Prof. Gaetano Isola E-Mail
Professor, Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Research Keywords: Periodontal disease, periodontal regeneration, biomaterials, salivary diagnostics, oral medicine, biomarkers, oral health, general health, quality of life
In the current era of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies, biomaterials in dentistry are key research areas, and these new advances define the frontier in many medical disciplines. Biomaterials play a pivotal role in the growth of maxillofacial regenerative therapies, enabling more complex oral rehabilitation for patients with missing teeth.
Moreover, as evidenced by current scientific literature, the development of new molecular biomarkers constitutes an innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. The classification of patients based on changes in local/systemic levels of biomolecules may enable the customization of entire treatment pathways. Oral health professionals—both clinicians and researchers—have embraced the challenge to close the gap with other medical disciplines where customized therapy is a well-established reality. For breast cancer and melanoma, genetic profiling of tumors has led to significant improvements in early diagnosis and identification of treatment targets, substantially improving prognosis and survival.
Despite robust findings in animal models and successful outcomes reported for existing regenerative procedures and materials in humans, there is a lack of rigorous evidence on whether clinical benefits represent genuine bone and periodontal regeneration.
Consequently, this Special Issue aims to update and consolidate existing knowledge on the influence of biomaterials in bone reconstruction and periodontal defects/atrophies, using various biomaterial types to enhance periodontal wound healing or regeneration.
We invite interventional research aiming to advance understanding of biomaterials and biomarkers in dentistry. Review studies employing conceptual frameworks on these themes are also encouraged.
Keywords: Biomaterials, periodontal regeneration, bone regeneration, adjuvants, periodontal disease, peri-implant disease, growth factors, oral surgery, periodontal surgery