Advances in Ion-Releasing Materials

Recent advances in ion-releasing dental materials have significantly enhanced their potential to improve oral health. These materials do more than simply restore lost structure; they actively contribute to caries prevention, inhibit plaque accumulation, promote remineralization of partially demineralized enamel and caries-affected dentin, and can even modulate the oral microbiome. Materials such as bioactive glass ionomers, calcium silicate cements, and nano-enhanced composites are engineered to release therapeutic ions—primarily calcium, phosphate, and fluoride—in response to acidic oral environments. These ions not only neutralize local pH but also facilitate the deposition of hydroxyapatite or fluorapatite, aiding in the natural repair of early carious lesions. Furthermore, incorporating antimicrobial agents like silver or zinc oxide nanoparticles can disrupt biofilm formation, reduce plaque retention, and provide additional antibacterial activity. Despite these promising developments, translating laboratory successes into consistent, long-term clinical outcomes remains a significant challenge. More robust in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the durability of ion release, sustained anti-cariogenic effects, overall material performance, and their impact across diverse patient populations and intraoral conditions.

Secondary caries continues to be one of the most significant limitations of modern restorative composites, despite extensive improvements in their properties. The incorporation of ion-releasing functionality into composite materials is seen as a highly promising approach to address this issue. Various fillers have been developed not only to release remineralizing ions but also to impart antibacterial properties, thereby synergistically enhancing the remineralization process and providing additional protection against secondary caries. The release of therapeutic ions from these materials can promote remineralization, inhibit demineralization, reduce plaque accumulation, and even help seal marginal gaps. Although numerous in vitro studies highlight the anti-caries potential of these materials, their long-term clinical effectiveness has yet to be fully established.

The development of restorative materials that move beyond passively occupying cavity space, instead actively contributing to oral health, represents an exciting direction in contemporary dental research. Innovations in filler chemistry—including calcium phosphates, bioactive glasses, and surface-modified nanoparticles—have enabled a better balance between biological activity and mechanical stability. However, achieving precise, sustained control over ion release kinetics remains a critical challenge.

This Research Topic aims to gather original research and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of ion-releasing dental materials from fundamental, translational, and clinical perspectives. We especially welcome contributions that bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical application, or that employ interdisciplinary approaches involving biomaterials science, oral biology, and restorative dentistry.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, case reports, hypotheses and theories, perspectives, and experimental studies that encompass, but are not limited to, the following themes:

▪ Development and characterization of novel ion-releasing dental materials, including composites, adhesives, liners, cements, and coatings

▪ Optimization of ion release profiles (e.g., calcium, phosphate, fluoride) for remineralization and therapeutic efficacy

▪ Incorporation of multifunctional fillers combining remineralizing and antibacterial effects in restorative formulations

▪ Evaluation of antibacterial properties of ion-releasing materials against cariogenic and periodontal pathogens

▪ In vitro and in vivo studies of remineralization efficacy, enamel/dentin repair, and inhibition of demineralization

▪ Effects of ion-releasing materials on marginal gap sealing, secondary caries prevention, and dentin-pulp complex response

▪ Long-term stability, mechanical performance, and wear resistance of ion-releasing materials under simulated oral conditions

▪ Translational and clinical studies assessing the performance of ion-releasing materials in restorative treatments

▪ Investigation of ion-releasing material interactions with oral microbiome dynamics, including shifts in microbial composition and resistance development over time

▪ Development of smart or stimuli-responsive ion-releasing systems

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: ion-releasing dental materials, bioactive composites, remineralizing restoratives, anti-caries materials, fluoride releasing cements, antimicrobial dental fillers, dental material innovation, secondary caries prevention

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.