How we are assessing the developing antibacterial resin-based dental materials? A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Antimicrobial Research
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Resin-based restorative dental materials are widely used in dentistry.
• Incorporating antibacterial additives aims to enhance their clinical performance by inhibiting bacterial growth.
• Standardized and reliable methods for evaluating these materials' efficacy are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and assess antibacterial additives used in resin-based dental materials.
• To evaluate the methodologies employed in screening and assessing the antibacterial activity of these materials.
• To identify gaps and limitations in current research approaches.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• Searches conducted across Medline (OVID), EMBASE, and Scopus databases.
• Data extraction included additive type, material, assessment methods, and biofilm characteristics.

Main Results:

• 153 studies were included after screening 6503 initial records.
• Quaternary ammonium monomers were the most common additive (45%), with resin composites being the primary material (49%).
• Significant methodological heterogeneity and high risk of bias were noted, particularly in sample size, blinding, outcome assessment, and biofilm maturity.

Conclusions:

• Current in vitro studies on antibacterial additives in dental materials show promising results but require cautious interpretation.
• There is an urgent need for improved study designs that better mimic the oral environment.
• Standardized methods are essential for accurate evaluation and optimization of these advanced dental materials.