Functional Hydrogels for the Treatment of Periodontitis

ABSTRACT Periodontitis is a common and serious oral health problem. It not only damages the health of periodontal tissues but also has potential impacts on the whole body. Existing treatment methods, such as mechanical debridement and antibiotic treatment, have obvious limitations. Functional hydrogels can be used as drug carriers to deliver medications for treating periodontitis. Meanwhile, depending on different designs, hydrogels can achieve functions such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory effects and osteoinduction, making them a promising material for periodontitis treatment. In this review, we first elaborate on the preparation methods of hydrogels for periodontitis, as well as the pathological characteristics and hazards of periodontitis. Then, we introduce the applications of hydrogels in antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and osteoinduction aspects related to periodontitis. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future research directions in this field.