Biomaterials for Dental Bone Regeneration: Current Trends, Novel Applications and Strategies

Dear Colleagues, 

Descriptions of physiological changes stemming from alveolar bone resorption after dental extraction are widely documented in the literature. Increased interest in restoring adequate post-extractive bone volumes through different approaches has led to bone regeneration becoming a widely discussed topic among clinicians in daily practice. In addition, treatment plans usually require individualized protocols according to patient’s characteristics and clinical conditions. In this proposal, several materials were recently introduced to deal with important bone deficiency issues and periodontal tissue damage.

Autologous bone represents a gold standard for bone reconstruction in terms of osteogenesis, osteoconduction and osteoinduction, as it shares all these properties with the surrounding bone. Despite having great advantages in terms of similarity with the vital bone structures of the affected site, this graft also implies important disadvantages, likely due to the related bone harvesting morbidity and possible surgical complications. Considering the difficulty involved in raising it, other alternative grafts were suggested in form of homologous/xenologous bone or resorbable synthetic materials (in association with or unrelated to collagen membranes) for the dimensional preservation of post-extraction sites or to promote a proper physiological remodeling process. We demonstrated that the use of these biomaterials both improves the patient’s comfort and the clinician’s activity. Furthermore, as bone quality represents an important factor in the long-term stability of biomaterials (e.g. in sites with highly regenerative potentials rehabilitated with implants), the development of specific ones with highly osteoconductive properties (e.g. calcium sulphate), whether used alone or in association with other materials, was, thus, addressed to improve the vital part of the bone in post-extraction sites.

In light of these considerations, we encourage potential contributors to this Special Issue to submit manuscripts or systematic reviews aimed at highlighting updated indications, features and applications of novel approaches/strategies regarding the use of materials for dental bone regeneration.

Dr. Giorgio Lombardo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• tooth extraction
• bone graft
• socket preservation
• biomaterials
• bone regeneration
• implant
• peri-implant disease
• surfaces
• growth factors
• mechanical properties
• biological response
• remineralization
• osteogenesis
• osteoinductive
• osteoconductive
• bioactive