Smart Hydrogels in Regenerative Dentistry: Biomaterials Strategies for Pulp Regeneration and Endodontics

Smart hydrogels are a special class of hydrophilic, three-dimensional polymer networks that can absorb and retain large amounts of water (sometimes up to thousands of times their dry weight) while maintaining their structure. What makes them “smart” is their ability to respond to external stimuli in a controlled and reversible way. Unlike ordinary hydrogels, smart hydrogels can sense changes in their environment and adjust their physical or chemical properties accordingly. In the medical field, they are used as drug delivery systems in a controllable manner, a tissue engineering process providing scaffolds in which cells and tissues can grow. However, potential role and applications of hydrogels in the field of pulp regeneration and endodontics is relatively unexplored. This article aims to explore the potential applications and uses of hydrogels in the fields of conservative dentistry, endodontics and pulpal regenerative procedures.