Bioengineering seeds of contemplation: a private practitioner's perspective

In a precise semantic sense, the most significant biomaterial in dentistry is the human tooth. How it reacts, changes and is affected during the dynamics of occlusal loading should be reexamined in light of modern technology. Much is known about the embryology, histology, biochemistry, anatomy, and the microbiology affecting teeth; however, there are areas of biomechanics, biochemistry, and bioelectricity which also affect dental hard tissues that remain largely unexplored. Technological advances enable us to use more sophisticated instrumentation to measure and quantify changes that occur during the dynamics of occlusal activity. Armed with this information, dentistry can better understand how teeth interact with restorative materials in order to increase the longevity of both.