OBJECTIVE: Intracanal medicaments, primarily calcium hydroxide, play a significant role in optimizing root canal disinfection. Recently, calcium silicate-based intracanal medicaments have emerged as potential alternatives. This scoping review sought to map the available evidence concerning the clinical and laboratory properties of these bioceramic medicaments.
METHODS: The study protocol was registered a priori (https://osf.io/rnyuv/) and a systematic search strategy using relevant MeSH terms was employed.
METHODS: The search was conducted across databases including the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, SciVerse Scopus, and Web of Science.
METHODS: Studies that investigated the clinical and laboratory properties of calcium silicate-based intracanal medicaments were included.
CONCLUSIONS: Out of 1008 potentially relevant articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies came from Brazil, primarily focusing on Bio-C Temp (Angelus). The studies revealed acceptable biocompatibility, alkaline pH, and high calcium ion release. However, they showed reduced antibacterial activity compared to conventional calcium hydroxide formulations. Tooth discoloration beyond clinically acceptable thresholds was also a significant concern. A single clinical case report exhibited potential for periapical healing and root development, though this evidence is very limited. While current evidence is preliminary, high-quality clinical trials are essential to determine their clinical efficacy and safety in endodontic treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: Calcium silicate-based intracanal medicaments have lower antibacterial activity and potential for tooth discoloration compared to conventional calcium hydroxide-based medicaments. Given the available evidence, they cannot be recommended for routine clinical practice.

Reconstruction of craniomaxillofacial bone defects using 3D-printed hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramic patient-specific implants (PSIs) is a new technique with great potential. This study aimed to investigate the advantages, disadvantages, and clinical outcomes of these implants in craniomaxillofacial surgeries. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for patients with craniomaxillofacial bone defects treated with bioceramic PSIs. Clinical outcomes such as biocompatibility, biomechanical properties, and aesthetics were evaluated and compared to those of commonly used titanium or poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) implants and autologous bone grafts. Two clinical cases are presented to illustrate the surgical procedure and clinical outcomes of HA bioceramic PSIs. Literature review showed better a biocompatibility of HA PSIs than titanium and PEEK. The initial biomechanical properties were inferior to those of autologous bone grafts, PEEK, and titanium but improved when integrated. Satisfactory aesthetic results were found in our two clinical cases with good stability and absence of bone resorption or infection. Radiological signs of osteogenesis were observed in the two clinical cases six months postoperatively. HA bioceramic PSIs have excellent biocompatible properties and imitate natural bone biomechanically and radiologically. They are a well-suited alternative for conventional biomaterials in the reconstruction of load-sharing bone defects in the craniomaxillofacial region.

For many years, calcium hydroxide (CH) was the preferred material for direct pulp capping (DPC), occupying an elevated position. The collapse of this paradigm is due to the emergence of bioceramics with less pulpal inflammation and superior mineralization abilities than CH. The goal of the current article was directed to: (1) review the history of DPC \"the idea of an exposed pulp as a hopeless organ has given way to one of healing and optimism,\" (2) classify the bioceramics in dentistry, and (3) explain and compare the mechanism by which dentin barriers for CH and bioceramics are formed. A comprehensive literature search of the database was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus utilizing the following terms: Biodentine, calcium hydroxide, calcium aluminate, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, direct pulp capping, NeoMTA Plus, Quick-Set2, and TotalFill. Reference mining of the selected publications was utilized to discover other studies and strengthen the results. Only works written in English were taken into consideration, and there were no restrictions on the year of publication. Bioceramic materials might be used as an intriguing substitute for CH. Compared to CH, they induced more positive pulpal reactions.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of bone regeneration, offering innovative solutions to address the challenges associated with conventional therapies. This comprehensive review explores the diverse landscape of nanomaterials - including nanoparticles, nanocomposites and nanofibers - tailored for bone tissue engineering. We delve into the intricate design principles, structural mimicry of native bone and the crucial role of biomaterial selection, encompassing bioceramics, polymers, metals and their hybrids. Furthermore, we analyze the interface between cells and nanostructured materials and their pivotal role in engineering and regenerating bone tissue. In the concluding outlook, we highlight emerging frontiers and potential research directions in harnessing nanomaterials for bone regeneration.

This article provides a thorough overview of the available resorbable biomaterials appropriate for producing replacements for damaged tissues. In addition, their various properties and application possibilities are discussed as well. Biomaterials are fundamental components in tissue engineering (TE) of scaffolds and play a critical role. They need to exhibit biocompatibility, bioactivity, biodegradability, and non-toxicity, to ensure their ability to function effectively with an appropriate host response. With ongoing research and advancements in biomaterials for medical implants, the objective of this review is to explore recently developed implantable scaffold materials for various tissues. The categorization of biomaterials in this paper includes fossil-based materials (e.g., PCL, PVA, PU, PEG, and PPF), natural or bio-based materials (e.g., HA, PLA, PHB, PHBV, chitosan, fibrin, collagen, starch, and hydrogels), and hybrid biomaterials (e.g., PCL/PLA, PCL/PEG, PLA/PEG, PLA/PHB PCL/collagen, PCL/chitosan, PCL/starch, and PLA/bioceramics). The application of these biomaterials in both hard and soft TE is considered, with a particular focus on their physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. Furthermore, the interactions between scaffolds and the host immune system in the context of scaffold-driven tissue regeneration are discussed. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the concept of in situ TE, which leverages the self-renewal capacities of affected tissues and highlights the crucial role played by biopolymer-based scaffolds in this strategy.

Biomaterials have been used to supplement and restore function and structure by replacing or restoring parts of damaged tissues and organs. In ancient times, the medical use of biomaterials was limited owing to infection during surgery and poor surgical techniques. However, in modern times, the medical applications of biomaterials are diversifying owing to great developments in material science and medical technology. In this paper, we introduce biomaterials, focusing on calcium phosphate ceramics, including octacalcium phosphate, which has recently attracted attention as a bone graft material.

BACKGROUND: Bioceramic-based root canal sealers are novel materials with a bioactivity potential that stands out compared with conventional root canal sealers. However, the term bioactivity may be overused and is often misunderstood. Hence, the objective of this study was to synthesize and map key concepts related to the bioactivity analysis of bioceramic-based root canal sealers.
METHODS: The present scoping review is reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR Statement and is registered in the Open Science Framework. Two blinded reviewers carried out a comprehensive search in six databases up to January 10th, 2022: MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Lilacs/BBO. Eligibility was considered for in vitro and in vivo studies that evaluated the bioactivity potential of bioceramic-based root canal sealers.
RESULTS: A total of 53 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. In vitro bioactivity was evaluated through the mineralization potential, formation of carbonated apatite on the surface, and the gene expression related to proteins involved in the mineralization process. Meanwhile, for in vivo studies, staining techniques associated with immunohistochemical tests were mainly used to detect mineralization on the material-host tissue interface.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the methodology used, the most prevalent methods to assess bioactivity in acellular form were the immersion of the material in Hank\'s balanced salt solution, followed by surface observation with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. In cell cultures, the chosen method was usually Alizarin Red staining, followed by the evaluation of alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity and the use of molecular biology tests.

Inorganic biomaterials, including different types of metals and ceramics are widely used in various fields due to their biocompatibility, bioactivity, and bioresorbable capacity. In recent years, biomaterials have been used in biomedical and biological applications. Calcium phosphate (CaPs) compounds are gaining importance in the field of biomaterials used as a standalone material or in more complex structures, especially for bone substitutes and drug delivery systems. The use of multiple dopants into the structure of CaPs compounds can significantly improve their in vivo and in vitro activity. Among the general information included in the Introduction section, in the first section of this review paper, the authors provided a background on the development of hydroxyapatite, methods of synthesis, and its applications. The advantages of using different ions and co-ions for substitution into the hydroxyapatite lattice and their influence on physicochemical, antibacterial, and biological properties of hydroxyapatite are also presented in this section of the review paper. Larry Hench\'s 45S5 Bioglass®, commercially named 45S5, was the first bioactive glass that revealed a chemical bond with bone, highlighting the potential of this biomaterial to be widely used in biomedicine for bone regeneration. The second section of this article is focused on the development and current products based on 45S5 Bioglass®, covering the historical evolution, importance of the sintering method, hybrid bioglass composites, and applications. To overcome the limitations of the original biomaterials, studies were performed to combine hydroxyapatite and 45S5 Bioglass® into new composites used for their high bioactivity and improved properties. This particular type of combined hydroxyapatite/bioglass biomaterial is discussed in the last section of this review paper.

Over time, much attention has been given to the use of bioceramics for biomedical applications; however, the recent trend has been gaining traction to apply these materials for dental restorations. The bioceramics (mainly bioactive) are exceptionally biocompatible and possess excellent bioactive and biological properties due to their similar chemical composition to human hard tissues. However, concern has been noticed related to their mechanical properties. All dental materials based on bioactive materials must be biocompatible, long-lasting, mechanically strong enough to bear the masticatory and functional load, wear-resistant, easily manipulated, and implanted. This review article presents the basic structure, properties, and dental applications of different bioactive materials i.e., amorphous calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, tri-calcium phosphate, mono-calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, and bioactive glass. The advantageous properties and limitations of these materials are also discussed. In the end, future directions and proposals are given to improve the physical and mechanical properties of bioactive materials-based dental materials.

Calcium phosphates are promising materials for applications in bone repair and substitution, particularly for their bioactivity and ability to form self-setting cements. Among them, α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) stands out due to its high solubility, its hydration reaction and bioresorbability. The synthesis of α-TCP is particularly complex and the interactions between some of the synthesis parameters are still not completely understood. The variety of methods available to synthesize α-TCP has provided a substantial variance in the properties of α-TCP-based cements and the decision about which method, parameters and starting reagents will be used for the powder\'s synthesis is determinant of the properties of the resulting material. Therefore, this review paper focuses on α-TCP\'s synthesis and properties, presenting the synthesis methods currently in use as well as a discussion of how the synthesis parameters and the cement preparation affect the reactivity and mechanical properties of the material, providing a guide for the selection of the most suitable process for each α-TCP application. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: α-TCP is a calcium phosphate and it is currently one of the most investigated bioceramics for applications that explore its bioresorbability and the hydration reaction of α-TCP-based cements. Despite the increasing number of publications on the topic, there are still aspects not well understood. This review article aims at contributing to this fascinating subject by offering an update on the state of the art of α-TCP\'s synthesis methods, while also addressing topics that are not often discussed about this material, such as the preparation of α-TCP-based cements and how its parameters affect the properties of the resulting cements.