How can biomaterials be used to develop new dental materials?

1 Types of biomaterials

Biomaterials can be classified into different types based on their origin, composition, structure, and function. Some common types of biomaterials are metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and natural materials. Each type of biomaterial has its own advantages and disadvantages for dental applications. For example, metals are strong and durable, but they can corrode and cause allergic reactions. Ceramics are hard and biocompatible, but they are brittle and prone to cracking. Polymers are flexible and easy to process, but they can degrade and release toxic substances. Composites are combinations of two or more materials that can enhance the properties of each component, but they can also have complex interactions and interfaces. Natural materials are derived from biological sources, such as collagen, silk, or chitin, and they can mimic the structure and function of natural tissues, but they can also vary in quality and cause immune responses.

3 Examples of biomaterials

Biomaterials have been utilized to create new dental materials for a variety of applications, such as restoring, replacing, or regenerating damaged or missing teeth and tissues. Examples of these biomaterials include glass ionomer cements (GICs), which are composites of glass and polyacrylic acid that can be used as fillings or sealants, and they can release fluoride ions to prevent tooth decay and bond to tooth enamel and dentin. Zirconia is a ceramic that can be used as crowns or bridges, with high strength, fracture toughness, and biocompatibility, and it can also be colored to match the natural tooth shade. Titanium is a metal that can be used as implants or abutments, with high corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and osseointegration that can be coated with bioactive materials such as hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate to enhance bone formation and attachment. Additionally, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a polymer that can be used as scaffolds or membranes due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and tunable properties. It can also be loaded with drugs, growth factors, or cells to promote tissue regeneration and healing.

4 Future of biomaterials

Biomaterials have a promising future for developing new dental materials that can improve the quality of life and health of patients. Emerging trends and opportunities of biomaterials include nanomaterials, which have at least one dimension in the nanoscale (1-100 nm). These can improve the mechanical, optical, antibacterial, and bioactive properties of dental composites, ceramics, and coatings. Smart materials can respond to external stimuli and have adaptive, self-healing, or shape-memory properties that can enhance the durability and functionality of dental materials. Additionally, biomimetic materials can mimic the structure, function, or behavior of natural biological materials. These can have hierarchical, multifunctional, or self-organizing properties that can improve the biocompatibility and bioactivity of dental materials.

5 Resources for biomaterials

Biomaterials is a multidisciplinary and dynamic field that requires constant learning and updating. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge on biomaterials and their applications in dentistry, there are many resources available online or offline. These include journals such as Biomaterials, Dental Materials, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, or Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine; books such as Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, Principles of Tissue Engineering, or Biomimetics for Bioinspired Materials; courses such as Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications, Introduction to Biomaterials, or Biomimetic Materials Engineering; conferences such as the Annual Meeting of the Society for Biomaterials, the International Conference on Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, or the World Congress on Dental and Oral Health; and networks such as the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, the European Society for Biomaterials, or the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.