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Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants
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Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3733

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pavle Milanovic

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Guest Editor
Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: implants; bone regeneration; guided surgery; dental materials; radiography
Dr. Momir Stevanovic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: dental; parodontology; regenerative medicine
Prof. Dr. Shinn-Jyh Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Dentistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan; Institute of Oral Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
Interests: surface biofunctionalization; implant materials; antibacterial coating; bone graft substitute
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of dental materials has rapidly evolved, offering innovative solutions for both orthodontics and implantology. Functional materials play a crucial role in ensuring long-term stability, biocompatibility, and predictable clinical outcomes. Despite significant progress, there is still a need for a comprehensive evaluation of their properties, biological interactions, and performance under clinical conditions.

This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality contributions that expand current knowledge on functional dental materials applied in orthodontics and implant therapy. We welcome original research, systematic and narrative reviews, as well as preclinical and clinical studies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, material composition and surface modifications, osseointegration, biomechanics, biological responses at the cellular and tissue level, as well as clinical performance and long-term outcomes.

By bringing together diverse research approaches, this issue seeks to provide a broader perspective and enrich the literature with relevant insights. We invite researchers, clinicians, and material scientists to contribute their findings, with the goal of advancing the understanding and application of dental materials in modern orthodontics and implantology.

Dr. Pavle Milanovic
Dr. Momir Stevanovic
Prof. Dr. Shinn-Jyh Ding
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • dental materials
  • implants
  • bone regeneration
  • orthodontics
  • TADs
  • osseointegration
  • biocompatibility
  • biomehanics
  • surface modification

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2720 KB  
Article
Bone Compatibility of Experimental Ti–Ag and Ti–Cu Alloy Dental Implants in a Beagle Dog Model
by Yasumitsu Ohtsuka, Taichi Tenkumo, Masatoshi Takahashi, Yasuhiro Nakanishi, Hiroaki Takebe and Takashi Nezu
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(4), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17040198 - 18 Apr 2026
Viewed by 495
Abstract
Titanium–silver (Ti–Ag) and titanium–copper (Ti–Cu) alloys have been developed to improve the mechanical properties and machinability of titanium (Ti) for dental applications while maintaining corrosion resistance comparable to that of pure Ti. Herein, cylindrical dental implants composed of experimental Ti–20Ag, Ti–30Ag, Ti–5Cu, and [...] Read more.
Titanium–silver (Ti–Ag) and titanium–copper (Ti–Cu) alloys have been developed to improve the mechanical properties and machinability of titanium (Ti) for dental applications while maintaining corrosion resistance comparable to that of pure Ti. Herein, cylindrical dental implants composed of experimental Ti–20Ag, Ti–30Ag, Ti–5Cu, and Ti–10Cu (mass%) alloys were fabricated and implanted into the jawbones of beagle dogs to evaluate bone compatibility. Pure Ti and Ti–6Al–4V alloy implants were used as controls. Because the implant surfaces were mechanically polished, the experimental alloys, which exhibited higher hardness than Ti, showed lower surface roughness than Ti. Radiographic observations revealed no remarkable bone resorption around any implants during the experimental period. Histological evaluation demonstrated new bone formation and partial bone contact around implants at 1 and 3 months post-implantation. Although the bone–implant contact ratio was relatively low owing to the cylindrical implant design and limited initial stability, no significant differences were observed between the experimental alloys and Ti. These results indicate that Ti–Ag and Ti–Cu alloys improve mechanical properties while maintaining bone compatibility comparable to that of Ti, suggesting their potential as candidate materials for dental implant applications, particularly for narrow dental implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants)
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15 pages, 1527 KB  
Article
Dental Implants Used for Orthodontic Anchorage in Patients with Treated Stage IV Periodontitis: A Retrospective Case–Control Study
by Shing-Zeng Dung and I-Shiang Tzeng
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17010049 - 18 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 861
Abstract
Little is known about the effects of orthodontic loading on dental implants used for orthodontic anchorage in patients with Stage IV periodontitis. This retrospective case–control study included 58 dental implants in 24 patients with treated Stage IV periodontitis. The dental implants were used [...] Read more.
Little is known about the effects of orthodontic loading on dental implants used for orthodontic anchorage in patients with Stage IV periodontitis. This retrospective case–control study included 58 dental implants in 24 patients with treated Stage IV periodontitis. The dental implants were used for both chewing function and orthodontic anchorages. The outcome measures included peri-implant marginal bone loss and peri-implantitis. Pair t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to analyze the impact of implants as orthodontic anchorage on marginal bone loss (MBL) and peri-implantitis. No implants were lost during the 17-year follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in the MBL and incidence of peri-implantitis between implants used as orthodontic anchorage and non-anchorage controls. (p > 0.05). Poor oral hygiene (p = 0.05), one-piece implants (p = 0.05) and implants with a keratinized mucosa < 2 mm (p = 0.015) were associated with a higher risk of peri-implantitis. Results from the present long-term study indicated that dental implants could be successfully used as orthodontic anchorage in periodontal compromised patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants)
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20 pages, 1826 KB  
Article
Tension-Dominant Orthodontic Loading and Buccal Periodontal Phenotype Preservation: An Integrative Mechanobiological Model Supported by FEM and a Proof-of-Concept CBCT
by Anna Ewa Kuc, Jacek Kotuła, Kamil Sybilski, Szymon Saternus, Jerzy Małachowski, Natalia Kuc, Grzegorz Hajduk, Joanna Lis, Beata Kawala, Michał Sarul and Magdalena Sulewska
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17010047 - 16 Jan 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1008
Abstract
Background: Adult patients with a thin buccal cortical plate and fragile periodontal phenotype are at high risk of dehiscence, fenestration and recession during transverse orthodontic expansion. Conventional mechanics often create a cervical compression-dominant environment that exceeds the adaptive capacity of the periodontal ligament [...] Read more.
Background: Adult patients with a thin buccal cortical plate and fragile periodontal phenotype are at high risk of dehiscence, fenestration and recession during transverse orthodontic expansion. Conventional mechanics often create a cervical compression-dominant environment that exceeds the adaptive capacity of the periodontal ligament (PDL)–bone complex. Objectives: This study proposes an integrative mechanobiological model in which a skeletal-anchorage-assisted loading protocol (Bone Protection System, BPS) transforms expansion into a tension-dominant regime that favours buccal phenotype preservation. Methods: Patient-specific finite element models were used to compare conventional expansion with a BPS-modified force system. Regional PDL stress patterns and crown/apex displacement vectors were analysed to distinguish tipping-dominant from translation-dominated mechanics. A pilot CBCT proof-of-concept (n = 1 thin-phenotype adult) with voxel-based registration quantified changes in maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge width and buccal cortical plate thickness before and after BPS-assisted expansion. The mechanical findings were integrated with current evidence on compression- versus tension-driven inflammatory and osteogenic pathways in the PDL and cortical bone. Results: FEM demonstrated that conventional expansion concentrates high cervical compressive stress along the buccal PDL and cortical surface, accompanied by bending-like crown–root divergence. In contrast, the BPS protocol redirected forces to create a buccal tensile-favourable region and a more parallel crown–apex displacement pattern, indicative of translation-dominated movement. In the proof-of-concept (n = 1) CBCT case, BPS-assisted expansion was associated with preservation or increase of buccal ridge dimensions without radiographic signs of cortical breakdown. Conclusions: A tension-dominant orthodontic loading environment generated by a skeletal-anchorage-assisted force system may support buccal cortical preservation and vestibular phenotype reinforcement in thin-phenotype patients. The proposed mechanobiological model links these imaging and FEM findings to known molecular pathways of inflammation, angiogenesis and osteogenesis. It suggests a functional biomaterial-based strategy for widening the biological envelope of safe tooth movement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants)
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14 pages, 5186 KB  
Article
Split Crest—Is It Necessary to Fill the Gap?—A Controlled Trial
by Vladimir Biocanin, Zoran Tambur, Djordje Pejanovic, Marija Biocanin, Mihailo Ostojic, Marija Lalovic and Svetislav Zaric
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(12), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16120467 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 939
Abstract
Introduction: The split crest (SC) is a technique for horizontal ridge augmentation that enables simultaneous implant placement. While the use of bone grafts within the osteotomy gap is well-documented, the efficacy of dentin as a graft material in SC procedures has not been [...] Read more.
Introduction: The split crest (SC) is a technique for horizontal ridge augmentation that enables simultaneous implant placement. While the use of bone grafts within the osteotomy gap is well-documented, the efficacy of dentin as a graft material in SC procedures has not been thoroughly evaluated. Objective: This study aimed to assess whether the addition of bone graft or dentin to the osteotomy gap during the SC procedure improves bone width, density, and implant stability compared to SC without grafting. Materials and Methods: A partially randomized prospective study was conducted on 24 implants divided into three groups: SC only, SC and bone graft, and SC and dentin graft. Clinical and radiographic evaluations, including CBCT-based bone measurements and implant stability (ISQ) values, were performed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and three months after surgery. All patients were followed for one year. Results: Significant increases in bone width were recorded in all groups, with gains exceeding 2 mm in the SC and SC and bone graft groups. The SC and dentin group showed the least bone gain and the greatest horizontal bone resorption (p < 0.05). Conclusions: While bone grafting may offer modest advantages in bone preservation, the use of dentin grafting may not demonstrate significant benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Dental Materials for Orthodontics and Implants)
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