May JADA examines bioactivity of dental restorative materials
Other articles address antibiotic prescribing, obstructive sleep apnea
Evidence for the bioactivity of dental restorative materials remains limited and any clinical advantage of bioactive over conventional composites remains unproven, according to the cover story of the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.
“From Names to Concepts: Unraveling Bioactivity in Restorative Dental Materials” is JADA’s latest addition to its Oral Science Trends series, made up of invited reviews that explain where current biomedical and clinical sciences are leading to impactful changes in dentists’ ability to provide care and improve health.
“In biomaterials science, bioactivity has been defined as the ability of a material to form apatite or a similar mineral on its surface, in vitro in a simulated body fluid (SBF) or in vivo, with the original purpose being to bond the material to living bone,” according to the article.
The authors aimed to establish the scope and types of evidence related to the bioactivity of dental restorative materials. Their review included 80 studies, of which 63 were conducted in vitro.
“For in vitro studies, a comprehensive assessment of the material’s ability to form apatite, release therapeutic ions, and promote mineral formation at the dentin-material interface is required,” the authors said in the study. “Using these complementary methods can enhance our understanding of the bioactivity potential of restorative materials. Future studies should standardize bioactivity assessments by means of clearly defining parameters, such as mineral deposition, interface sealing, or tissue regeneration.”
Other articles in the May issue of JADA discuss outpatient antibiotic prescribing by general dentists, the association between cardiovascular health and periodontitis in diabetic patients, and long-term mandibular advancement appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
Every month, JADA articles are published online at JADA.ADA.org. ADA members can access JADA content with their ADA username and password.
