow post-extraction instructions (45%), and 36% had a previous history of dry socket. The majority of extractions were categorized as simple (55%), followed by traumatic (27%) and surgical (18%). In conclusion, continuous education is essential, particularly for less-experienced dentists, to standardize care and enhance patient outcomes. The high prevalence of critical risk factors, such as smoking, poor patient compliance, and a history of dry socket, underscores the need for thorough patient education and counseling. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions can significantly reduce the incidence of dry socket and improve overall clinical management.