Smart biomaterials in restorative dentistry: Recent advances and future perspectives

Smart biomaterials in restorative dentistry are engineered to detect and respond to diverse physiological and environmental stimuli, including mechanical stress, pH fluctuations, temperature changes, and magnetic or electrical fields. Unlike conventional inert restorative materials, these intelligent systems integrate both diagnostic and therapeutic functions into clinical practice. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in smart restorative materials using a methodology that combines literature-based classification with comparative evaluation. The materials are categorized into nanocomposites, hydrogels, bioactive agents, chemical and resin-based systems, intelligent carrier platforms, and ceramic-based materials. For each category, we examine design strategies, underlying mechanisms, and representative experimental or preclinical findings. The analysis highlights progress in drug delivery, antibacterial-remineralization coupling, self-healing capacity, and tissue engineering applications. In addition, the review outlines the advantages and limitations of each material class, evaluates their readiness for clinical translation, and identifies technical barriers to widespread adoption. Finally, future research directions are discussed, including multi-stimulus coupling, bioinspired functionalization, and integration with digital dentistry technologies. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive methodological and developmental perspective on smart restorative materials, with the goal of supporting their translation from laboratory innovation to clinical application.