Magnesium phosphate cements in regenerative dentistry: from biomaterial design to clinical translation

Magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs) are emerging biomaterials in regenerative dentistry, offering rapid setting, high early mechanical strength, biodegradability, osteogenic potential, and intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Compared with conventional calcium phosphate cements (CPCs), MPCs demonstrate superior biological interactions and faster scaffold resorption, positioning them as promising candidates for endodontic, periodontal, craniofacial, and bone tissue engineering applications. This Mini Review critically appraises the chemistry, biological properties, clinical applications, and translational challenges of MPCs, highlighting current evidence gaps and emerging research directions. While preclinical evidence is encouraging, exothermic setting reactions, ammonia release in ammonium-containing formulations, and the absence of robust multicentre clinical trial data remain the principal barriers to widespread adoption. Advances in formulation engineering, additive manufacturing, and composite scaffold design represent the most promising avenues for addressing these limitations and facilitating clinical translation.