Mini Review Volume 2 Issue 3 -March 2017 DOI: 10.19080/CTBEB.2016.01.555588 Curr Trends Biomedical Eng & Biosci Copyright © All rights are reserved by Mohammad Javad Azarhoosh Application of Biomaterials in Dentistry Zahra Abdolahpour 1 , Zahra Saneipour 1 and Mohammad Javad Azarhoosh 1,2 * 1 College of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran 2 Chemical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran Submission: February 19, 2017; Published: March 21, 2017 *Corresponding author: Mohammad Javad Azarhoosh, College of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran 14155-6447, Iran, Email: Introduction A biomaterial is any substance to fix the defects, repair or replacement of defective organ in the body. Over the past thirty years, a new field of materials science has emerged as biomaterial. It is a result of development and the integration of various branches of materials (metals, composites, ceramics and polymers).These materials are synthetic (synthetic - mineral or organic) or natural which have been designed and made to work and fix defects in the organism (mostly men). One of the familiar and experienced biomaterials is dental materials (mercury compounds) for dental fillings. In this way, industries related to biomaterials, gradually emerged over the last thirty years, especially in United States of America, and now has allocated a huge number of world trade (about 70 billion dollars a year), which more than 700 companies are involved in it. A very important point is that, these materials are sold very low in volume but at high price, and are considered as strategic products. In this paper, we try to investigate application of these biomaterials in dentistry [1-3]. Polymers Today, the use of polymers is widely spread in dentistry. With the advancement of material science, new materials produced have properties similar to natural biomaterial. One of the most common cases is the use of polymeric base material in complete and partial denture. In addition, denture soft liners, resin cements, pit and fissure sealants contain polymer. Polymers used for denture base includes: Vulcanite, Celluloid, Phenol- formaldehyde (Bakelite), Polyvinylchloride (PVC), Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) [4,5]. Despite the introduction of new materials for denture base, PMMA is still preferred for both types of dentures. The advantages that led to consider PMMA as the most common polymer include: low cost, low weight, great beauty, low solubility and low water absorption, possibility of repairment convenient and easy processing. One of the weaknesses of this polymer is clinical failure and fracture due to Impact forces or fatigue. To resolve this problem, it has tried to increase flexibility and strength of this matter, for this purpose, this material has combined with substances such as Copolymer and a variety of glass and metallic fibers and nanoparticles [4]. Another example of the use of polymers is related to use in tissue engineering and dental structures regeneration. In dental implants which are the most common method of replacing lost teeth, to avoid biological and mechanical failures, we need to have a certain amount of bone in the tooth socket. In one study on eight human cases, they found that the use of poly (lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) before replacing metallic implants can improve and repair the alveolar socket [6-8]. Another use of polymers in tissue engineering is using them as delivery vehicles in which by incorporating regenerative factors (such as growth factors) with polymers, they are transferred to the desired location and they will be sustained release [8-10]. Ceramics Ceramics are considered as a combination of metal elements and non-metallic materials such as, oxides, nitrides and silicates, and can be appear in two solid crystalline and amorphous (shapeless) solid, the second group is also called glass [11,12]. Curr Trends Biomedical Eng & Biosci 2(3): CTBEB.MS.ID.555588 (2017) 0044 Abstract Today, biomaterials are widely used in dentistry. Over the past thirty years; a new field of materials science has emerged as a biomaterial. Today, biomaterials are widely used in dentistry. Biomaterials used in dentistry are divided into four general categories of polymers, ceramics, metals and composites. In this paper, the application of these biomaterials in dentistry was investigated. Keywords: Biomaterials; Dentistry; Polymers; Ceramics; Metals; Composites