Biomaterials for Management of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Dental Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 23

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
ADA Forsyth Institute, Somerville, MA 02143, USA
Interests: biomaterials; cariology; restorative dentistry; translational research

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Guest Editor
Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
Interests: periodontal disease; infection control; inflammation control; tissue regeneration control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue highlights recent advancements and interdisciplinary innovations in cariology and periodontology—two critical domains in oral health research that address some of the most widespread and persistent dental diseases globally.

According to the World Health Organization’s Global Oral Health Status Report 2022, dental caries in permanent teeth is the most common health condition worldwide, affecting approximately 2.5 billion people. Untreated caries in primary teeth remains a pressing concern in children, with over 514 million cases reported globally. At the same time, severe periodontal diseases affect around 1 billion people and are a major cause of tooth loss in adults, with serious implications for systemic health, including links to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

These statistics underscore the substantial global burden of both dental caries and periodontal disease as noncommunicable, chronic conditions that compromise quality of life, increase healthcare costs, and disproportionately affect underserved populations.

While traditional approaches such as fluoride therapy, mechanical plaque control, and restorative or surgical treatments have played important roles in caries and periodontal management, they often lack long-term bioactivity and fail to address the underlying biological processes of disease progression and tissue regeneration. In response, there has been a growing focus on the development of advanced biomaterials that not only prevent disease but also support tissue repair and regeneration.

In cariology, functional biomaterials exhibit antimicrobial properties that target cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, thereby reducing acid production and biofilm formation. Remineralizing agents restore essential minerals to enamel and dentin, reversing early-stage lesions. Cariostatic biomaterials further protect dental tissues by modulating local pH, releasing fluoride or therapeutic ions, and promoting hard tissue regeneration.

In periodontology, biomaterials are increasingly being used to promote periodontal tissue regeneration, including the repair of alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and cementum. These materials may incorporate growth factors, antimicrobial peptides, or immunomodulatory agents to combat periodontal pathogens, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the regeneration of soft and hard periodontal structures.

This Special Issue brings together pioneering research and translational studies on multifunctional biomaterials that exhibit antimicrobial, remineralizing, and regenerative properties. By bridging innovations in cariology and periodontology, this Special Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to global efforts in reducing the burden of oral diseases through advanced, evidence-based biomaterial science.

Dr. Mohammed Zahedul Islam Nizami
Prof. Dr. Shogo Takashiba
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Biomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobial biomaterials
  • bioactive dental materials
  • cariostatic materials
  • dental caries prevention
  • oral microbiome modulation
  • periodontal regeneration
  • remineralizing agents
  • translational oral health research

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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