Healing, Sealing, and Sensing

The use of smart materials promises improved reliability and long term efficiency as these materials respond to stimuli intelligently and activate their functions according to the changes in the environment, therefore improving the quality of dental treatment. Advances in form of these smart materials are paving the future of dentistry. Biomimetic dentistry brings the power of modern biological, chemical and physical science to solve clinical problems. Regeneration of the lost tooth structure rather than replacement during treatment will ensure better prognosis and higher success rate. Hence, the future in dentistry would involve the use of such biomimetic materials which could successfully replace lost dentin, cementum and the pulp tissue. Dentists should be aware of these materials to enable their use and utilize their optimal properties in day to day practice to provide quality and effective holistic treatment.