Biocompatibility: Its future in prosthodontic research

The future of prosthodontic research will involve replacing lost tissues by using scientific methods that evaluate biomaterials and treatment designs based on desired biologic outcomes. The present concept of a biocompatible material is one that elicits an appropriate host response in a specific application. To design optimal biomaterials, three interactive components should be considered: the chemical nature of the surface, the mediating pellicle layer, and microbial and host response. Surface chemistry determines which molecules are selectively adsorbed onto a surface from oral fluids. The pellicle-coated surface should be designed to elicit a more desirable host response. Pellicle composition can be altered by chemically changing the surface, precoating surfaces with biological molecules, or using synthetic materials designed to mimic natural tissues. Several surface-sensitive techniques are available to assess these modifications, including vibrational spectroscopy, electron microscopy for chemical analysis, and bioanalytical methods. To develop more biocompatible materials, a further understanding of pellicle formation as a function of surface composition, microbial adhesion to biomaterials, and cellular reaction to implant biomaterials is necessary. This knowledge will facilitate development of new biologically based rationales for treatment modalities in restorative dentistry.