Bioceramic versus traditional biomaterials for endodontic sealers according to the ideal properties

Odontology, as a scientific discipline, continuously collaborates with biomaterials engineering to enhance treatment characteristics and patients' satisfaction. Endodontics, a specialized field of dentistry, focuses on the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental disorders affecting the dental pulp, root, and surrounding tissues. A critical aspect of endodontic treatment involves the careful selection of an appropriate endodontic sealer for clinical use, as it significantly influences treatment outcomes. Traditional sealers, such as zinc oxide-eugenol, fatty acid, salicylate, epoxy resin, silicone, and methacrylate resin systems, have been extensively used for decades. However, advancements in endodontics have given rise to bioceramic-based sealers, offering improved properties and addressing new challenges in endodontic therapy. In this review, a classification of these materials and their ideal properties are presented to provide evidence-based guidance to clinicians. Physicochemical properties, including sealing ability, stability over time and space, as well as biological properties such as biocompatibility and antibacterial characteristics, along with cost-effectiveness, are essential factors influencing clinicians' decisions based on individual patient evaluations.