Biomaterials in Dentistry

Abstract

The earliest dental materials science, dating back to the early 19th century, began from the investigation of dental amalgam. For approximately a hundred years, synthetic restorative materials were the major focus and have been widely used in almost all the fields of dentistry; however, none of them is able to completely restore or replace the structure and function of missing tissues. The burning needs in restoration and reconstruction in clinic inspire and promote the development of tissue engineering, a brand new technique using a combination of scaffolds, cells, and biologically active molecules to assemble functional constructs that restore, maintain, or improve damaged tissues for medical or dental purposes. This article briefly reviews the application of biomaterials in dentistry. The comprehension of development and advances in dental biomaterials will benefit both dental practitioners and patients in selecting appropriate materials for clinical cases and improving treatment outcomes.