SELF – HEALING BIOACTIVE COMPOSITES: A REVIEW OF EMERGING STRATEGIES IN RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Self-healing bioactive composites have been formulated as a promising material to overcome the limitations of conventional dental materials, primarily through their self-healing ability. The self-healing ability has a considerable effect on the longevity of the material. A review of peer-reviewed literature pertaining to self-healing mechanisms, bioactive composite systems, and their applications in restorative dentistry was conducted. The articles included in this study comprised of laboratory investigations, experimental studies, literature reviews, and systematic reviews published over the last 26 years (2000–2026). Self-healing bioactive composites showed promising results from the literature review for applications in restorative dentistry. Incorporating self-healing agents and bioactive fillers into composite resins can increase their lifespan and minimize secondary caries. Maintaining structural integrity through autonomous crack repair is beneficial to the long-term prognosis of the restoration. Studies have shown that self-healing bioactive composites can be very promising in terms of enhancing the durability of restorations and preventing secondary decay; nonetheless, more investigations are required.