Advancing oral healthcare through biomaterials and technologies in the digital era

The field of oral and craniomaxillofacial health is facing rapid transformation as it grapples with longstanding clinical challenges such as congenital craniofacial malformations, dental caries, periodontal diseases, dentition defects, maxillofacial trauma, and tumors. These complex conditions not only diminish patients’ quality of life by impairing functions like mastication, speech, and appearance but also contribute to a significant socioeconomic burden. Traditionally, dental diagnosis and treatment have relied heavily on clinician expertise and manual techniques, often leading to limitations in treatment precision, customization of prosthetics, and prolonged recovery periods. Recent years have seen the emergence of digital and intelligent technologies including artificial intelligence, 3D printing, surgical robotics, and advanced biomaterials, fostering a new era of precision and personalization in dental care. Although initial studies and clinical pilots have demonstrated improved workflow efficiency, better patient-specific outcomes, and reduced procedural times, comprehensive adoption and integration of these technologies remain nascent, with gaps in robust comparative studies, cost-effectiveness analyses, and long-term outcome assessments. The discipline is now at a crossroads, where multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to bridge these gaps and translate technological promise into mainstream clinical benefit.This Research Topic aims to inspire and compile cutting-edge advancements in the development and application of novel dental materials, digital/intelligent techniques and therapeutic approaches. It seeks to address pivotal questions regarding the effectiveness, safety, and accessibility of these innovations, explore the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics in diagnosis and therapy, and assess the role of digital personalization in prosthetics and biomaterials. The objective is to provide a platform for multidisciplinary teams to share the latest experimental studies, clinical trials, and translational research, while also critically evaluating clinical challenges and future perspectives for oral health in the digital age.Focusing on the intersection of dental innovation and intelligent technology, this Research Topic encompasses, but is not limited to, the following areas of study. Submissions are welcome from both preclinical and clinical disciplines, with attention to original research, systematic reviews, case studies, and technical reports. To gather further insights into the impact and future potential of digital and smart approaches in dental and craniomaxillofacial health, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Application of artificial intelligence in dental diagnosis and treatment planningDevelopment and clinical deployment of 3D-printed prosthetic devices and implantsAdvances in biomaterials and their clinical translationIntegration of surgical robotics in craniomaxillofacial proceduresPersonalized medicine approaches in dental therapies enabled by digital technologiesLong-term outcomes, patient satisfaction, and economic considerations of digital and intelligent interventionsEthical, regulatory, and implementation challenges in adopting intelligent dental technologiesIf you intend to include specific types of articles (such as Reviews, Original Research, Case Reports, Methods), please specify, and these can be added as an appendix. Topic editors: Tao Chen, JinSong Liu, Na Yu, Kai Zheng, Chen Zetao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78861/advancing-oral-healthcare-through-biomaterials-and-technologies-in-the-digital-era