Do Biomimetic Restorative Materials Truly Mimic Natural Dental Tissues? A Systematic Review of Mechanical and Optical Properties

Background: Biomimetic principles have gained significant traction in contemporary dentistry. For this reason, biomimetic restorative materials have been designed with the goal of recreating the mechanical and optical behavior of natural dental tissues. However, the level to which these materials resemble the properties of enamel and dentin remains uncertain. Methods: A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed and Scopus to identify in vitro studies examining restorative materials promoted as biomimetic. These included polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) materials, resin matrix systems (RMS), and short fiber-reinforced composites (SFRCs). Natural enamel and dentin served as reference comparators. Target outcomes included mechanical properties (flexural strength, fracture toughness, Vickers hardness, elastic modulus) and optical properties (translucency parameter and color matching). Results: PICN achieved hardness and translucency values closely resembling the natural enamel, while RMS approached the mechanical properties of natural dentin. SFRC showed high fracture resistance, comparative to dentin. Conclusions: Current biomimetic restorative materials exhibit promising mechanical and optical performance. Nevertheless, no single material fully reproduces the multifaceted behavior of natural dental tissues. Further studies with standardized testing protocols are needed to determine their clinical relevance.