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Dental materials and restorations
Research Guide
What is Dental materials and restorations?
Dental materials and restorations are biocompatible substances used to repair, replace, or restore the structure and function of damaged teeth, including composites, ceramics, metals, and bioactive glasses designed for adhesion, durability, and integration with tooth tissues.
The field encompasses over 114,189 published works on materials like bioactive glass-ceramics, titanium implants, resin composites, and zirconia for dental applications. Key research examines surface modifications for osseointegration, adhesion durability to tooth tissues, and collagen degradation in dentin. Developments focus on enhancing mechanical properties, bioactivity, and long-term clinical performance of restorations.
Research Sub-Topics
Dental Resin Composites
This sub-topic covers polymerization, filler technologies, and clinical performance of resin-based restorative materials. Researchers study wear resistance, esthetics, and long-term durability.
Zirconia in Dental Applications
Examines yttria-stabilized zirconia for crowns, implants, and frameworks, focusing on phase transformation toughening and esthetic monolithic designs. Studies address translucency, strength, and aging.
Dentin Adhesion Durability
Investigates hybrid layer formation, bond strength stability, and degradation by MMPs and hydrolysis in etch-and-rinse vs. self-etch adhesives. Research develops longevity testing protocols.
Titanium Dental Implant Surfaces
This area optimizes surface modifications like SLA, anodization, and nanostructures for osseointegration acceleration. Studies correlate topography with bone apposition and soft tissue sealing.
Root Canal Irrigants
Evaluates chemical disinfectants like NaOCl, EDTA, and novel agents for smear layer removal and biofilm disruption. Research assesses tissue dissolution, antimicrobial efficacy, and safety.
Why It Matters
Dental materials and restorations directly impact clinical outcomes in restorative dentistry by enabling durable tooth repairs that mimic natural enamel and dentin. For instance, Kokubo et al. (1990) in "Solutions able to reproduce in vivo surface‐structure changes in bioactive glass‐ceramic A‐W3" demonstrated that specific aqueous solutions induce surface changes in A-W glass-ceramic mimicking in vivo bone bonding, supporting its use in load-bearing implants with 3767 citations. Le Guéhennec et al. (2006) in "Surface treatments of titanium dental implants for rapid osseointegration" detailed treatments accelerating implant integration, reducing healing times in prosthetic dentistry with 2375 citations. Recent advances include UT Dallas's 3D-printed zirconia restorations enabled by a $550,000 NSF grant, allowing same-day crowns using the gold-standard material. These innovations improve patient access to immediate prosthetics and bioactive restoratives that promote remineralization, addressing wear and biofilm challenges in 114,189 works.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Resin composite—State of the art" by Ferracane (2010) provides an accessible entry by reviewing core properties, clinical use, and limitations of the most common direct restorative material, building foundational knowledge before advanced topics like bioactivity.
Key Papers Explained
Kokubo et al. (1990) in "Solutions able to reproduce in vivo surface‐structure changes in bioactive glass‐ceramic A‐W3" establishes bioactive mechanisms foundational for later implant surfaces; Le Guéhennec et al. (2006) in "Surface treatments of titanium dental implants for rapid osseointegration" builds on this by applying bioactivity principles to titanium via treatments enhancing bone integration; Ferracane (2010) in "Resin composite—State of the art" shifts to polymer-based restoratives, contrasting ceramics; Denry and Kelly (2007) in "State of the art of zirconia for dental applications" extends high-strength ceramics; De Munck et al. (2005) in "A Critical Review of the Durability of Adhesion to Tooth Tissue: Methods and Results" integrates adhesion challenges across materials.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Recent preprints explore bioactive restoratives like glass ionomers and smart biomaterials with antibacterial properties, such as silver nanoparticle-doped polymers and pH-responsive chitosan. News highlights biomimetic gels regrowing enamel structure and UT Dallas's same-day 3D-printed zirconia crowns via NSF-funded tech. Focus now integrates AI ontologies like DrMO for material selection.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solutions able to reproduce <i>in vivo</i> surface‐structure c... | 1990 | Journal of Biomedical ... | 3.8K | ✕ |
| 2 | Surface treatments of titanium dental implants for rapid osseo... | 2006 | Dental Materials | 2.4K | ✕ |
| 3 | The effects of surgical exposures of dental pulps in germ-free... | 1965 | Oral Surgery Oral Medi... | 2.3K | ✕ |
| 4 | Matrix Metalloproteinases and Other Matrix Proteinases in Rela... | 2015 | Caries Research | 2.3K | ✓ |
| 5 | Resin composite—State of the art | 2010 | Dental Materials | 2.0K | ✕ |
| 6 | State of the art of zirconia for dental applications | 2007 | Dental Materials | 2.0K | ✕ |
| 7 | A Critical Review of the Durability of Adhesion to Tooth Tissu... | 2005 | Journal of Dental Rese... | 1.9K | ✕ |
| 8 | Bone healing and soft tissue contour changes following single-... | 2004 | Journal of Prosthetic ... | 1.8K | ✓ |
| 9 | Restorative dental materials | 1961 | American Journal of Or... | 1.8K | ✕ |
| 10 | Root Canal Irrigants | 2006 | Journal of Endodontics | 1.7K | ✕ |
In the News
Biomimetic supramolecular protein matrix restores structure and properties of human dental enamel
In this study, we report on the design and performance of a clinically-friendly supramolecular protein matrix using disordered elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) molecules to emulate key structural an...
New gel restores dental enamel and could revolutionise tooth repair
Scientists from the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, in collaboration with an international team of researchers, have develope...
Crown Jewel of Dental Restoration Technology May Be in Sight
University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed a technology that enables same-day, 3D-printed dental restorations made of zirconia, the gold-standard material for permanent dental work.
Same-Day 3D Printing for ‘Gold-Standard’ Dental Restorations? UT Dallas Breakthrough Makes It Possible
To help bring it to market, UT Dallas and its collaborators recently received a $550,000 grant from the National Science Foundation through its Partnerships for Innovation–Technology Translation pr...
New gel regrows tooth enamel and could transform dentistry
# New gel regrows tooth enamel and could transform dentistry ## Scientists have developed a groundbreaking protein-based gel that can repair and regrow damaged tooth enamel—something previously tho...
Code & Tools
The DrMO ontology is a domain ontology that represents knowledge underlying the composition, characterization and standardization of different mate...
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* We especially thank 3Shape A/S Dental CAD AI team for their support in the CBCT segmentation and teeth principal axes computations. * We also tha...
> > A curated list of awesome resources for Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry research and applications.
Recent Preprints
(PDF) Bioactive restorative materials in dentistry
Bioactive restorative materials represent a paradigm shift in modern dentistry, moving from passive restorations to functional materials that actively promote oral health. This review comprehensive...
Innovative Smart Materials in Restorative Dentistry
The growing challenge of biofilm-associated infections in dentistry necessitates advanced solutions. This review highlights the potential of smart bioactive and antibacterial materials—bioactive gl...
Smart biomaterials in restorative dentistry: Recent advances ...
Smart biomaterials in restorative dentistry are engineered to detect and respond to diverse physiological and environmental stimuli, including mechanical stress, pH fluctuations, temperature change...
Environmental impact of dental amalgam and alternative ...
*BDJ Open* **volume12**, Article number:11(2026) Cite this article * 629Accesses * 2Altmetric * Metricsdetails ### Subjects * Dental materials * Restorative dentistry ## Abstract ### Introduction
A comparative 48 month randomized trial of clinical performance and wear of BISGMA based and BISGMA free nanoceramic resin composites
Wear resistance is one of the most significant mechanical properties of resin composites and plays a major role in the clinical durability of dental restorations. Ideally, the wear characteristics ...
Latest Developments
Recent developments in dental materials and restorations research for 2026 highlight advancements in zirconia, hybrid ceramics, bioactive materials, and bioinspired biomimetic approaches, focusing on enhancing aesthetics, durability, and tissue integration (imes-icore, compendiumlive, frontiersin, nature).
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What surface changes occur in bioactive glass-ceramic A-W when soaked in simulated solutions?
High‐strength bioactive glass‐ceramic A‐W soaked in acellular aqueous solutions with varying ion concentrations and pH for 7 and 30 days undergoes surface structural changes analyzed by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy. These changes reproduce in vivo effects, forming bone-bonding layers. Kokubo et al. (1990) in "Solutions able to reproduce in vivo surface‐structure changes in bioactive glass‐ceramic A‐W3" confirmed this process.
How do surface treatments enhance titanium dental implants?
Surface treatments on titanium implants promote rapid osseointegration by improving bone cell attachment and growth. Le Guéhennec et al. (2006) reviewed methods like acid-etching and coating in "Surface treatments of titanium dental implants for rapid osseointegration". These enhance clinical success in implant dentistry.
What causes dentin matrix degradation in restorative procedures?
Dentin organic matrix, mainly type I collagen, degrades hydrolytically by host matrix metalloproteinases after demineralization in caries, erosion, or adhesive conditioning. Tjäderhane et al. (2015) in "Matrix Metalloproteinases and Other Matrix Proteinases in Relation to Cariology: The Era of ‘Dentin Degradomics'" describe this dentin degradomics process. It affects restoration longevity.
What is the current status of resin composites in dentistry?
Resin composites serve as direct restorative materials with improved formulations for strength and aesthetics. Ferracane (2010) summarized their state in "Resin composite—State of the art", noting advancements in polymerization and filler technology. They are widely used for posterior restorations.
Why does adhesion durability to tooth tissue vary?
Adhesion to tooth tissue shows high immediate bond strengths, but long-term durability differs by adhesive type due to hydrolysis and enzymatic degradation. De Munck et al. (2005) in "A Critical Review of the Durability of Adhesion to Tooth Tissue: Methods and Results" analyzed methods revealing stable versus degrading bonds. This informs clinical adhesive selection.
What defines zirconia for dental applications?
Zirconia offers high strength and fracture toughness for crowns, bridges, and implants. Denry and Kelly (2007) in "State of the art of zirconia for dental applications" outlined its phase transformation toughening and translucency improvements. It matches natural tooth esthetics and mechanics.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can dentin matrix metalloproteinases be fully inhibited to prevent hybrid layer degradation in composite restorations?
- ? What surface treatments on titanium implants optimize long-term osseointegration under occlusal loads?
- ? Which factors limit zirconia restorations' hydrothermal stability and aging in the oral environment?
- ? How do bioactive glass-ceramics achieve consistent in vivo-like apatite formation across patient variabilities?
- ? What improves pulp healing responses post-exposure in direct pulp capping procedures?
Recent Trends
Preprints emphasize bioactive and smart materials, including BGCs reducing biofilms and protein matrices emulating enamel, as in "Bioactive restorative materials in dentistry".
2025News reports enamel-regrowing gels from University of Nottingham and UT Dallas's 3D zirconia printing with $550,000 NSF grant.
Wear trials compare BISGMA-free nanoceramics over 48 months, amid 114,189 works.
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