Biomaterials for Dental Healing

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding of the healing and bioreparation of affected and surrounding dental tissues as a focus of the maintenance of oral health has been sought. In the last decades, researchers have had the opportunity to study the relationships between the microcosm and the oral tissues, including hard and soft tissues and their implications in tissue bioengineering for oral health maintenance. Many benchmarks have been reached in terms of this target, and research has been carried out into biomaterials, cells and biofilm functions, and how to control them. Bioengineering and stem cell research may create the possibility of a cure, even in cell-free tissues; through the use of self-assembly systems, nanotechnology has also shown promise in this area. To date, it is known that cells are the main factors in healing and tissue repair. Nevertheless, dental caries, when installed in the enamel, for example, which is an acellular tissue, can be controlled by controlling the virulence of the biofilm and the presence of Ca and PO4 with the help of self-assembly peptides. In addition, using biomaterials with a slow release of biomodifying agents, biomarkers and healing inducers has also been extremely important, and will be further available in the future, along with other concepts. On the other hand, nowadays the repair of damaged hard tissues has been achieved by the use of restorative materials that have been modified based on biological knowledge acquired over the last decades, providing another bench of research. Thus, this Special Issue aims to present the latest in biomaterials research and the development of new materials for dental healing, as well as techniques and perspectives on healing in the dental sciences related to these topics, to highlight the remaining challenges, and to provide perspectives for future directions.

Prof. Regina Maria Puppin-Rontani
Guest Editor

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