Explore the most recent advancements in the domain of self-healing intelligent composites specifically designed for use in dentistry.

Abstract

Dental composites are commonly utilized in dental treatments because they have the ability to preserve the natural appearance of teeth, are minimally invasive and conservative, and enhance the overall physical and mechanical attributes. Dental composites can experience damage, like small cracks, due to factors like temperature changes and physical strain, which can reduce their effectiveness. Detecting these tiny cracks in dental composites can be quite challenging, and in certain situations, it may even be impossible. In addition, it is not possible to repair these damages in situ by using conventional materials and methods. Therefore, the self-healing ability in dental composites is necessary. In recent years, the spontaneous repair of damages such as micro-cracking in dental composite materials has been developed without any type of human intervention and the replacement of new components. The most widely used approach to create self-healing dental composites involves encapsulating a healing agent within polymer shells and dispersing these microcapsules within the acrylate matrix of the dental composite. To assess the self-healing abilities of these composites, researchers can examine changes in their fracture toughness before and after the healing process using a test called the Single Edge V-notch beam test. In the present article we reviewed the latest findings in the field of self-healing intelligent composites for application in dentistry, and also in the present study, the studies on self-healing smart dental composites will be reviewed.