Smart Dental Materials: Unravelling the Exciting Future of Dentistry

Dental materials have changed significantly over the years, with new materials being developed and introduced at a rapid pace. Smart materials are used in dentistry because of their excellent biocompatibility and ability to respond to physiological changes and local environmental stimuli to protect the teeth and promote oral health. Smart dental materials change one or more of their characteristics in response to inputs. They actively contribute to the functionality of the structure or apparatus. Smart materials are an answer to the requirement of environment-friendly and responsive materials. Smart materials are a new generation of materials which hold a good promise for the future in the field of bio‑smart dentistry. They offer significant possibilities, but considerable research is required in this field of material science. It is the need of the hour that all dentists should be aware of these innovative materials to enable their use and utilize their optimal properties in day-to-day practice to provide quality and effective holistic treatment. The objective of this article is to shed light and improve understanding on the various bioactive and smart materials being used in dentistry today and to provide a perspective on the exciting future of these smart dental biomaterials.