Smart Materials Leading to Restorative Dentistry: An Overview

Dental material has emerged in the last few decades with enhanced biological properties. The prime characteristics required for dental materials are that they should be compatible with oral cavity fluids such as saliva and gingival crevicular fluids. Their functionality should be enhanced in the presence of such biological factors. Scientific advancements in exploring innovative materials have led to the possibility of achieving beneficial results by using materials that respond more dynamically to the environment in which they are placed. Currently available dental materials are improvised. Restorative materials such as smart composites, smart ceramics, compomers, resin-modified glass ionomer, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)-releasing pit and fissure sealants, and other smart burs and orthodontic shape memory alloys have all benefited from the usage of smart materials in dentistry.